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Bucs' McCoy, Conte hurting for Chargers game

 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) celebrates after sacking Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) on third down during the second half of a football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) celebrates after sacking Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) on third down during the second half of a football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016.
Published Nov. 29, 2016

TAMPA — The Bucs' 14-5 win over the Seahawks on Sunday left two key defensive starters facing injury concerns, as DT Gerald McCoy and S Chris Conte are question marks now for next week's game at San Diego.

McCoy was wearing a boot on his injured right foot/ankle as he left the locker room Sunday night, and coach Dirk Koetter said he was having more tests done Monday to check on the injury, though McCoy had said Sunday that the injury was "nothing" and he was "fine."

Conte missed only four plays in Sunday's game with an undisclosed injury in the final three minutes, but Koetter said he would not have an update on Conte until Wednesday, when the league requires teams to make their first injury updates of the week.

CLEATS FOR CAUSES: This weekend, players can wear custom cleats as part of the league's "My Cause, My Cleats" campaign, and Bucs WR Mike Evans will wear gold cleats Sunday as he works to fight against racism. A number of other Bucs are also expected to wear special cleats.

Evans' message goes out in conjunction with the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, a nonprofit organization, and his cleats will "tell the story of treating all people with respect and dignity and sidelining racism," according to the NFL's release previewing the cleats campaigns.

RISE will have 10 NFL players wearing special cleats as part of their "Sideline Racism" efforts next weekend.

When Evans decided to end his protest of the national anthem two weeks ago, he said he wanted to "focus my efforts on finding more effective ways to communicate my message and bring about change by supporting organizations and movements that fight for equal rights for minorities."

The NFL says more than 500 players are planning to showcase their causes during games next weekend. Other Bucs expected to wear special cleats include QB Jameis Winston (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), LB Kwon Alexander (anti-gun violence), LB Lavonte David (Big Brothers Big Sisters), OT Donovan Smith (children with intellectual disabilities), CB Josh Robinson (brain cancer), QB Mike Glennon (Moffitt Cancer Center) and CB Alterraun Verner (Athletes for Charity).

THIS AND THAT: The Bucs re-signed DT Rodney Coe to their practice squad Monday, releasing DE Kourtnei Brown to make room. Brown had been signed two weeks earlier and has now been cut 12 times by seven different teams, including the Bucs three times. … The announced attendance for Bucs-Seahawks on Sunday was 63,674, and actual attendance per the Tampa Sports Authority was 57,882, the highest this season by 3,296 fans.

Contact Greg Auman at gauman@tampabay.com and (813) 310-2690. Follow @gregauman.