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Gruden 'Concerned' About Injuries To Galloway, Talib

Tribune photo by CLIFF MCBRIDE

Joey Galloway walks off the sidelines with 3 minutes left in the game vs. the Atlanta Falcons.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 16, 2008

Updated: 09/16/2008 11:37 am

TAMPA - Editor's note: Joey Galloway's age was incorrectly listed in previou editions of this story. It has been corrected here.

He certainly doesn't run like he's 36. There are increasing signs, however, Bucs wide receiver Joey Galloway is starting to feel like he's 36.

First there was the shoulder injury that rendered him useless against the Giants last January, then the groin injury that kept him out of the preseason. Now, there is a foot/ankle injury that already cost Galloway part of one game and threatens to cost him all or part of another.

The Bucs weren't saying Monday just how serious Galloway's latest injury is, but that Bucs coach Jon Gruden didn't dismiss it and say Galloway will be ready to play against Chicago is an indication the Bucs may have to play the Bears without their top deep threat.

Tampa Bay may be without its new nickel cornerback, too. Rookie Aqib Talib, who snatched his first career interception to spark the Bucs' 24-9 victory against Atlanta on Sunday, is nursing a sore hamstring.

Gruden said he was "concerned" about both players, but Talib was walking around after the Atlanta game on Sunday saying he was fine, so the bigger concern probably is Galloway.

The Bucs got a taste of life without an effective Galloway during a playoff loss to the Giants in January. The results were enough to suggest the Bucs could be in for a rough ride.

With no deep threat to stretch the defense, the Bucs struggled to move the ball against the Giants, who loaded up the box and shut down the Bucs' short passing game as well as their running attack.

Many walked away from that 24-14 Giants victory thinking the Bucs needed to add another deep threat and more playmakers to their receiving corps. Their most notable additions to the receiving corps were former second-round draft pick Antonio Bryant, who hadn't played in a year, and Dexter Jackson, a return man they drafted with the idea of grooming into a receiver.

Now the Bucs may have to lean on both players to keep the Bears from following the Giants' lead. It may be asking too much. So far, neither has made a significant contribution.

Bryant has dropped as many passes (three) as he's caught, and Jackson has yet to make a catch because his time as a receiver has been spent mostly on the practice field.

"I get a good portion of the practice reps when Galloway isn't there, but I still feel like I need to get used to being out there in an offensive setting," Jackson said.

"I feel like I'll do that once I get out there for a couple of plays, and we're working toward that. Receivers Coach Richard Mann and I work on that every day, so I feel like that's all I really need."

Gruden said Monday that "this may be the week" Jackson gets the nod at split end. He also talked up Bryant, whom he says he needs to make more use of, and Maurice Stovall as options. Michael Clayton also is an option.

The Bucs spent the preseason cross-training their receivers, so all of them, including flankers Clayton and Ike Hilliard, can step in and play split end if need be.

"That was one of the things we were able to accomplish in training camp," Gruden said of preparing for the possibility of playing a game without a healthy Galloway.

Of course, another option for the Bucs, minus Galloway, is to lean on their running game. While their passing game ranks 22nd in the league in yards per attempt (5.29), their running game is first in yards per attempt (6.5).

Earnest Graham is the biggest reason for that. Even if you take away his two long runs of 46 and 68 yards, he still is averaging 4 yards per carry. Warrick Dunn, meanwhile, is averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

"Earnest Graham is a beast," Bucs tight end John Gilmore said. "Blocking for that guy is fun. It's exciting when you're blocking and you've got guys like that running up behind you."

Graham and Dunn have different strengths and they usually split time as the tailback. Gruden, however, is beginning to find ways to get them both on the field at the same time.

He did that on about half a dozen plays against the Falcons on Sunday and he may do it for a half dozen or more against the Bears if he doesn't have the option of turning to Galloway.

"They both have great stamina and they're both excellent receivers," Gruden said. "If we can stay ahead in the down and distance, and sustain some 10 and 12 play drives like we did earlier, we'll see more of both of them."

If there's less Galloway, then more Graham and Dunn may be a necessity.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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