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What will Antonio Brown’s role be in his Bucs debut? Stay tuned

The enigmatic Pro Bowl wideout is expected to join the team for a walk-through Wednesday.
 
Expect Antonio Brown to play Sunday against the Saints, but how much he plays is being kept close to the vest by the Bucs.
Expect Antonio Brown to play Sunday against the Saints, but how much he plays is being kept close to the vest by the Bucs. [ STEVEN SENNE | Associated Press (2019) ]
Published Nov. 3, 2020|Updated Nov. 3, 2020

TAMPA — The suspension may have ended for seven-time Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown, but the suspense continues.

The 32-year-old Miami native formally was added to the active roster Tuesday, with receiver/kick returner Cyril Grayson being waived to open the spot.

Brown will join the team in practice Wednesday, but because the Bucs are coming off a 25-23 win on Monday Night Football against the Giants, they will hold only a walk-through workout.

What will Brown’s role be against the New Orleans Saints in a critical NFC South rematch on Sunday Night Football? Your guess is as good as that of coach Bruce Arians.

“It really depends on how the game goes,” Arians said. “If we’re successful with the package we put him in, we’ll probably run it more. He’ll have his role, and it could be 10 plays, it could be 35 plays. I wouldn’t anticipate 60 plays for sure, but we’ll just see how it goes.”

Some of that may depend on the health of receiver Chris Godwin, who did not play Monday due to a broken left index finger he sustained in the Bucs' 45-20 win over the Raiders in Las Vegas. It was the fourth game Godwin has missed this season, but the Bucs have been optimistic he could return against the Saints.

The Bucs turned to receiver Jaydon Mickens instead of rookie Tyler Johnson against the Giants. Mickens — who practices with quarterback Tom Brady quite a bit, according to Arians — played the slot receiver and led the Bucs with a season-high eight targets for 36 yards while playing 63 percent of the offensive snaps.

Related: Breaking down the Tom Brady-Drew Brees rivalry

Primarily the Bucs' kick returner, Mickens had only two catches for 22 yards in the seven previous games.

“We’ve just got to do a better job of deciphering what we’re seeing and getting the ball to the guys,” Arians said. “I thought Jaydon Mickens played really, really good for us but it’s not having Chris in there when you’re used to it."

Deemed an “insurance policy” by Arians to compensate for injuries at arguably the Bucs' deepest spot, Brown has posted seven 1,100-yard seasons but has appeared in one game since 2018. Since then, he has been with three organizations, including the Bucs.

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He spent nine seasons with the Steelers before reportedly growing dissatisfied with his role. Pittsburgh traded him to Oakland in March 2019, but the Raiders released him after six bizarre, chaotic months.

His lone 2019 contest came for New England in Week 2 (four receptions, 56 yards, one touchdown in a 43-0 rout of the Dolphins), but he was released shortly thereafter following a report that he sent threatening text messages to a woman who had accused him of sexual misconduct.

His eight-game suspension stemmed from his arrest in January, when he was accused of attacking the driver of a moving van. He pleaded no contest in June to a felony burglary with battery charge and two lesser misdemeanor charges.

Still, his arrival seemingly has been embraced by his new peers. Brady has confirmed Brown is residing with him at the sprawling Davis Islands rental home he is renting from Derek Jeter.

Related: Tom Brady confirms Antonio Brown is his new house guest

Similarly, receiver Mike Evans, who indicated he was consulted by team management before it decided to sign Brown to a one-year deal, seems on board with the new addition.

“We didn’t anticipate having all these injuries at the receiver position," Evans said. "He’s going to be a big boost; he’s one of the best receivers of all time. He’s going to open up things for me, Chris (Godwin) and Gronk (tight end Rob Gronkowski), and he’s going to make plays for us, I know that.”

Though Evans has dealt with lingering ankle and hamstring issues, he said after Monday’s game (when he had five catches for 55 yards and touchdown) that he feels close to 100 percent. If Brown can fit in, the Bucs are in the bonus.

“(Brown) has to handle his own business off the field,” Arians said. "On the field, you find your role, accept it, embrace it, make sure you’re making the right plays and we’ll get you the ball.”