Brown (ankle) indicated Thursday he hasn't yet undergone surgery to address his injury, and he doesn't plan to do so unless a team signs him, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Brown's announcement on that front presents yet another barrier to any potential return to the playing field, as his recovery process won't even begin until a team agrees to sign him. It had previously been stated that Brown was scheduled to undergo ankle surgery shortly after having been cut by the Buccaneers back in January. When factoring both Brown's injury situation and the circumstances under which he parted ways with Tampa Bay, it seems possible the 33-year-old may not see another opportunity in the NFL, regardless of on-field ability. In seven games with Tampa Bay last season, Brown caught 42 of his 62 targets for 545 yards and four TDs.
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Antonio Brown: Officially cut loose
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The Buccaneers announced Thursday that Brown's (ankle) contract has been terminated, effective immediately.
Head coach Bruce Arians already told the media following Sunday's 28-24 win over Jets that Brown would be waived after he left the sideline midway through the game and tossed his uniform into the stands, but the Buccaneers waited four days to make the transaction official while discussing the situation with the NFL. In a statement released in conjunction with the transaction, the Buccaneers addressed claims from Brown's attorney alleging that the wideout was upset after he was asked to re-enter Sunday's game despite suffering from "broken bone fragments, ligament torn from the bone and cartilage loss" in his left ankle. The statement indicates that Brown at no point during the game disclosed his injury to the team, and adds that the receiver has refused to meet Tampa Bay's subsequent requests this week to be evaluated by an outside orthopedic specialist. Brown's attorney relayed that the 33-year-old is scheduled to undergo surgery to address the ankle injury, though it's unclear if that's still the plan now that he's been terminated from the team.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Slated for ankle surgery
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Brown released a statement Wednesday via his attorney indicating that the wide receiver is set to undergo surgery on his left ankle in the near future, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Brown went into detail in the lead-up and aftermath of Sunday's incident with Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians in which the 33-year-old left the field without his jersey and shoulder pads. In particular, Brown felt he was unable to perform the football moves that he's accustomed to due to the ankle issue that's lingered for a good part of the campaign, and then was told to get off the sideline by Arians. As for the nature of Brown's injury, an MRI on Monday revealed "broken bone fragments stuck in [his left] ankle, the ligament torn from the bone, and cartilage loss." He acknowledged that his season is over, but he's "looking forward" to a return in 2022. The Buccaneers have yet to waive Brown but will do so soon. Once that transaction is made, he'll focus on rehab with the anticipation of hitting unrestricted free agency March 16.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Departure being finalized
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Head coach Bruce Arians reiterated Wednesday that Brown is no longer considered part of the Buccaneers, saying the absence of a transaction is just a matter of the front office working on how to handle the situation officially, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Arians essentially shut the door on any sentiment that Brown might be able to rejoin the Bucs, though it's still possible other teams could be interested in signing the wideout for the playoffs once he's officially off Tampa Bay's roster.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Not yet waived
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Tampa Bay didn't officially waive Brown on Monday as expected, as the team's brass is holding ongoing discussions with the NFL about how to move ahead with the situation, Jenna Laine and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com report.
