Team news: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers got the weekend off after beating the Eagles and returned to the facility on Tuesday for a walkthrough practice session.

Reporters at the session noted that tight end Rob Gronkowski was not in attendance.

Related players: O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate

Gronkowski has missed the last three games with injured ribs and has not taken part in any practices since being injured in the team’s Week 3 loss to the Rams. Howard has a huge game against the Eagles and if Gronk can't go in Week 7, he would certainly have to be considered a streaming option as it appears he's passed Brate in the team's TE pecking order.

It’s what Zac Taylor is hoping he can be and why immediately after drafting Chris Evans in the sixth round, Taylor asked him to watch film of Giovani Bernard in pass protection.

Evans followed his coach’s orders and quickly realized the opportunity he has in front of him.

“I know that’s gonna be a big part of my success,” Evans said. “However long I play in the NFL if you can pass protect just like how Gio did, you can hang around for a long, long time, especially if you can run routes. I took pride in that especially after I had that conversation and I was just like that’s what I’m gonna do. And Joe after the play was like ‘good block.’ And I was like ‘hey, that’s what I’m here for. I just gotta take pride in that and keep pushing and keep striving to get better.”

Related players: Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon

Evans got his shot when Perine went on the COVID list, and he took full in Week 6. The story said if Evans continues to make the most of his opportunities when they come, he could become what the old No. 25 was to the current Bengals. It's key for fantasy owners because the oft-injured Mixon saw Bernard take over as the team's RB1 when Mixon was out before this season, and that means Evans could eventually be the handcuff to Mixon at the very least. For now, he could play a big role in the passing game.

Buccaneers TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs) will miss Week 6 at Philadelphia according to Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus. This will be Gronkowski's three straight game missed.

Related Players: O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate

Gronk's health is more important than a Week 6 game, especially with the Bucs winning. Brate and Howard will try to establish anything at the tight end position.

While head coach Bruce Arians has said that Rob Gronkowski will be close to playing on Thursday, the tight end is still listed as a non-participant on Tuesday’s injury report.

Related players: Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard

It's a little concerning Gronk has been listed as a non-participant, but the good news is he was close to playing in Week 5 as well. Gronkowski hasn’t played since suffering injured ribs in Tampa Bay’s Week 3 loss to the Rams.

Tom Brady told reporters on Tuesday that he expects the discomfort with his right thumb will be gone in a day or two. But for now, the Buccaneers quarterback is still listed as limited on the team’s injury report.

Tampa Bay didn’t go through a full practice on Tuesday, given the short week. But if they had, Brady would have been limited for the second day in a row with the thumb injury.

Brady is fully expected to play in this game, but it continues to be worth monitoring.

Tom Brady has his right thumb wrapped again today.

Related players: Blaine Gabbert

As Auman says, it reminds us that it’s been less than 48 hours since the injury. Brady said few body parts are more important to a QB than his throwing hand, but he’ll be fine. Brady and the Bucs play Thursday night against the Eagles. Gabbert is Brady's backup. It's certainly worth monitoring but it sounds like Brady will play on a short week.

Tampa Bay did not go through a full practice, but if they had, Tom Brady (right thumb) would have been limited in the session.

Related players: Blaine Gabbert

Brady showed up to his postgame press conference with his hand wrapped on Sunday. But head coach Bruce Arians told reporters on Monday that Brady should be fine to play by Thursday in a game against the Eagles. Gabbert is Brady's backup.

Arians says it will be "very close" on Rob Gronkowski being able to return from ribs injury Thursday.

Related players: Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard

The Bucs haven't really missed a beat with Gronk out of the lineup. In fact, it may have benefitted WR Antonio Brown. Howard caught two balls and Brate one last week but weren't really a factor overall. Gronk and the Bucs have a favorable matchup Thursday night against the Eagles so keep an eye on his status this week.

Buccaneers RB Giovani Bernard (knee) is questionable for Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins.

Bernard's return would mean less passing work for Leonard Fournette. Bernard has been anointed the main passing back in Tampa.