Bucs place cornerback Richard Sherman on injured reserve

TAMPA — The Bucs placed Richard Sherman on injured reserve Wednesday, meaning he will miss at least three more games.

Sherman suffered a grade 2 calf strain in warmups prior to the Bucs’ 29-19 loss at Washington Sunday. He arrived at practice with the lower part of his leg in a protective boot.

After signing a one-year deal with the Bucs worth $2.25 million on Sept. 29, Sherman played three games in 12 days. But he suffered a hamstring strain Oct. 14 at Philadelphia and missed the next three games. He has recorded only 11 tackles and has allowed 10 receptions on 11 targets.

The Bucs’ initial practice of the week featured images both promising and sobering for their depleted cornerback unit.

Opening-night starter Carlton Davis, out since suffering a quad injury on special teams Oct. 3 at New England, was seen running — apparently pain-free — with a trainer on the easternmost practice field during the brief practice window open to reporters.

Fellow starter Sean Murphy-Bunting, who recently resumed practicing after dislocating his elbow in the season opener, again was fully suited up for Wednesday’s session and appears close to being cleared for game action.

“The only injury news is everybody passed the COVID test,” coach Bruce Arians said. “So, good start to the week.”

Also not appearing during the practice window open to reporters was nose tackle Vita Vea, who suffered a bone bruise and mild MCL sprain in Sunday’s loss to Washington. Receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) also was absent.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs, back), who has played six snaps (all at New Orleans) in the last seven weeks, was spotted at the workout with a helmet.

“He looked good in the walk-through,” Arians said of Gronkowski. “We’ll find out (Thursday) if he can run-through and block-through.”

Because the Bucs play the Giants on Monday Night Football, the first official injury report won’t be released until Thursday.

Receiver Scotty Miller, who recently resumed practicing, was seen fielding punts during the special-teams period and could be close to returning to game action after missing six games with turf toe.

Arians said he planned to use Wednesday’s bonus walk-through practice to see how some of the injured players responded. “There were two or three,” he said. “We’ll know more (Thursday) when we start running around and put the pads on. (Wednesday), there were some guys running around there pretty decent.”

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The Bucs also announced Wednesday that long-snapper Zach Triner, on injured reserve since tearing a finger tendon in the season opener, has begun his 21-day window in which he can work out with the team without counting against the 53-man roster. He can be activated to the roster at any point during that window.

Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls

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