TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -With starters Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton slowed by injuries in training camp, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open the preseason with an inexperienced group of receivers.
Bryant had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on Tuesday. Clayton missed more practice time with a sore hamstring that will keep him out of Saturday’s game at Tennessee.
While Bryant and Clayton are out, third-year pro Brian Clark and fourth-year receiver Maurice Stovall will move up the depth chart.
Coach Raheem Morris said Bryant, who led Tampa Bay with 83 receptions for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008, will sit out at least three weeks and be ready to play in the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against Dallas.
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Running back Derrick Ward returned to practice after missing several days with a foot sprain. Offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood (back) practiced in the evening, but linebacker Geno Hayes was held out of both of Tuesday’s workouts with a mild hamstring strain.
Kicker Matt Bryant, who’s competing with offseason acquisition Mike Nugent, left the morning practice after aggravating a sore hamstring.
“He made all the kicks today, and he kind of strained it a little bit, so he stepped out,” Morris said.
Bryant called the injury “frustrating,” though not serious.
“It’s nothing big,” the kicker said. “But it’s not an overnight thing.”
Morris wouldn’t speculate on what it might mean to Bryant’s chances of retaining the kicking job.
“We’ve just got to get him healthy, get him to the games so he can go out there and compete,” Morris said.
“Usually you don’t have two guys. Usually you’ve got to get somebody off the street right now to come compete with him. So, we as an organization are kind of in a fortunate situation. But you still want to see Matt Bryant at his very best to let him go compete.”
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