This week, Tom Brady will return to the Buccaneers’ training camp after a brief absence. Brady is anticipated to join the squad “early” this week, according to Bucs coach Todd Bowles, who spoke to media on Sunday. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, that day is anticipated to occur on Monday.
On August 11, TB12 was excused from camp due to personal matters. Brady and the club have not provided an explanation for the excuse, but everything is progressing as expected because Bowles promised to return after the Bucs’ exhibition game against the Titans. “It’s something he needs to handle,” Bowles said upon the announcement of Brady’s absence. “We trust him. We talked about it. It was scheduled way before training camp.”
Brady’s return to practice with the club wouldn’t be until Monday, Aug. 22, according to Bowles, who stated he will return after the Buccaneers’ second preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night in Nashville. Brady’s absence was planned weeks in advance, before training camp, but Bowles did not give a specific return date, and on Thursday he admitted he was unsure of the time frame.
“We’ll see,” Bowles said Thursday. “We’ll talk about it next week. Not concerned about it right now. We’re trying to practice against Tennessee and play a game. I said ‘sometime after Tennessee.’ There’s no definitive date for me. But we’ll check on it, we’ll keep in touch and we’ll find out.”
Although Brady has previously been given off days, this marks the first time in 23 years that he has spent a sizable period of time away from the team during training camp or the preseason. Though OTAs are voluntary and take place in the spring, well before the regular season starts, he did miss them in 2018 while playing for the New England Patriots to spend more time with his family.
Brady’s absences from the Buccaneers in 2022 have all been authorized by the team, despite the fact that it is quite uncommon for NFL teams to offer that level of flexibility. Brady will be Bowles’ starting quarterback when the Buccaneers go to Dallas to face the Cowboys on Sept. 11.
Bowles claimed to have maintained contact with Brady while he was away from the team. Brady would start that week’s game at age 45, becoming him the oldest quarterback to do so in NFL history. Brady’s return should be a sight for sore eyes in Tampa as the Bucs approach the conclusion of a training camp that saw the loss of two starting offensive lineman to injuries.
