COVID-19 sidelines Bucs PK Ryan Succop for preseason finale

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Ryan Succop will miss this weekend’s preseason finale against Houston after testing positive for COVID-19.

Coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday that Succop’s positive test comes after the 34-year-old kicker had dinner in Tampa with some friends who play for the Tennessee Titans, who held joint practices with the Bucs leading up to last Saturday night’s preseason game between the teams.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Sunday that he tested positive after waking up earlier in the day with a sore throat. Tennessee also placed defensive lineman Anthony Rush on the reserve-COVID-19 list on Monday and

Succop, who played six seasons with Tennessee before joining the Bucs and helping Tampa Bay win the Super Bowl last season, tested positive Tuesday and was placed on the reserve COVID-19 list.

“He went out to dinner, an indoor dinner, with some of his friends from the Titans,” Arians said. “He’s vaccinated, but it’s still probably going to be 10 days.”

Vrabel spent time last week with Arians and Bucs quarterback and former New England teammate Tom Brady after a practice. Arians said there’s no concern about that interaction because it occurred outdoors.

“All contacts were outside,” Arians said, adding Succop will miss Saturday's preseason game against the Texans.

The Bucs also announced offensive tackle Chidi Okeke was waived injured.

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