Brent Grimes misses second day of Buccaneers practice

Veteran cornerback Brent Grimes has missed two consecutive days of practice, putting his participation in the next Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in doubt. The former Pro Bowler has a shoulder injury.

If Grimes can’t play against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and it’s certainly starting to look like it, the Bucs will have to turn to their third-string cornerbacks. Aside from Grimes, Robert McClain is also absent with a concussion and is unlikely to return in time for Sunday’s game. McClain started last game in Vernon Hargreaves’ place, as the second-year player was demoted following some abysmal play this season.

With Grimes and McClain likely out, the Bucs will presumably start Hargreaves and one of second-year players Javien Elliott or Ryan Smith. Josh Robinson is also an option, though he’s a better fit in the slot, mostly a special teamer, and not cleared from a concussion either. The Bucs also signed the inexperienced Deji Olatoye this week—and that’s all the depth they have at cornerback right now.

Other than that rather devastating list of cornerback injuries, the Bucs are mostly healthy. Jameis Winston practice today, but didn’t throw as he’s nursing a shoulder injury. That ailment shouldn’t prevent him from playing, as it didn’t last Sunday.

As for the Carolina Panthers, they have a massive list of mostly minor injuries. Most notably, center Ryan Kalil is likely to miss Sunday’s game with a neck injury, while running back Fozzy Whittaker and tackle John Theus missed today’s practice with injuries.