Jones out for season

Bucs return specialist Mark Jones is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, coach Jon Gruden said in a news conference Monday at One Buc Place.

Jones was taken from the field on a cart after injuring his left knee during a first-quarter kickoff Sunday against Detroit. Gruden said he believed Jones tore the patellar tendon, similar to the injury that ended running back Cadillac Williams' season.

"It's unfortunate,'' Gruden said. "He was one of the top return specialists in football.''

The Bucs could turn to a rotation of Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard and Torrie Cox to return kickoffs and punts or "consider a couple other candidates,'' Gruden said.

There was less certainty about the ankle injury wide receiver Michael Clayton sustained when his right leg was bent back awkwardly after a 20-yard reception during the first quarter. Clayton will have an MRI today, Gruden said.

The Bucs have lost three running backs (Williams, Michael Pittman and Mike Alstott) and three receivers (including Paris Warren) to injuries this season.

"Our depth right now will be stressed,'' Gruden said. "We'll have a couple guys we'll look at, for sure.''

Cornerback Brian Kelly's injured groin is feeling better, but Gruden called him "still very questionable'' for this weekend's game against Jacksonville. The same goes for tight end Alex Smith (ankle) and defensive end Patrick Chukwurah (shoulder).

"We've got to overcome some dramatic losses to our football team,'' Gruden said, "but we're confident we can do that.''

(Times photo - James Borchuck. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Mike]

Do we lead the league in injuries? This is crazy! Every week we lose a significant player. We should start a thread as to which player will be next.

[Ashley]

I was just thinking the same thing, we have to be leading the league in injuries. I know it's a part of football but geez week after week it's crazy!!

[clad]

Does anyone on the thread agree with me that Derrick Brooks should be benched? I believe at this point he is a liability. We should move Cato to the weakside and start Quincy Black. It is apparent from yesterday's defensive performance that we lack speed in the linebacker corps and Mr. Brooks just isn't getting it done anymore. Agree?

[pam]

I wish these guys would "grow a pair" ... every time some one gets hit ...they have to be put out for weeks, they should stop acting like little girls...suck it up, and get back in the game, for crying out loud!!

who knew...that when they signed up to play football...they'd probably get "hit" oneday!! Geez!

[Mike W.]

Pam, you can't "suck it up" when you tear a tendon in your knee. Football at that level is a very violent sport and injuries happen. The best teams are able to overcome the injuries.

[Pam]

Mike,

Real men don't get hurt!!

[Mike]

cLAD YOU'RE AN IDIOT! Yea, bench a 10 time pro bowler and put in a rookie. God you people are unbelievable. Go play with dolls or something because you obviously know nothing about football.

[Michael Singleton]

Folks the problem with the defense is th lack ability to tackle. If you watched a lot of the plays it was guys just trying to make big hits instead of wrapping up. Look at CJ touchdown Phillips could have tackled him at the 10 put just tried to throw a hard shoulder into him instead of wrapping up. Didn't see Ruud involved to much yesterday. Also what is wrong with putting some press coverage on the wide receivers? Those short slant passes killed us on 3rd down and long. Jeff please look down the field, way down the field for Joey! Strech the field will open more opporunity for the run and for the check down throws.

[Jeremy]

Pam, real women don't act like idiots. The man may have lost his career over his particular injury. Maybe your plastic man doesn't get hurt, but unfortunately, real men do sometimes. GET REAL!

[Ryan]

So, uh, who's left on our team?

[Bob]

Lars Tate, Lars Tate, Lars Tate1

[Krutch]

Seems we get hit with an injury bug every year. Remember that infamous game where we were down to having Tim Wansley against Marvin Harrison? Don't teams teach injury prevention?

[Dan]

Every player who steps on the field risks getting seriously injured each play. Knowing this and still stepping on the field to play is what makes this a man's game. No one can shake off a torn tendon, thats absurd.

After a couple of these injuries you question our luck. At a certain point one has to look at the conditioning program. I think we just passed that point this weekend.

[pam]

Even if they don't teach injury prevention ...I thought that was why they wear all of that padding. If every week there's an injury to someones ankle or something, they should wrap it up! These guys are asking for injuries by not wearing proper gear...or wrap ing up the vulnerable areas!!

[DR]

One of the best return specialists in the league? Are you kidding? Oh yeah, it's Gruden, so he must be lying.
Houston had 12 players on IR 2 weeks ago and I think the NFL network reported them as having the most injuries. Injuries as a whole is very high in the NFL. Gotta wonder if that is the side effects of HGH! haha

[DR]

Pam, there's only so much you can do to keep 2 men, 200+ pounds, running full speed at eah other from getting injured. Seatbelts and air bags don't keep people from getting injured in even low speed crashes. You have high expectations. The only way to prevent injuries in football is to ban the sport. That ain't gonna happen.

[Zac C.]

DR if you have been following the season, you would see the tremendous difference Mark Jones has had on our return game. He has been consistantly returning the ball for 25+ yards and has one great return every game he has been in this year. I konw why Gruden believes that he is one of the best in the league...there aren't many teams that have been lifted up by a solid return game as much as we have (minus the Bears). The loss of Jones is huge. I hope that we can get someone to fill his shoes...

[Patrick]

Unfortunately injuries are part of the game and no amount of padding will prevent a person's leg from being bent back behind him when he gets hit and falls wrong. I think the defense did ok for the most part. They are still not getting any pressure on the quarterback. That is there biggest problem on defense right now. The offensive mistakes with turnovers and penalties and the blocked punt is what lost that game.

[Clyde]

"Some time, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy."

