NFL Rumors: Carl Nicks to be ready for start of Buccaneers training camp
By Jack Crosby
Having dealt with toe issues for the better part of the last two seasons, there’s no guarantee that Tampa Buccaneers left guard Carl Nicks will be the starter come Week 1. He’s currently not participating in OTAs, however first-year head coach Lovie Smith did point out that he expects Nicks to be ready for training camp at the very least.
Smith said no player has an injury that he thinks will hold them back from working at training camp, including Carl Nicks.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) June 10, 2014
Back in 2012, Nicks was considered one of the very best at his position and he was rewarded with a five-year, $47.5 million deal. However, since that signing, Nicks has played in just nine games for the Buccaneers after he suffered the toe injury and even battled a subsequent infection.
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Now of course, this also comes with some questions marks.
Saying that he’ll be ready for training camp and what he’ll actually do at training camp are two different things. He could obviously be ready to put the pads on, however Smith and the coaching staff may limit what he does on the field, which again would hurt the chances that he’s starting come Weel 1 of the 2014 regular season.
Time will tell how ready Nicks actually will be, but given how extensive this rehab process has been so far, plus the setbacks he’s already faced, Buccaneers fans shouldn’t get their hopes too high.