Tampa Bay Buccaneers have cleared Carl Nicks

So here’s some great, surprising news. When asked by one of his followers if Tampa Bay Buccaneers star left guard Carl Nicks would be placed on the PUP list (I’m assuming the follower meant “reserve/PUP”, since he stated “to start the season”), Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune replied that Nicks has indeed been cleared to play.

Nicks has appeared in just nine games during his Buccaneers career after being a huge free agent signing in the 2012 offseason, and it’s been a disappointment to see incredibly severe injuries derail the career of one of the league’s most talented guards. But it looks like Nicks and head coach Lovie Smith were indeed telling the truth when they stated that the veteran guard would be ready to start training camp, and it went against all of our expectations.

Again, this is some pretty surprising news, but the real test will be whether or not Nicks can hold up through training camp and make it through a grueling regular season campaign for the first time since 2011. It’s hard to remember, but Nicks was once the epitome of durability and reliability during his first four years in the league, as he never missed a game for the New Orleans Saints. Nicks had issues running and cutting earlier this offseason, but it looks like those are finally behind him- well, for now at least.