TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were without some key contributors during practice Wednesday.
Cornerback Johnthan Banks (knee), tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder), offensive tackle Donovan Smith (knee), center Evan Smith (ankle) and tight end Luke Stocker (hip) didn't participate. Perhaps as a response to Donovan Smith's injury, the Bucs promoted offensive tackle Reid Fragel from the practice squad earlier in the day, after a spot was made available on the active roster when the team waived running back Mike James on Tuesday.
Coach Lovie Smith left open the chance that Donovan Smith could return soon.
"Hopefully tomorrow, he'll be a lot better," Lovie Smith said, "and [he] might be able to practice."
But if Donovan Smith will be out longer, it doesn't hurt to add depth on the offensive line in Fragel. The Cincinnati Bengals selected the 6-foot-8, 308-pound Ohio State product in the seventh round in 2013. He joined the Bucs as a waiver claim from the Atlanta Falcons on May 4. He was waived Sept. 6, but he was signed to Tampa Bay's practice squad two days later.
Fragel, 24, shared time his rookie season between the Bengals' practice squad and active roster. He spent most of last year on the Falcons' practice squad within an offense run by Dirk Koetter, now Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator.
In other injury news, safety Chris Conte (hip), defensive end George Johnson (neck), defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (shoulder) and safety Major Wright (abdomen) had limited participation in practice.
