Buccaneers' Todd Bowles opens up on Russell Gage's mysterious injury
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield inadvertently stirred things up back in May when he let it slip that veteran receiver Russell Gage Jr. suffered an offseason injury. Since then, Gage hasn't practiced with the team in any capacity and that remained the same through the first practice of Buccaneers training camp. It's a frustrating […]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield inadvertently stirred things up back in May when he let it slip that veteran receiver Russell Gage Jr. suffered an offseason injury.
Since then, Gage hasn't practiced with the team in any capacity and that remained the same through the first practice of Buccaneers training camp.
It's a frustrating development for both the Bucs and Gage. The former Atlanta Falcon signed a three-year, $30 million deal last year and lo and behold, a hamstring injury kept him from being the guy the team thought it was getting when it gave him the contract. There's also the scary moment where Gage had to be carried off the field in an ambulance after a rough hit from Dallas Cowboys defender Donovan Wilson.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles opened up on Gage's injury Wednesday and while he didn't specify exactly what it was, he did say that it was another leg injury.
"It's a lower extremity injury. It's a leg injury, but he'll be fine," Bowles told reporters. "I mean, we're counting on them. He'll be back and he's working to get back."
Bowles' optimism is nice, but as we all know, leg injuries can linger throughout the season. So there's no guarantee Gage will hit the ground running once he returns and there's no guarantee he'll be fully recovered at any point during the year.
Gage took a pay cut during the offseason, so this is a crucial year for him. Especially when considering the fact he's learning his third offense in as many years. He has to find a way to get back on the field -and stay there- sooner rather than later.
Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
