Getty Richard Sherman will take on a new role on Sunday for the Buccaneers.
Call Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Richard Sherman coach for a day.
Sherman, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, will fill in as defensive back Kevin Ross will miss the game because of COVID-19 protocols according to NFL on Fox’s Peter Schrager. Sherman had been coaching the defensive backs during practice this week.
“They love the fact that Sherman dove right in,” Schrager said. “Todd Bowles will obviously be coaching the defense and be running the defensive backs room, but Richard Sherman will serve as an assistant coach today on the sidelines … in a lot of the work they do on defense today against the Chicago Bears.”
With Bucs DB coach Kevin Ross out due to COVID-19 protocols, injured CB Richard Sherman has stepped up and assisted all week with the defensive backs, per @pschrags. Sherman will play a role in helping Todd Bowles coach the unit today.
Sherman, a five-time All-Pro, joined the Bucs Sept. 29 amid a slew of defensive back injuries. The Bucs have endured injuries to Sean Murphy-Bunting, Carlton Davis III, Jamel Dean, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Jordan Whitehead this season.
Things didn’t go great for Sherman in his three-game debut with the Bucs on the field in an 11-day span. Sherman tallied 11 tackles in those games. He joined the team as a free agent despite not participating in training camp anywhere.
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Bowles Believes in Sherman’s Sideline Impact
Bowles, the Bucs defensive coordinator, believes Sherman can be a big asset from the sideline.
“Well, he brought a lot of intelligence and experience,” Bowles said of Sherman according to the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud. “It’s different when players hear it from other players. To see somebody of that caliber come in here and learn what he did in those amount of days, it’s unfortunate he got hurt, but he’s been a big help on the sidelines as far as coaching in practice and in games, helping Dee (Delaney), helping Pierre (Desir) and helping all the corners and safeties from that aspect to see things differently and give them little tops that way. I think that has been worth in weight in gold.”
In Week 6, Sherman injured his hamstring and will miss “a couple weeks” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Tampa Bay will also miss starters in wide receiver Antonio Brown, linebacker Lavonte David and tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Sherman, 33, has ample NFL experience in his 11th year where he can mentor younger defensive backs. The Bucs secondary will look to make life difficult for Bears receivers and limit the impact of rookie quarterback Justin Fields.
Making Progress?
Tampa Bay’s defense gave another young quarterback, Jalen Hurts, trouble in a 28-22 Week 6 victory. That included Dean picking off Hurts, and the second-year Philadelphia Eagles quarterback took sacks from Shaquil Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul and Vita Vea.
Pass defense hasn’t been pretty for the Bucs this season as teams have opted to attack them through the air instead of running the ball. The Bucs rank toward the bottom of the league with 1,685 yards and 14 touchdowns allowed.
Against the Eagles, the Bucs defense allowed its lowest yardage total of the season at 113, but the Eagles also ran the ball. Tampa Bay also held the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots under 300 yards passing the previous two weeks.
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Bucs Make Surprising Call for Richard Sherman vs. Bears