TAMPA, Fla. -- Two guys that can't afford to miss any time sat out Monday night's practice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Defensive end Da'Quan Bowers and tight end Luke Stocker sat out with unspecified injuries. The pair of 2011 draft picks (Bower came in the second round and Stocker in the fourth), both have underachieved throughout their careers.
Both clearly are on the bubble. The new front office and coaching staff isn't wed to either one of them.
The Bucs are deep at defensive end with Michael Johnson, Adrian Clayborn, William Gholston and Steven Means. Even if Bowers can get healthy in a hurry, he's no guarantee to make the team.
The same can be said for Stocker. At the moment, he's the fourth tight end on a team that probably will only keep three. Brandon Myers, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Tim Wright have been getting the work ahead of Stocker.
If Bowers and Stocker don't make the roster, the draft class of 2011 is going to look pretty underwhelming. At the moment, only three other draft picks from that class are on the roster. Cornerback Anthony Gaitor, who already has been cut once, is a long shot to make the team. Clayborn and linebacker Mason Foster might be all that remains of the 2011 draft class.
