Tampa Bay Buccaneers News & Rumors

The earliest Brown is likely to return will be in Week 15, when the Bucs host the Saints on Sunday night.

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Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown will miss at least two weeks as he rests his sprained ankle (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Brown, who suffered his injury way back in Week 6, will try to return after sitting out games against the Falcons and Bills. 

Brown also missed eight games in 2020, his inaugural season with the Buccaneers. In his five games played this year, Brown has registered 29 catches for 418 yards and four touchdowns.

It sounds like Antonio Brown‘s return from an ankle injury is imminent. While the veteran wideout has already been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Colts, Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians told reporters that he’s hopeful Brown will be back next weekend against the Falcons.

“He’s moving around a lot better,” Arians said (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter). “He’s able to put more weight on the heel and bounce around on it some. We’ve got our fingers crossed.”

Brown suffered the injury way back in Week 6. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), doctors initially believed the injury would take about six weeks to recover. That timeline would line up with a Week 13 return. However, Greg Auman of The Athletic cautions (on Twitter) that Brown didn’t suffer a typical ankle injury. This sprain was closer to the heel, making it harder to anticipate a return date. We’ll likely get more clarity when the Buccaneers return to practice next week.

Brown, 33, has 29 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdowns in five games.The Buccaneers offense has been fine without the talented (and controversial) receiver, but Tom Brady and Co. will surely welcome back the veteran.

Antonio Brown is in hot water once again. The receiver’s former live-in chef told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that Brown obtained a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to avoid the NFL’s protocols.

According to screenshots obtained by Stroud, Brown’s girlfriend texted the chef offering $500 for a fake vaccination card. The chef was unable to complete the request, but he claims Brown showed off his fake card weeks later. A picture of the card was later sent by Tom Brady/TB12 guru (and trainer) Alex Guerrero to Buccaneers head trainer Bobby Slater for documenting, with neither individual being aware of the card’s lack of authenticity. It’s also worth noting that Brown and the chef had a falling out due to unpaid debts.

“After an extensive educational process conducted throughout our organization this past offseason highlighting the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines, we received completed vaccination cards from all Tampa Bay Buccaneers players and submitted the required information to the NFL through the established process in accordance with league policy,” the Buccaneers said in a statement. “All vaccination cards were reviewed by Buccaneers personnel and no irregularities were observed.”

Brown’s lawyer denied the allegations.

“Antonio Brown appreciates the severity of the pandemic, which is why he got the vaccine and supports everyone for whom it is advisable to get the vaccine,” Sean Burstyn said. “Coronavirus has hit close to home as it took him out of a game. He is healthy, vaccinated, and ready to win another Super Bowl…One of the worst parts of the pandemic has been a movement to cast doubt on our country’s vaccination programs with baseless, vindictive tabloid gossip.”

NFL’s VP of communications Brian McCarthy told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the league is “aware of the report and have been in contact with the club” (Twitter link). The NFL is also reviewing the matter.

These are some pretty serious allegations, and the matter would be reviewed under the NFL’s personal conduct policy (per Auman). The fake vaccination card could also be “handled as a federal criminal offense.” For comparison’s sake, in the NHL, San Jose Sharks star Evander Kane was suspended a quarter of the season for using a fake card. The NFL previously handed out fines to the Packers organization and Aaron Rodgers following an investigation into their handling of COVID-19 protocols. Brown also isn’t a stranger to league discipline; he was suspended eight games last season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

Brown missed a game earlier this season after testing positive for COVID-19, and per Auman, Brown had to deal with the 10-day waiting period reserved for unvaccinated players (vs. vaccinated players, who need to be asymptomatic and return two negative tests 24 hours apart).