Left guard Carl Nicks has been battling a MRSA infection, or Staph infection, recently. The left foot infection followed season-ending surgery he had on his big toe in November of last season. He recently practiced three days in Foxborough but has yet to appear in a preseason game.
The Buccaneers are still hopeful however that Nicks will be available for week 1 of the regular season, September 8th.
“I think there’s too much time still before we can (rule Nicks out),” head coach Greg Schiano said, via Tampa Bay Times.
RT @mortreport: Buccaneers confirm Carl Nicks and Lawrence Tynes were afflcted with MRSA infections. More on NFL Insiders, 3 ET, ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 22, 2013
Earlier ESPN’s Adam Schefter speculated that Carl Nicks could miss about a month.
@AdamSchefter said in ESPN's NFL Insiders G Carl Nicks 'could miss about a month, based on what I’m being told,” with the foot infection.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 21, 2013
Conflicting reports could mean that the opening game is more at 50/50 odds for Nicks. Even if he plays you’d have to believe he’d be less than 100%.