TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hilliard's Shoulder A Concern For Gruden

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2007

HOUSTON - Bucs coach Jon Gruden was greatly concerned about WR Ike Hilliard's shoulder injury after Tampa Bay's 28-14 loss to Houston.

Hilliard's injury occurred in the second quarter with the game tied at 7. On third-and-7 from Tampa Bay's 16-yard line, Hilliard caught a short pass from Luke McCown and gained 12 yards, but he was hit hard by Houston S Will Demps and fumbled.

Demps recovered Hilliard's fumble on Tampa Bay's 26-yard line, returning it to the 23. Hilliard lay on the ground for several seconds and eventually walked off the field with 6:14 remaining before halftime. He never re-entered the game.

"We lost Ike Hilliard today, which really compromised us," Gruden said. "He is a clutch, go-to guy for us on third downs, especially. We're searching right now to find out his availability for next week."

Hilliard was unavailable for comment after the game.

This season, Hilliard has battled through a knee, calf and ankle injuries, but started in 11 of 13 games. Entering Sunday's game, Hilliard led the team with 55 receptions, for 635 receiving yards (second best on the team) and one touchdown.

If Hilliard is unable to play against Atlanta, WR Michael Clayton likely will start, WR Maurice Stovall will receive more playing time and the Bucs probably would activate WRs Taye Biddle, Chad Lucas or Brian Clark from their practice squad.

"I don't know exactly what Hilliard's injury is. He's had a number of nicks and nags here the past couple of weeks," Gruden said. "He's the toughest guy that I've ever coached at that position. I don't want to take anything away from anybody else, but I'm concerned about his overall health right now. He's beat up a little bit right now, but we need him back."

ASKEW PLAYING IN PAIN: Bucs FB B.J. Askew's left leg was in a cast this week to help his injured ankle, but he is a long way from being healed.

Askew has been battling ankle problems for a few weeks, but played through his pain. He wore a cast for a few days prior to Sunday's game against Houston, but it did not have the desired result Tampa Bay's medical staff hoped for.

"It's kind of weird because I thought it got better, and when I took the cast off, I was walking a little better," Askew said. "I felt really positive about going into this game. Once I started to go out for the warm-ups, I started to get into my routine and it felt more difficult than normal. Being the type of game this was, a game we needed to win, I just made a decision to push it.

"I probably shouldn't have, but I made the decision to go ahead and push it."

Askew said he did not further damage his ankle and expects to play in pain the rest of this season.

"It was probably the roughest I've felt. It will be another long week of preparation," Askew said. "I'll have to take it one day at a time. ... I don't think it got any worse coming out of the game. Still limping and doing the same thing I've been doing after every game, but it's one of those things. I'm going to have to see how it feels as the week goes on."

GRAHAM PROVIDES BRIGHT SPOT: Bucs RB Earnest Graham continues to excel in the absence of Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman.

Graham rushed for a 4-yard touchdown in the second quarter, which is the fifth consecutive game he has scored on the ground, tying a team record. Other Tampa Bay players to rush for touchdowns in five consecutive games were Gary Anderson (1990), Reggie Cobb (1992) and Errict Rhett (1995).

"I think we are where we need to be as a running game on crucial third and fourth downs and around the goal line to cap our drives. We have been able to do that," Graham said. "We would have liked to have done that better today."

Graham rushed 15 times for 61 yards and two touchdowns, but Tampa Bay gained only 71 yards on 17 attempts, with McCown the Bucs' only other carrier.

"We were not making the plays on third down," Graham said. "The way we started the game and turnovers ... those are usually things that will lose you a game."

Anwar S. Richardson

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT