TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady got some good news Tuesday: He'll have starting left tackle Donovan Smith back this week against the Detroit Lions.
Smith was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week, not due to a positive test, but because he was notified that a family member he had been in close contact with had tested positive for the virus, which forced him to miss Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
According to NFL rules, a player deemed a close contact can return to the team after five days of self-quarantining as long as the player continues to test negative.
In Smith's absence, Brady felt more pressure during a scoreless first half, before Tampa Bay scored 31 points to defeat the Falcons 31-27.
A scare last week due to a false positive in the special-teams room had three specialists -- punter Bradley Pinion, kicker Ryan Succop and long-snapper Zach Triner -- on the reserve/COVID-19 list. All three were able to return in time to face the Falcons.
Starting running back Ronald Jones remains the lone member of the Buccaneers on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday that Jones will be doubtful Saturday against the Lions.
"Ro is gonna be doubtful getting through the COVID [protocols] and not having any practice with the [broken] finger," Arians said. "We still haven't been able to see him with the finger, so we'll have to wait and see on that one."
The Buccaneers can clinch a playoff spot on Sunday with a victory or tie against the Lions.