Alex Smith could play this week

Bucs tight end Alex Smith ''has a chance to play this week'' against the Detroit Lions, head coach Jon Gruden said during a news conference Monday at One Buc Place.

Smith was taken off the field on a cart after spraining an ankle in the second half of Sunday's 13-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

"We don't believe it's as serious as Mike Pittman's (ankle injury),'' Gruden said.

X-rays on Smith's ankle and defensive end Patrick Chukwurah's injured shoulder appeared negative, Gruden said. He called both players "questionable'' for Sunday's game.

Pittman was lost for 6-8 weeks with a high ankle sprain sustained during a loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 7. With Pittman out for the foreseeable future, and Cadillac Williams (knee) and Mike Alstott (neck) done for the season, Gruden said the Bucs will be active as the league trade deadline approaches Tuesday at 4:15 p.m.

"We are certainly investigating the possibility of a trade,'' Gruden said. "Again, it takes two to tango.''

Gruden also addressed the decision on Saturday to release running back Kenneth Darby and promote Lionel Gates from the practice squad, saying the Bucs believed Gates' performance in practice gave them more options in the running game and on special teams.

"We felt, in all fairness, Lionel Gates outperformed Ken Darby on the practice field,'' Gruden said.

Comments

[Sky]

As I've been reading--we're interested in Mewelde Moore..why? If you're gonna go for a running back why not Chester Taylor? Other than that...don't waste time and money as our club is use to doing (like picking up all of Oakland's left over scraps)get Justin Fargas who does have a decent game if you're going to Oakland for players.

[Done-G]

Hey Sky, have you heard what Chester Taylor is doing to the Vikings locker room? Yea, no thanks. We have a team here and we don't need a thug no-it-all bum to come ruin' it. I'll take Mewelde Moore.

So what left over Oakland scraps do we have? Are you speaking of Zack Crockett but making it sound like we have 16 Oakland left over scrap players? You people make me sick! Go Gruden, resign for 10 more years!!!!!!!!!!

[Done-G]

Oh yes, I would love to have Gruden around forever. I wear my favorite Gruden panties while I watch the games and those close ups of him make me so hot! I have Gruden fatheads on everey wall and even the ceiling in my bedroom.

[Done-G]

WOW! That was too much information. Or maybe that was just tongue in cheek? :)

Was it Dung-y or I'm sorry Done-G?

[Rocket84]

Rumors floating around about a possible Bennett signing from the Chiefs. I prefer Moore but who knows.

[aaron]

i prefer bruce/john getting some balls and trading for turner. he is young, big, fast and an animal. there is no RB even compareable to him coming out in the draft this year. he is worth a 1st rd pick or a 2nd and a player (stovall). if the move for turner is made we have a really good rb who teams will respect much more than they did caddy (no offense, i loved caddy). if the cad-man comes back, then great. we will have a huge 1,2 punch. but i dont think caddy will ever be the same. gruden and allen need to make this move. we are 4-2 and in first place, but not for long if we dont get a rb like turner. not moore, not bennett, not crockett. Michael Turner is our man. go make the move guys, we could go deep in the playoffs with this kid. a good D, good wr's, good qb, good special teams. all we need is that good back and turner is the best option! time is running out...