Tom Brady will be without two of his primary pass-catchers when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) take on the Chicago Bears (3-3) at Raymond James Stadium this Sunday. On Friday, we learned that wide receiver Antonio Brown and tight end Rob Gronkowski will miss the Bucs' Week 7 matchup.
Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians ruled Brown out due to a sprained ankle. The veteran wideout missed practice all week after suffering the injury in the Bucs' Week 6 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. That game came on a Thursday, but the extra rest apparently wasn't enough time for Brown to get back on the field.
Brown is second on the Bucs in receiving yards with 418, despite missing Week 3 due to COVID-19, though Brady has been equally divvying up the wealth this season. Mike Evans has 420 yards while Chris Godwin has 409.
Expect second-year wideout Tyler Johnson to see more time in place of Brown.
“Tyler has done a good job. Everyone has a lot of confidence in Tyler,” Brady said, via ESPN. “He does a good job out here whenever he gets his chance and he's made a bunch of plays in games. It's certainly not too big for him and I think he's got a good attitude, a good work ethic. We've just got to keep all trying to get better together.”
Gronkowski will once again be held out due to a rib injury he suffered against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.
The Bucs' injury list also includes star linebacker Lavonte David (ankle sprain) and recently-signed cornerback Richard Sherman (pulled hamstring).
Antoine Winfield Jr. will play after missing the past two games with a concussion.
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