TAMPA, Fla. — The Bucs may have to play one of their biggest games of the season without receiver Antonio Brown.
The team placed Brown on the reserve/covid-19 list Wednesday, meaning he could miss Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
As a vaccinated player, Brown would have to have two negative tests for covid-19 at least 24 hours apart.
Linebacker Kevin Minter, the Bucs’ special teams captain, and practice squad receiver Travis Jonsen tested positive for covid-19 on Monday, the club announced.
Brown, the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers star, led the Bucs with 121 yards receiving, including a 47-yard touchdown, in the 31-29 win over the Dallas Cowboys to kick off the NFL season two weeks ago.
In Sunday’s 48-25 win over the Falcons, Brown was limited to only one reception for 17 yards in the second quarter.
The Bucs (2-0) are deep at receiver, but Brown appears to have found his burst after undergoing offseason knee surgery.
Receiver Scotty Miller has played only 20 offensive snaps this season and has yet to make a reception. Second-year pro Tyler Johnson had one catch for 5 yards Sunday, his only reception of the season.
The Bucs passing game typically runs through Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but since joining the team in 2020 after serving an eight-game suspension Brown has become a more integral part of the offense and one of its biggest deep threats.
