Antonio Brown injury updates: will the WR Buccaneers play Super Bowl 55?

Antonio Brown has made a difference for the Buccaneers since making his Tampa Bay debut in Week 9, but will he be available for Super Bowl 55? That’s one of the big questions ahead of Sunday’s game.

The 32-year-old, who missed the first eight weeks of the regular season after the NFL suspended him for violate the league’s personal conduct policy, missed the NFC championship game with a knee injury. Brown likely would have missed a contest scheduled for Jan. 31, but luckily for the Bucs, the extra recovery time could get him back against the Chiefs.

Brown isn’t the same impact player he was during his early years at Pittsburgh, but his mere presence would be valuable for a Tampa Bay offense that also includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller. You can never have too much firepower against Kansas City.

Here’s everything we know about Brown’s pre-Super Bowl status.

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Will Antonio Brown play against the Chiefs?

Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians told reporters Brown was limited in practice on Wednesday. Tampa Bay safties Jordan Whitehead (shoulder / knee) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (ankle) were also limited.

“They’ve had about half of the practice,” Arians said. “Most of them looked pretty good. We’ll see how the bloat goes tomorrow on AB for sure.… Jordan was wearing a non-contact jersey, but he was flying, he looked pretty good.”

In his media availability Wednesday, Brown offered nothing definitive but said “the arrow is pointing up.”

Brown was originally listed as “questionable” on the Bucs Super Bowl injury report, but obviously this designation could change if it continues to progress.

What is Antonio Brown’s injury?

Brown injured his knee in the Buccaneers’ divisional victory over the Saints and underwent an MRI. He was considered “overnight” but then missed the NFC Championship game against the Packers. It was unclear when or how he was injured, but broadcast cameras showed Brown was limping on the sideline.

Antonio Brown Statistics 2020

Although he jumped on offense midway through the regular season, Brown was first on the team in receptions per game, tied for third in overall receptions and fourth on targets. He quickly gained the trust of Tom Brady, and that connection only grew stronger when Brown had more opportunities within the Tampa Bay system.

“Antonio and I connected right away,” Brady said of his relationship with Brown. “He has a great love for football. [He’s] a true perfectionist on the way he plays, how he takes care of himself, amazing football IQ and then great skill as a player. I think [he’s] has made incredible strides over the past 12 months to get from where he was to where he is now. “