Bucs: Well-timed bye helps Bucs heal

Well-timed bye helps Bucs heal

By ROGER MILLS and RICK STROUD

TAMPA -- After a three-day weekend, the Bucs returned to the practice field Monday buoyed by a few nuggets of good news.

Veteran receiver Keenan McCardell, who missed the past two games with a fractured left scapula, will play Sunday, as will left guard Kerry Jenkins (left orbital fracture), who missed the Nov. 3 game against the Vikings.

Starting center Jeff Christy, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Nov. 4, appears set to return to practice Wednesday and likely will play against the Panthers.

Receiver Joe Jurevicius (left ankle sprain) should return to practice Wednesday but is questionable for Sunday.

"Last week, it would have been hard for us to have a full-scale practice," coach Jon Gruden said. "Christy was out, Jenkins was just coming back, (backup center/guard) Todd Washington had a sore back, McCardell and Jurevicius were nicked up and we had a lot of guys banged up, honestly.

"So, to get the bye at this point in the schedule really helped us get healthy and gave our guys a chance to line up and play on Sunday. I believe our players are rejuvenated mentally a little bit, having a chance to get away from it. I can't speak for everyone, but I do believe they're going to come in this week and practice real well."

McCardell's return should be particularly inspiring to the offense, which is coming off its best game of the season in a 38-24 win over the Vikings. McCardell has 29 catches for 359 yards and two scores.

"It feels good," McCardell said. "I'm out here going and I'm ready to go, ready to play."

Bothered by the knee most of the season, Christy said he opted to have it scoped knowing the most he would miss would be one game.

"It's really a day-to-day thing to see how it reacts," he said. "Each day, I do a little bit more and see how it reacts the next day. So far, there haven't been any setbacks. I'd be surprised if I didn't play (Sunday). There is some question, but I would be surprised if I don't play."

If he doesn't, Washington will start. He started for Christy in the opener last season and also has started for Jenkins at left guard and Cosey Coleman at right.

"If you look at it from what I prefer, then yeah, it is easy for me (to prepare to play center)," said Washington, who at 306 pounds is 21 pounds heavier than Christy. "But I prepare every week like I'm going to play and start."

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY: Quarterback Brad Johnson, who went 24-of-31 for 313 yards and five touchdowns against the Vikings, spent the weekend with his family in Tallahassee. The 11-year veteran said he appreciated the extra time to recover from the fractured left rib that kept him out of the Carolina game Oct. 27.

"I probably needed the extra week," Johnson said. "(The rib) was pretty sore the last week. But, I feel great right now. My arm's real fresh. It's going to be a tough stretch, so I needed that extra week, personally."

THE RUNNING OF THE BUCS: The Bucs' fortunes in the second half could depend on their ability to generate consistent production on the ground.

The running attack, now at 95 yards per game, is 24th in the league, though Gruden said some of the teams ahead of the Bucs have help.

"Our quarterback's not going to run for a lot of yardage," Gruden said. "Some of these teams that are statistically in the upper seven or eight percent of this league are getting a lot of yardage from their quarterbacks. We understand that that's not Brad's major role here. But we have to do a better job running the ball for us, in my opinion, to be the kind of offensive club we want to be."

FOR A JUST CAUSE: Linebacker Derrick Brooks and Lightning center Brad Richards are scheduled to participate in ceremony at 3 p.m. today at Lowe's on Waters Avenue West to finalize the Just Play program.

Running for the past six weeks, Just Play has been collecting used sports equipment throughout the bay area. The proceeds will be presented to representatives from 15 area youth agencies.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We've got to get Derrick Brooks in the end zone. Heck, it's been a while." -- Gruden on getting touchdowns against the Panthers.