Da'Quan

Bowers

The Achilles is apparently the injury of 2012. Michael Bennett is now assured of a starting job opposite Adrian Clayborn, but the Bucs are severely lacking in depth at defensive end. Although Bowers started slowly last season while recovering from a microfracture procedure on his knee, he was one of the Buccaneers’ few bright spots down the stretch. His career is now at a crossroads after a second serious lower leg injury in as many seasons.

Bowers’ NFL career got off to a slow start, but coaches have been raving about his progress lately. And with Michael Bennett (groin) expected to be out a couple weeks, Bowers is getting his chance. “He’s playing aggressive. He’s violent and starting to pick things up pretty quickly,” coach Raheem Morris said.

Bennett started against the Packers last week despite battling a groin injury. It’s not clear if that is the same injury threatening to sideline Bennett for multiple weeks. Rookie Da’Quan Bowers has already picked up extra snaps, and the Bucs have added Daniel Te’o-Nesheim for depth.

Bowers will be first eligible to return in Week 8, but most signs point toward him missing the entire season after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon in May. Considered one of the biggest injury risks in the 2011 draft, Bowers suited up for every game during his rookie year, but will have to prove he’s 100 percent to hold onto his roster spot in 2013.

It’s a long shot, but does confirm Bowers will be placed on PUP rather than I.R. “He’s going to do his rehab with Shannon Merrick, who is one of the best rehab gurus in the NFL, which is why guys have been able to come back like they have at a quicker pace,” Dominik said. “We hope it does the same thing for him.”

Bowers will stay on PUP into the season, costing him the first six games. The Bucs could evaluate his recovery after that point, but it remains a long shot that Bowers will play at all in 2012. He tore his right Achilles’ tendon in early May. The 51st overall pick in the 2011 draft, Bowers’ career couldn’t have gotten off to a much worse start. We don’t like his long-term outlook.

Bowers, who tore his ACL in May, will start the season on reserve/PUP. Sometime in October, the Bucs will decide if he’ll be shut down via injured reserve. “It’s encouraging to know that that’s at least going to be up for discussion,” Dominik said. “Instead of worrying about 2013, we’re still talking about 2012.”

Bowers tore his Achilles’ tendon just five months ago, but the Bucs activated him off the PUP list just three hours before game time, so we knew he was going to play. Tampa Bay defensive ends have generated no pass rush in Bowers’ and Adrian Clayborn’s (torn ACL) absence. Bowers will join the rotation with Daniel Te’o-Nesheim and Michael Bennett, but his snaps will certainly be limited. The Bucs declared RB Michael Smith, CB Myron Lewis, DB Keith Tandy, LB Najee Goode, G Cody Wallace, WR Chris Owusu, and TE Danny Noble inactive.

The Bucs will have a three-week window to activate Bowers once he’s resumed practicing. According to coach Greg Schiano, Bowers is “chomping at the bit to return to action.” A healthy Bowers would help offset Tampa’s season-ending loss of RE Adrian Clayborn.

CB LeQuan Lewis was waived in a corresponding roster move. Tampa’s second-round pick last season, Bowers appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, but made just six starts. He tallied 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Bowers should immediately begin rotating with Michael Bennett and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, but only five months removed from tearing his Achilles’ tendon, his snaps will surely be limited. He will be active for Week 8. It’s a nice boost for a club that lost RE Adrian Clayborn in September.