Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Sunday that quarterback Tom Brady will be returning to the team this week.

Bowles did not disclose a specific return day for Brady, who left the Buccaneers on Aug. 11 due to personal reasons. Bowles said he wasn’t sure if Brady would play in Tampa Bay’s preseason finale against the host Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.

Once he returns, Brady will find himself behind an offensive line that absorbed another significant hit on Saturday.

Guard Aaron Stinnie will miss the 2022 season after he sustained a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, Bowles said Sunday.

Stinnie was injured after being rolled up on by Tennessee safety Adrian Colbert in the second half of Tampa Bay’s 13-3 preseason loss to the Titans. Stinnie was carted off the field.

“We can’t afford to get anymore hurt down there,” Bowles said of an offensive line that already has lost Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen to a knee injury. Jensen is out indefinitely, while tackle Tristan Wirfs is considered day-to-day with an oblique strain.

Stinnie, 28, was a candidate for the starting left guard position after Ali Marpet abruptly retired in the offseason.

Second-round draft pick Luke Goedeke is among the contenders for the starting role.

Bowles was asked about his level of comfort with playing a rookie or a player with little NFL experience at that position.

“It’s not about experience, it’s about experience playing,” Bowles said. “Luke and Nick (Leverett) do a great job right now. They’re getting a lot of reps, so they’ve earned that right to compete for that spot. Maybe if one more goes down …

“We don’t mind playing rookies — we’ve been playing rookies since we’ve been here. It’s just a matter of them getting in-game experience. We’re comfortable with the guys we have right now, but if we can find an option that’s out there that fits us, we will look at it.”

Stinnie appeared in six games (one start) last season. He started three postseason games for the Bucs in 2020, including Super Bowl LV.

–Field Level Media