Dirk Koetter non-committal on Doug Martin and J.R. Sweezy

Update: Seems Koetter was somewhat more clear on Martin to Sirius XM NFL.

Dirk Koetter talked at the NFL Scouting Combine today, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach refused to commit to anything when it came to running back Doug Martin and J.R. Sweezy.

Martin is suspended for the first three games of next season, a suspension that allows the Bucs to void the guarantees in his contract. He had a massively disappointing 2016 season, and last we heard of him he was in rehab. So, it’s completely unclear whether he can come back — and Koetter didn’t say anything beyond that they don’t have to make a decision until he’s served his suspension.

Similarly, general manager Jason Licht refused to commit to Martin but did say they’ve checked in with him. Instead, he sang the praises of Jacquizz Rodgers and said that “in an ideal situation” they’d like to have him back.

Left guard J.R. Sweezy is in a similarly murky situation. The Bucs signed him to a pretty big contract last offseason, but he missed all of 2016 with a lingering back injury without ever even practicing with the team. That obviously leaves some question marks about whether he can play this season, and Koetter refused to comment on Sweezy’s status.

Licht was a little more clear: Sweezy has been cleared to play. Of course, there’s still the question of how game-ready he is and will be — there’s a big difference between being cleared from an injury, and being ready to play, and play well.

Koetter did say that as a player, nothing has changed with regards to Sweezy — implying that if he can play this year, he’ll get the starting job at left guard.