Buccaneers still don’t want to rule Doug Martin out

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Arizona Cardinals defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers star RB Doug Martin is expected to be out for the rest of the season with a torn labrum, which is a devastating blow for fantasy owners and, especially, the winless Buccaneers. It’s been a nightmare season for the Bucs, but the Bucs aren’t giving up on the chance that Martin is able to avoid missing the remainder of the season. The NFL Network’s Jeff Darlington reports that the Buccaneers are “still holding out hope” that Doug Martin won’t miss the season with a torn labrum. I highly doubt all of the reporters who stated that Martin will be out for the season are wrong, so it would be a surprise to see him play later on this year.

The Buccaneers are clinging onto the last thing that left Pandora’s box so much that they haven’t even ruled Martin out for Thursday night’s rivalry game against the Carolina Panthers. It is impossible to envision Martin coming anywhere close to playing on Thursday with a severe shoulder injury, especially if it is indeed a torn labrum. It is a short week, and it would be really imprudent for this team to ever even seriously consider playing Martin.

Mike James is going to start for the Buccaneers for the foreseeable future, and the Buccaneers seem to be high on the rookie rusher out of Rutgers (they traded up for him to the sixth with the seventh-round pick they received in the LeGarrette Blount-Jeff Demps swap with the New England Patriots). We’ll see if Martin is somehow able to play this season, and the Buccaneers are reportedly set to get a second opinion on their star back’s shoulder.

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