TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady missed 11 days of training camp and the first two preseason games for personal reasons. But the Bucs quarterback won’t be absent from the lineup for Saturday’s preseason finale at Indianapolis.
Coach Todd Bowles indicated Thursday that Brady will start against the Colts in order to get some experience in game situations behind a rebuilt offensive line.
“It wasn’t difficult,” Bowles said. “We got together as a staff and as a team and we understand we want to see certain things, so we’re putting everybody out there.
“Anyone that’s healthy will play.”
That includes Brady, who has taken the majority of repetitions with the starting offense in three of the Bucs’ four practices since returning to the team Monday. He had a day off Wednesday but was back under center in Thursday’s practice and looked sharp.
Also getting their first action in a preseason game will be receivers Mike Evans and Julio Jones. Chris Godwin still is recovering from a torn ACL, and Russell Gage has not practiced this week due to a hamstring injury.
Bowles said while Brady did not play in preseason games against the Dolphins and Titans, he otherwise would not have practiced all 11 days he was away from the team.
“He missed 11 days, but he wasn’t playing in the first two (games),” Bowles said. “If you count his days off, plus the days off naturally, he would only practice about three times. He’s fine with everything. We know his conditioning is fine.”
Even so, Brady took advantage of the Bucs air-conditioned cool-down trailer between periods in practice Thursday, entering it five times.
Bowles said his relationship with Brady enabled the Bucs to give him the time off he needed after he asked for it prior to training camp.
“If it wasn’t a situation that we (had) talked about, if it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t have done it,” Bowles said. “Obviously, I have that kind of relationship. ... They all have private things they come to us with. His just came to light more than others.”
How much will Brady will play Saturday remains to be determined. A year ago, he went 11-for-14 passing for 154 yards and a touchdown in the preseason finale against the Texans. He played briefly in the preseason opener against the Bengals last season, going 1 for 2 for nine yards.
