Bruised lower back for Garcia

Because I know you're all holding your breath, here's the deal: Jeff Garcia has a lower back bruise and likely will be considered day to day as the Bucs begin preparations for next Sunday's game at New Orleans.

Garcia played only 10 snaps against Washington today, even though coach Jon Gruden said team trainers were convinced he could not do further damage to the injury by playing through it.

The reason Gruden left Garcia on the sidelines as long as he did -- inserting him on the game's next-to-last offensive series -- was because the coach wasn't convinced Garcia would have enough mobility to play. He also was concerned the injury would be a mental distraction for Garcia.

"He's tough as heck," Gruden said. "He wanted to go back in and play several times. He just didn't have the mobility. He just didn't look right on the sidelines."

Meanwhile, while waiting for Gruden to decide to let him into the lineup, Garcia was growing impatient. But he acknowledged that he felt a lot of discomfort.

"I am sore right now," he said afterward. "It was a painful day, but one that we can fortunately smile about with the outcome of the game. I just took a shot in the lower back, right between the rib cage and the hip bone, almost like a kidney shot and it was pretty deep. I feel like I just bruised muscles that weren't allowing me to loosen up or use those back muscles. It felt like when I tried to bend over, try to utilize my back, it felt like it was giving out."

In the end, I'd be surprised if this injury is muhc of a factor this week. Knowing Garcia, he'll fight through it. Hopefully Jon Gruden has more of an update in Monday morning's press conference. We'll bring you the details on that, as usual.

Comments

[Tom]

Yeah right!

[DR]

When did this happen? It didn't happen during that scramble play.

[BuccanBobby]

Buchannon's Game Face ?
Hey Phillip...I'm a fan of yours but come on...getting caught on camera (3) times with big smiles after getting beat(badly) for a touchdown (Cooley 47 yds), dropping an interception, and OBVIOUSLY being "targeted" by Campbell and the rest of the Redskin offense. Show a different game face because I assure you...no Buc fans were smiling!

[action hank]

I think Bruce G. sucks!!! i don't think he is worth a roster spot. luke was a litte shakey in the first game but i know he is way better than that bruce kid.

[NMbucsfan]

instead of whining and complaining about Gradkowski, why don't you people appreciate the fact that he didn't perform as poorly as Jason Campbell with his 2 picks and fumble?

[Daniel]

DR, This did happen during the scramble play. He took a helmet to the kidney area, lower back region. The cameras had a lousy angle, so it is hardly noticable. He was still standing when it happened, if you look at the replay again, it happened in the middle of the play, not at the end when he went down.

[Skylar]

Gruden admitted in his press conference today that he gave a heavy dose of conservatism in the second half to Grad because he hadn't played all season and we had the lead. Also, that pass he threw to Galloway that was away from the defense was properly thrown; Galloway just looked for the ball on the wrong shoulder. That was TD pass all day.

He looked rusty, but he did post a 135 QB rating his first start in the Superdome last year. With a full week of practice as the starter and that Bucs D humming like it is; he'll do fine. Some of you overexaggerate his lack of skill sets. You don't break NCAA records by not having any skills.

Anybody remember watching Garcia against the Jags? Wanna talk about an ugly QB performance? Grad is basically a bigger, stronger Garcia; he just lacks much experience, and who better to learn from than his clone? He did a hell of a job putting up those 19 points and not turning the ball over so that our defense could win the game. There were a lot of dropped balls and like the coach said, a lot of conservative play calling.

Stop being haters, besides, it's just a bruise; Garcia will be back! And to all of you Redskin fans who act like we got away with one, just remember that you didn't have to play our starting QB. You couldn't even pull it off with your starter, so f@@k off!!!

[NMbucsfan]

Skylar, it couldn't be said better! Thanx for not being a negative Gruden basher.