[Steve Graves]

Wow, went all the way to Detroit to see us beat the crap out of ourselves. We should have won that game by 20 points. Going to make life difficult if we continue to self destruct. I guess the biggest thing I saw on the sidelines was a lack of "excitement". Even the Detoit fans were thanking us Bucs fan for the GIFT. Ouch.

[DR]

Steve, its a returned favor for the Titans. The Titans beat themselves as well in Tampa. So its even for the season if you want to make that argument.
Zac, you're right, Jones was having a great season. Another patellar tendon injury- wow. Not just another injury for the Bucs, but another potential career ending injury for a Bucs player. I don't know if they want to put Bennett in as a return specialist. He would be good at that position, but its risky with the injury bug problem the Bucs are having.

[Here is your jello pam]

THIS IS A HUGE LOSS...PERIOD. OUR AVG STARTING POSITION YESTERDAY WAS ATROCIOUS. We should have won but it was payback for the titan game. The jags will probably run all over us, but we will bounce back against the cardinals. Poor tackling and a lack of execution faulted the BUCS, who should have fought harder for their QB.

Pam, your an idiot and you should stay away from the computer and just concentrate on eating your jello. real men don't get hurt? What would you know about being a man? Anyways..

Just a quick hit: How bad has Clayton become if an undrafted return man gets injured the same day you do and he gets the real coverage?

[Antidisestablismentarianism]

Just when I thought the absurd and idiotic comments from trolls and drama queens couldn't get much worse I am once again shown that some who comment on this blog are desperately attempting to make it an art form.

[Wayne]

Is there something wrong with our whole(Off and On Season) conditioning program? Do we need a New trainer or two, or three?
This is as bad as it was injury wise during the 1976 Expansion Season! What is the Deal?

[John Klopfer]

Bench Brooks? Are you from planet Moron? Brooks can still play and still hustles. Quincy Black maybe a couple of years from being able to contriibute

[bored clone]

Antidisestablismetarianism should get his own blog. Or column. I would read it regularly, although it might make him part of the establishment.

[Skylar]

I stated last year that Toriscelli should be replaced. Our team has suffered a significant number of injuries since coming here, although I believe he is a Dungy leftover. I'm just guessing, but his job is to keep our players flexible, strong and on the field. Footnotes: Jones was one of the best return men in the league because his numbers backed it up; that's no fanfare. He was top ten at KR (with 10 or more returns) and top 5 punt returner. "Astro-turf" should be banned. Look at Galloway's career after he came to a natural grass team...no major injuries and very high production. As far as Brooks is concerned...he is number 8 in all the NFL in tackles. He's top ten and you complete ignorant fools say things that just put a huge billboard on your heads that say IDIOT!!!

[John P]

You've got to start looking at all the ankle and tendon injuries these guys are suffering and start asking questions about the strength and conditioning routines. I mean, where does it end???????

Toriscelli has been around for a long time, and I've never heard or read anything bad about the guy - but something isn't right if guys are consistently suffering the same type of injuries over and over. It should at least be looked at.

On the bright side yesterday - it was good to see Stovall get into the game a little bit. Whether or not Clayton is out for a little or a long time, this is Stovall's chance to make an impact. I hope he recognizes it and pounces.

Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to see if Bennett can play a Hester kind of wideout roll and just run streaks straight down the field. Who could catch him and Galloway at the same time?

[DR]

Antidisestablismentarianism, you really bring a lot of insight to the table, nice job.

[Jules]

Brooks has some stellar games this year and is more than capable of continueing to be a strength on our Defense. He understands the game and even if he's lost a step, he's still better than everyone else.. he was just that far ahead when he was younger. As for injuries.. it's part of the game. It's a true test as to the type of unit we've put together and I'm sure Jon and Bruce are sweating there butts off, knowing that they have something to prove this year. I think our quick start will give us a good chance to close up the season with a good enough record to contest for the NFC south. Things will start to get easier and the bright side is that the younger guys will get some experience while we're at it.

[JP]

Actually, I agree with Clad. Brooks may be a 10-time pro bowler, but he's not playing very well this season. He's very tentative on tackles. He's trying to bump people to the ground rather than tackle them. He's missed more than he's made this year.

[JP]

and seriously Jules, you cannot do strength and conditioning that will protect a knee that gets collapsed sideways, or an ankle that gets turned around backwards.

[Clad]

I started the Brooks debate and I must follow up. JP agrees with me and is correct. Unfortunately Jules I must disagree with you. Mike is a complete football moron. Brooks has lost 2 steps in my opinion. I don't care that he is a 10 time pro bowler. At this stage of his career he is a liability to this defense. We need youth. We need speed. We need to be like the defense of 98 and 99 and the only way to get there is to infuse some youth into the ranks. Play June, Ruud, and Black and you get that youth and speed back. Indy's current defense is thriving by playing young, fast guys in a system defense. Dungy's formula works. Kiffin and Gruden need to wake up and sit the old, slow, tentative Brooks.

[Skylar]

OK Clad and JP, let's go over this again...Brooks is #8 in the entire NFL in tackles. What part of that do you not understand? Good idea; let's get rid of a top 10 linebacker and replace him with a nobody. Wow. I'm very glad it's Monty running the show and not you. DR...can you please explain the insight brought by longnamenogame? He makes a blanket statement which addresses no one person/topic in particular and has no real quantifying reasoning, yet you find it insightful; no suprises here.

[Clad]

Skylar,
Wake up my friend. This is what you are missing and don't get. Brooks tackles are all 5 or 6 or 7 yards downfield. He has no range and is slow/late to every running back. Half the time he is completely out of every play. We need playmakers and speed at the position now and Brooks can't provide that anymore. Capish brother?

[Skylar]

I'm surrounded by morons who think top ten linebackers are crappy!!!!