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The Bucs' most hard-luck position group took another snake bite Sunday when cornerback Jamel Dean exited early in the second half with a concussion. Additionally, fellow corner Sean Murphy-Bunting went down in the game's waning moments.
Coach Bruce Arians had no update on Murphy-Bunting or defensive lineman William Gholston, who also got hurt in the final seconds and was seen limping toward the visitors' locker room.
Sunday's contest was the Bucs' first with their three primary cornerbacks - Dean, Murphy-Bunting and Davis - all available since opening night. Veteran Pierre Desir replaced Dean, forcing a Russell Gage fumble that Davis recovered on his second play. "We've got some veterans (as backups)," Arians said.
"Pierre came in and did a hell of a job (five tackles, forced fumble), Dee (Delaney) was ready if he had to go, (Ross) Cockrell did a good job of moving to safety. (Safety) Andrew Adams is a vet; he played for us in the (NFC) championship game last year. So it's great having veterans instead of having to throw rookies out there, that's for sure."
Pitts' pedestrian day
The process of cutting one's teeth in the NFL can periodically cause fans to gnash theirs. Twelve games into his Falcons career, former Gators All-American Kyle Pitts' boundless potential has been brandished in spurts, not stretches.
The rookie tight end had four catches (on seven targets) for 48 yards Sunday, all in the first half. In his last six outings, Pitts has totaled 18 catches on 38 targets for 238 yards and no touchdowns. In the two games prior to that swoon (both wins), he totaled 16 catches on 18 targets for 282 yards and a TD.
"We just played our game," Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis said. "He's a good player, a good young player, but at the end of the day we've got to get the job done and we needed this division win. So regardless of how talented he is, we had a job to carry out and we did our best to do it.
Joey Knight, The Tampa Times, published 6 December 2021
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