TAMPA — Two days before the Bucs' preseason opener at Philadelphia, two key offensive players were held out with injuries, with running back Charles Sims nursing an ankle injury from Monday's practice at Tropicana Field and receiver Vincent Jackson (undisclosed) also sidelined.
"We'll have to see," coach Dirk Koetter said of Sims' readiness for Thursday's game. "We'll have to see about Charles, we'll have to see about Vincent, but anybody who's healthy will play. If it's close, on a proven guy, we'll hold them out."
Bucs guard J.R. Sweezy, who hasn't practiced since signing with Tampa Bay in March, hasn't been at the last two practices — even as a spectator — and Koetter said he is in California seeing a doctor, presumably about back problems.