Strained back prevents Clayton from practicing

Clayton and Petigout are both battling back injuries

By JOANNE KORTH
Published August 5, 2007

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Receiver Michael Clayton, battling to keep his job as the No. 2, sat out Saturday's only practice with a back strain.

Clayton, injury plagued for the past two seasons, hurt his back Thursday but practiced Friday. It tightened up on him overnight, and he decided to take a day off.

"After the back, everything else starts to go, and I didn't want anything to get hurt," Clayton said. "Just staying healthy. I took the day off to be ready to go today."

The sideline is no place for Clayton to be.

The fourth-year pro is locked in one of the more interesting training camp battles with second-year receiver Maurice Stovall. The two usually are side by side during drills, and both stay after practice to catch extra balls.

Coach Jon Gruden said he likes Stovall's size, 6 feet 5, so Clayton likely will have to earn his spot in the lineup.

PETITGOUT RETURNS, SORT OF: Left tackle Luke Petitgout, who missed four straight days with a back strain, practiced in pads but did not participate in contact drills.

"You can't limit contact with a tackle," Gruden said. "You can limit contact with a quarterback or a kicker but not a left tackle. He'll be involved in contact drills.

"(Saturday), he got back into the individual portion of practice, group type things. He'll get into the full team stuff (today)."

Anthony Davis, who moved from left tackle to left guard during the offseason, took most of the first-team reps at left tackle during drills. He and Donald Penn have split time there during Petitigout's absence.

"I'm just making the transition back out there, trying to remember everything," Davis said. "I'm getting it.

"I tried to master this guard thing in the offseason, and unfortunately, I had to go back out (to tackle). But the more I can do, the better for me."

KUDOS FOR CATO: Gruden continues to talk up Cato June, the projected starter at strongside linebacker who was signed during the offseason.

"He's an impact player," Gruden said.

"No one talks about him. I don't know why. He's not fast. He's real fast. And he's a collision player. He has made more plays than any guy on our football team the first week of training camp."

'BACKER BACKUP: Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud left the field early, though Gruden said he was not sure why. Ryan Nece, who started at strongside last season, stepped into the middle with the first team during drills.

ARENA STAR: The Bucs signed defensive end Greg White.

White played for Bucs offensive assistant and Orlando Predators coach Jay Gruden in 2007, setting an Arena League record with 15 sacks.

A seventh-round pick of the Texans in 2002, White has spent time on the practice squads of the Redskins, Saints, Titans, Falcons and Bucs.

The team released linebacker Evan Benjamin and defensive tackle Justin Frick.

ACHES AND PAINS: In addition to Clayton, rookie safety Sabby Piscitelli sat out practice because of what Gruden called tight lowers.

"He's been doing a lot of running, so we gave him the morning off," Gruden said.

Tight end Matt Herian (calf strain) did not practice. Defensive tackle Gaines Adams (triceps) and defensive end Ryan Sims returned to practice but were limited.

Joanne Korth can be reached at korth @sptimes.com or (727) 893-8810.

[Last modified August 4, 2007, 22:13:02]