Both player and team still appear set to part ways after head coach Bruce Arians said following Sunday's come-from-behind win over the Jets that Brown is "no longer a Buc," but it could take a few more days before the wideout is formally cut. Brown is set to end his time in Tampa Bay with 87 receptions for 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns across 15 regular-season games, but his two-year stint with the team was marred to a lesser extent by injury and more so by a lengthy history of erratic behavior on and off the field. His latest misstep -- leaving the sideline and tossing his uniform into the stands in the middle of the Bucs' Week 17 win -- could make it difficult for Brown to find an opportunity elsewhere, even though he's remained productive in his age-33 season.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Tenure in Tampa coming to close
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Coach Bruce Arians said after Sunday's 28-24 road win against the Jets that Brown "is no longer a Buccaneer," Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
After Brown's departure during the second half of Sunday's game, Arians' comment comes as no surprise. As TJ Rives of Buccaneers radio reported afterward, Brown was benched by Arians, and the wide receiver proceeded to take off his pads, toss a shirt into the stands and head to the locker room in the middle of the game. Brown's first full campaign in Tampa Bay included seven appearances and nine absences, with the final three DNPs the result of a suspension for misrepresenting his vaccination status. He'll soon be subject to waivers, likely by Monday at 4 p.m. ET, and it'll be surprising if another team comes calling considering Sunday's events.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Suiting up Week 17
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Brown (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Jets, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Reports had surfaced late Saturday that Brown's outlook had improved after he was able to practice earlier in the day without any reported restrictions, and his availability for the interconference clash with the Jets now is confirmed. The veteran is coming off a 10-catch, 101-yard effort on 15 targets versus the Panthers in Week 16, but the return of Mike Evans (hamstring) on Sunday after he missed the contest against Carolina could eat into Brown's volume.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Expected to play Sunday
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Brown (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, practiced Saturday and barring a setback is expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Brown tweaked his ankle in practice this week and didn't practice Thursday or Friday. Despite this optimistic report, check his status ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Misses practice, could play
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Brown (ankle) didn't practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Brown dealt with an ankle injury from mid-October until a few weeks ago, and he may have hurt the same ankle during Wednesday's practice. He was held out Thursday and Friday, with assistant coach Harold Goodwin suggesting Brown could be a game-time decision ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Fellow wideout Mike Evans (hamstring) also is listed as questionable after returning to practice Friday as a limited participant following a brief stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Behind those two, the Bucs have Tyler Johnson, Breshad Perriman, Scotty Miller, Jaelon Darden (reserve/COVID-19 list) and Justin Watson (quadriceps) as wideout options for Week 17.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Potential game-time decision
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Buccaneers assistant coach Harold Goodwin said Brown tweaked his ankle in practice this week and could be a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup with the Jets, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
It obviously isn't ideal that it's the same ankle Brown was bothered by from mid-October until a few weeks ago. However, he reportedly still has a shot to play this week, following a limited practice Wednesday and an absence Thursday. Meanwhile, Mike Evans (hamstring) is back from the reserve/COVID-19 list but also appears in danger of missing the upcoming game with an injury.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Brown (ankle) was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
The Buccaneers haven't revealed whether Brown's absence from practice was maintenance-related or the result of a setback, so his activity at Friday's session will prove most telling with regard to his status for Sunday's game against the Jets. Despite not upgrading beyond limited participation in practices a week ago, Brown returned from an eight-game absence due to the ankle injury and a suspension and immediately asserted himself as Tom Brady's favorite target in the Bucs' 32-6 win over the Panthers. Brown played 79 percent of the offensive snaps in the victory and collected 10 receptions for 101 yards on 15 targets. The 33-year-old will likely cede some targets once Mike Evans (hamstring) is cleared to play, but assuming his ankle issue isn't a concern, Brown should still see plenty of volume the rest of the way with Chris Godwin (knee) shut down for the season.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Limited at practice Wednesday
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Brown was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury.
Brown wasn't worse for wear while playing through the ankle issue this past Sunday in Carolina, ripping up the Panthers for 10 catches (on 15 targets) for 101 yards. The outing was his first since Week 6 due to the combination of the injury and a three-game suspension, but his significance in the offense was aided by an absent Chris Godwin (knee) and Mike Evans (hamstring). Godwin is out for the season, while Evans was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, making him a bigger question mark than Brown for Sunday's road game against the Jets. In any case, Brown is the unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver on Tampa Bay's active roster due to his relative health.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Big splash in return
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Brown brought in 10 of 15 targets for 101 yards in the Buccaneers' 32-6 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
With Mike Evans (hamstring), Chris Godwin (IR/knee) and Leonard Fournette (IR/hamstring) all unavailable, Brown unsurprisingly became the primary focus of Tom Brady's attention Sunday and responded with a fruitful fantasy effort. The game marked Brown's first taste of action since Week 6, and to his credit the mercurial wideout didn't look like he missed a beat against what had been a stingy Panthers secondary. Despite the extremely heavy workload Sunday, Brown's massive target volume could take a hit Week 17 on the road against the Jets if Evans is able to make it back for that contest.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Cleared for first game since Week 6
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Brown (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
After he was reinstated to the Buccaneers' 53-man roster Monday following the conclusion of his three-game suspension, Brown was a limited participant in practices Wednesday through Friday as he eased himself back in from a sprained ankle, which sidelined him for six weeks prior to being handed the suspension. Despite Brown's lack of full activity, Tampa Bay apparently is comfortable with his health heading into the weekend, and he'll likely slide back into a prominent role in the passing attack right off the bat. With Mike Evans (hamstring) ruled out for the contest and Chris Godwin (knee) on season-ending injured reserve, look for Brown to serve as Tom Brady's clear No. 1 receiver, making the 33-year-old a strong lineup option in the fantasy playoffs.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Another limited showing
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Brown (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.
