LAKE BUENA VISTA - The Bucs finished practice Tuesday without their top two right tackles. Starter Kenyatta Walker left early with a sprained right ankle and backup Cornell Green remains out with the same injury.
Coach Jon Gruden said Walker would be "questionable for the next couple days" but expected him to play Monday at St. Louis. Green, the only reserve tackle with NFL experience, is doubtful.
Green injured his ankle in the preseason opener in Tokyo, and Walker missed two games last year with a left ankle sprain. If the two tackles are sidelined or limited Monday, the Bucs could temporarily shift rookie Lance Nimmo, the top backup at left tackle, or use reserves Mitch White and Dan Goodspeed or free-agent rookie Anthony Davis.
"There's no question, if both those guys (Walker and Green) can't play, we'll lean on Lance," Gruden said.
White was on the practice squads of four NFL teams last season, and Davis has impressed coaches after going undrafted out of Virginia Tech.
"He's played pretty well at times," said Gruden, who played 12 of his 13 healthy offensive linemen in Friday's win against Miami. "He's shown some good flashes, but he's also had flashes where it's obvious he needs work. He's been up and down, but he does show some promise."
BROOKS RETURNS: Linebacker Derrick Brooks was back at practice after an excused absence Monday, when he was in Pensacola with his mother, Geraldine Mitchell, who was hospitalized two weeks ago.
"Derrick checked back in late (Monday) night and said his mother is improving," Gruden said. "It's great to have him back, and we're really happy his mom's situation has made a turn for the better."
PITTMAN POSTPONED: A probation revocation hearing for running back Michael Pittman was postponed from next week until Sept.15, the Monday after the second game of the season. Pittman, facing felony assault charges in Arizona, has a pretrial conference Sept.3 on those charges, though his attorney, Joel Thompson, will seek a continuance to postpone that as well.
"We're waiting for a final response (from the legal system), and until then, we'll proceed as if Mike Pittman is our starting halfback," Gruden said. "He hasn't been proven guilty of anything, and if he is, we'll adjust and react to the information we get. It's not a pleasant situation, and we're concerned about it - he's a valuable member of our team."
INJURY UPDATE: Defensive tackle Warren Sapp sat out for the second day with swelling on his left knee but is expected to return to practice today. ... Gruden said former Florida tailback Earnest Graham, a rookie free agent, will miss the rest of the preseason with a sprained right shoulder. ... Guard Jason Whittle practiced for the second day in his return from a broken leg sustained in minicamp this summer. He won't play Monday. ... Reserve center Jason Scukanec was held out with a mild ankle sprain but is expected to play Monday.
