Reiterating there is nothing structurally wrong with quarterback Jeff Garcia's back, coach Jon Gruden said the veteran will play Sunday at Houston if he shows enough improvement during the week. The Bucs have a three-game lead in the NFC South with four games to play, but the commanding lead will not be a factor in Gruden's decision to start Garcia or backup Luke McCown, who threw for more than 300 yards in Sunday's critical win at New Orleans.

The Bucs announced they released running back Lionel Gates from the 53-man roster, making room for Michael Bennett. Kenneth Darby, a rookie seventh-round draft pick, was added to the practice squad after being released from the 53-man roster on Saturday to make room for Gates. Confused by all the shuffling? Basically, the Bucs went into Sunday's game against the Titans needing Gates' experience, but now that they've added Bennett, the like Darby's upside and want to keep him around.

Coach Jon Gruden shed a little light on the mystery surrounding right tackle Jeremy Trueblood's absence from practice. The second-year player has a foot injury that likely will keep him out of Thursday's preseason finale against the Texans.

It's official. The Bucs have released nine players in anticipation of Tuesday's 75-player roster deadline: WR Jovon Bouknight, G/C Jonathan Clinkscale, DE Tim Jones, T Jabari Levey, C Nick Mihlhauser, WR Chad Owens, DE Jeremy Pittman, WR Kyle Smith and FB Zach Tuiasosopo.