TAMPA, Fla. –
Tom Brady was excused from training camp Thursday, the first day of what Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said was a planned 11-day absence from the team to address “personal matters.”
Bowles said the 45-year-old quarterback’s practice break was arranged before camp began, adding that Brady will not return until after the Bucs’ preseason game in Tennessee on Aug. 20.
“Tom is excused today. … He will take care of some personal matters. We talked about that before the training camp started. We allotted that time because he wanted to come in with two weeks of training camp and get chemistry with the boys, knowing he wasn’t going to play the first two (preseason) games,” Bowles said after controlling the Bucs for two days had fight against miami dolphins.
Tampa Bay opens the preseason Saturday night against the Dolphins. The Bucs will also travel to Nashville for two days of practice ahead of their game against the Titans.
Backup quarterbacks Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask and Ryan Griffin will share snaps during Brady’s absence.
“He didn’t want to take replays away from Blaine, Kyle and Griff as far as the next two games go. He can handle that,” Bowles said. “We trust him. We talked about it. It was scheduled long before the training camp.”
Brady, who retired in February only to change his mind six weeks later, was given a leave of absence from training for personal reasons last Friday – two days after he was given a scheduled day off to celebrate his 45th birthday.
Bowles said his confidence is “pretty high” that Brady will be in the lineup for next month’s regular season opener in Dallas.
“From our conversation, I’m not worried,” Bowles said.