Bucs kicker Matt Bryant likely will wait until just before kickoff Friday to determine whether his sore hamstring will allow him to kick for his job against the Houston Texans.
"It's probably going to be a last-minute thing," Bryant said. "There's just so much at stake and so much to factor in. I wish it was all cut-and-dried, but it's not."
Bryant, 34, missed the first three preseason games and is in danger of being released Saturday when the team finalizes its 53-man roster. He is battling free agent Mike Nugent for the job.
Bryant was told during a meeting on Monday with Coach Raheem Morris and General Manager Mark Dominik that he needs to kick Friday. The problem, Bryant said, is he likely will need a few more days for his sore leg to be 100 percent and he could risk further injury by kicking too soon.
"I'd like to be committed one way or another, but I just can't," Bryant said.
To avoid going into Friday's game cold, Bryant kicked about 20 balls during a low-intensity workout Tuesday.
"I wouldn't even say it was kicking," Bryant said. "It was really more of me just standing and swinging my leg. This is just one more hurdle I have to get over."
Bryant endeared himself to the community last season when, one day after burying his infant son, Tryson, he kicked three extra points and three field goals in a 30-21 win against the Packers.
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