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Bucs guard Mankins misses practice with groin injury

 
Guard Logan Mankins, left, hurt his groin in practice Wednesday. He hasn’t missed a start since 2010, when he was a Patriot.
Guard Logan Mankins, left, hurt his groin in practice Wednesday. He hasn’t missed a start since 2010, when he was a Patriot.
Published Oct. 9, 2015

TAMPA — The Bucs could be without their most experienced offensive lineman Sunday against the Jaguars.

G Logan Mankins was held out of practice Thursday with a groin injury, with backup T Kevin Pamphile getting work at left guard in his place. "He hurt his groin a little bit in practice (Wednesday), so we held him out," coach Lovie Smith said.

Mankins, 33, hasn't missed a start since 2010, when he played nine games with the Patriots.

The Bucs start two rookies on the offensive line, G Ali Marpet and T Donovan Smith. The rookie tackle said this week how much Mankins has helped him identify defensive alignments.

Lovie Smith would not say whether Pamphile is an option to play guard if Mankins is out.

Groin injuries are typically slow to heal. The only backup guards on the roster, Jeremiah Warren and Matt Masifilo, have never played offensive line in an NFL game, and they've played only sparingly on special teams.

Pamphile played in seven games last season with two starts, both at tackle. "Pamphile has had reps at tight end, at the wing, he's had reps a lot of different places so I wouldn't put too much (into it)," Lovie Smith said.

Also not practicing: C Evan Smith (ankle) and T Demar Dotson (knee), CB Johnthan Banks (knee), TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) and WR Russell Shepard (hamstring).

WORST ENEMY: The 1-3 Bucs have beaten themselves in at least two games. Missed tackles, missed field goals and turnovers on offense have led to their start.

"I think this year we've been playing all of our opponents and the Buccaneers most of our games," WR Vincent Jackson said. "As soon as we can get out of our own way and cut down on penalties, cut down on the turnovers — that's the biggest one — we'll definitely be fine."

TANDY'S MOM TO LEAD BUCS ONTO FIELD: Sunday's home game against Jacksonville is the Bucs' Breast Cancer Awareness game, with players and coaches wearing pink apparel. But for players who have had breast cancer in their family, the game has a greater meaning.

Before the game, S Keith Tandy's mother, Joyce Jordan, a breast cancer survivor, will come out of the tunnel with the team, a proud moment for both.

"It means a lot after all she's been through," Tandy said. "It's an unbelievable feeling. Seeing her run out — that's probably nothing she would ever dream about, to have a chance to run out of an NFL tunnel. She was texting me and calling me all night about how happy she is."

Jordan, who lives in Kentucky, said she found out Wednesday that she would have the chance to run out with the team. She adjusted her schedule as an insurance coordinator for the local board of education from a business conference in South Carolina to get to Tampa. "I'm very excited," Jordan said. "When they called me about it, I had to do it for him."

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Said Tandy, "How many guys get a chance to run out with their mom, especially after all she's been through."

Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report.