TAMPA — No, Antonio Brown has not returned to practice. No, that’s not a problem. Not yet.
The Bucs receiver is recovering from a knee injury sustained in last Sunday’s 30-20 win over the Saints. Coach Bruce Arians said Thursday that Brown will be a game-time decision for the NFC title tilt at Green Bay, but he won’t have to practice this week in order to play.
“He’s a veteran enough that he knows what he’s doing,” Arians said. “We’ll just see what happens.”
If Brown can’t play, it would be a huge loss. He was limited to only one catch for 10 yards at New Orleans. But in the four previous games, Brown had five touchdowns.
Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich said he wouldn’t have any trouble adapting his game plan to include Brown if he can play Sunday.
“It all depends on what role I need him to do on that specific play. Obviously, I would love to have him,” Leftwich said. “...The good thing is I know him well enough if he is healthy, I can put him in position and put him in spots to have success.”