TAMPA, Fla. — The bay area’s most scrutinized digit was shrouded in a glove Monday afternoon. Similarly, its playing status remained mostly under wraps also.
Tom Brady’s right thumb, bandaged following Sunday’s 45-17 victory against the Dolphins, should be fine for Thursday night’s game in Philadelphia, Bucs coach Bruce Arians said Monday. But the next two days should be more telling.
Brady was spotted with the other quarterbacks outside the AdventHealth Training Center’s indoor facility during the limited practice window open to reporters Monday, but never was seen throwing. The team held a pad-less walk-through indoors, where Brady was listed as a limited participant on the team’s official injury report.
“He went through the full practice,” Arians said. “Had we had a full-speed practice, we probably would’ve limited his throwing, but he looks like he’ll be fine by Thursday.”
Brady’s thumb appeared to hit a Miami player’s helmet on a short red-zone throw late in Sunday’s first half. He completed 13 of 16 passes — with scoring throws of 34 and 22 yards to Mike Evans — in the second half.
“It’s just a football injury,” Brady said afterward. “(I will) do my best to get ready for this game. We’ll see what happens.”
Elsewhere, Arians said inside linebacker Lavonte David did in fact suffer a high-ankle sprain after 313-pound teammate Ndamukong Suh was shoved into his lower legs Sunday. David wasn’t spotted at Monday’s workout and was a non-participant.
“There doesn’t appear to be heavy swelling,” Arians said, “so it’s just a matter of when he can run and cut on it, and we’ll wait and see.”
The news was mildly more uplifting regarding tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion). Arians indicated both could play Thursday, though nothing has been determined yet. Winfield, injured in the Oct. 3 win at New England, was a limited participant Monday; Gronkowski, out the last two games, didn’t participate.
“It will be very, very close (with Gronk) this week, so we’ll wait and see,” Arians said.
“(Winfield) was out there today doing more cognitive stuff, doing the checks and things like that, so yeah, I think he can (play). Will he? I don’t know yet, but we’ll see how this goes.”
The only other non-participant Monday was center Ryan Jensen (hip), who exited in the final stages Sunday; Arians didn’t address his status for Thursday night.
Arians also said cornerback Carlton Davis, on injured reserve after sustaining a quad injury against the Patriots, likely won’t need surgery but couldn’t offer a timetable on his return. Fellow corner Sean Murphy-Bunting, who dislocated his elbow in the season opener against the Cowboys, still appears “a few weeks off,” Arians added.