Brown returned to the Buccaneers earlier this week after serving a three-game suspension with his preexisting ankle issue still hindering him. He managed back-to-back limited listings on the team's first two Week 16 practice reports, but coach Bruce Arians mentioned Wednesday that Brown's ankle is "fine," and the wide receiver appeared to be back to pre-injury form, per Greg Auman of The Athletic. With Chris Godwin (knee) on injured reserve and Mike Evans (hamstring) also compromised on the health front, Brown could be in line for a hefty workload Sunday at Carolina, assuming he puts his own concern behind him.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Limited in return to practice
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Brown (ankle) was listed as a limited participant for Wednesday's walk-through practice session, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
After being reinstated from his three-game suspension Monday, Brown appears on track to play this weekend against Carolina, with coach Bruce Arians saying Wednesday that the wideout's ankle is fine following a lengthy layoff. The Bucs are still listing Brown on the injury report, of course, but it's possible he graduates to full activity by the end of the week. He could be the team's top wideout Sunday with Chris Godwin (knee) out for the season and Mike Evans (hamstring) at risk of missing the game as well.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Looking healthy
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Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday that Brown's ankle looks healthy as the team prepares for a Week 16 game against Carolina, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Brown was restored to the roster Monday after completing his three-game suspension, and while he didn't participate in the open portion of Wednesday's practice, he appears to have managed some kind of physical activity. Arians said Brown looked like his pre-injury self, likely setting up a return to the lineup Sunday. Given his long layoff -- Brown has either been injured or suspended for nearly two months -- he could have his snap count monitored carefully Week 16, even with Chris Godwin (knee) out for the season and Mike Evans (hamstring) likely to sit out.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Not practicing yet
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Brown (ankle) didn't participate in the open portion of Wednesday's practice, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Brown is back with the Buccaneers after serving his three-game suspension, but he may still be working his way back into playing shape after dealing with an ankle injury for the past couple months. Greg Auman of The Athletic tentatively expects Brown to play this Sunday against the Panthers, though it's hard to get a good read on the situation so early in the week.Chris Godwin (knee) is done for the season, and Mike Evans (hamstring) also appears to be sidelined Wednesday, so if he's available to play, Brown could be Tom Brady's top target Week 16.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Suspension lifted
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Brown's (ankle) suspension was lifted Monday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.
After sitting out three games due to violating the joint NFL and NFLPA COVID-19 protocols for misrepresenting his vaccination status, Brown is back with the Buccaneers. The occasion is somewhat fortuitous for the team after Chris Godwin was diagnosed with a torn ACL following Sunday's loss to the Saints. At the same time, Mike Evans hurt his hamstring in that contest, and Breshad Perriman (undisclosed) is on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Questions surround Brown's own health, as he missed five games prior to the ban due to a sprained ankle. Not only will he need to prove he's past the issue, his conditioning could be less than 100 percent considering he hasn't taken part in practice in more than two months.
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Buccaneers' Antonio Brown: Set to rejoin team Monday
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Brown (ankle) is expected to rejoin the Buccaneers on Monday after his three-game suspension concludes after Sunday's contest against the Saints, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
After both Brown and safety Mike Edwards were suspended three games earlier this month for violating the joint NFL and NFLPA COVID-19 protocols for misrepresenting their vaccination statuses, head coach Bruce Arians was non-committal on either player's future with the organization. Arians told reporters Friday that he planned to make an announcement on the matter following Sunday's contest, but all indications are that both Brown and Edwards will be back at the Bucs' facility as the team begins preparing for a Week 16 matchup with the Panthers. Before he was suspended, Brown missed five consecutive games with a sprained ankle, so he'll still need to prove in practice that he's back at full speed before making his return to the lineup in Carolina.
