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Bryant is doubtful for Bucs

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By IRA KAUFMAN

ikaufman@tampatrib.com

Published: November 14, 2009

Updated: 11/14/2009 12:12 am

TAMPA - The Bucs are likely to be without at least two starters Sunday when they face the Miami Dolphins.
Wide receiver Antonio Bryant and defensive end Stylez G. White are listed as doubtful and running back Derrick Ward was added to Friday's injury list as questionable with a sore knee.

Coach Raheem Morris said after Friday's practice that he expected all Tampa Bay players to make the trip to Miami, although Bryant and White did not participate in any practices this week.

White hurt his shoulder late in Sunday's victory against Green Bay and Bryant's left knee remains a problem, three months after he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

Bryant, who could be a free agent in 2010, missed the Week 2 game at Buffalo and didn't dress against Green Bay.

"We want to get him (Bryant) healthy," Morris said. "Hopefully, he can come back and finish this thing strong. The swelling looks like it's improving. This is not a selfish act by Antonio Bryant by any means. This is a team decision. This is Antonio Bryant sitting in my office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, figuring out where we are.

"We don't have a problem as far as A.B. pulling himself out. The one thing he would do, and we've seen him do it before, is play through pain and play probably when he shouldn't. This is by no means an indictment or a tactic by Antonio Bryant."

White has played in 40 consecutive games since joining the Bucs as a free agent in 2007 and he has excelled in three starts since the trade of defensive end Gaines Adams to Chicago last month.

"We've got him (White) up in the air right now," Morris said.

Ward has struggled to contribute in the ground game since signing with Tampa Bay in March as a highly sought free agent from the Giants. He is averaging only six carries per game and 3.7 yards per rushing attempt, well below the 5.6 average he posted for the Giants in 2008.

"Ward's got a knee tweak," Morris said, "but I think he'll be fine. He practiced all week and looked pretty good."

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