The Buccaneers will be without both their Tom Brady hired guns Sunday. In addition to Rob Gronkowski‘s fourth absence this season, Antonio Brown will not play in Week 7.
Bruce Arians confirmed the Bucs ruled out Brown for their Bears matchup. An ankle injury kept Brown off the practice field this week. This will be Brown’s second absence this season. He missed Week 3 because of a positive COVID-19 test but returned the following week.
Despite missing the bulk of the past two seasons, Brown has re-emerged as one of the NFL’s top receivers this year. He has posted two 100-yard games and over the past two weeks has hauled in 16 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns. The 33-year-old target is well on his way to an eighth 1,000-yard season. With Brown and Scott Miller sidelined,
Tampa Bay will also be without Jason Pierre-Paul, Lavonte David and Richard Sherman against Chicago. Gronkowski is still recovering from the rib injury he suffered in Week 3. The Bucs elected not to place Gronk on IR.
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