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The Buccaneers still have a game to play this afternoon, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking ahead to next season.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tampa Bay would like to have wide receiver Antonio Brown return for the 2021 season.
From @NFLGameDay: Injury updates on #Chiefs stars RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Le’Veon Bell, and WR Sammy Watkins… plus while Antonio Brown is out today, the #Bucs do want him back for 2021, sources say. pic.twitter.com/PbtoRBfHu6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 24, 2021
Brown was a midseason acquisition for the Bucs. He finished the 2020 regular season with 45 receptions, 483 yards, and four touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass during the NFC Wild Card game against the Washington Football Team.
Brown will miss Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers due to a knee injury he suffered against the New Orleans Saints last week during their Divisional Round matchup.
Head coach Bruce Arians updated reporters on Friday about how they handled the situation.
“I just talked to him this morning and to put him on the plane, have him fly up there and have it swell more doesn’t make any sense,” head coach Bruce Arians said on Friday. “He wasn’t as close as we had hoped, so we’ll get him ready for the next one.
“Antonio will be missed, but we’ve got capable people stepping in.”