The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were primarily without two key contributors in practice on Wednesday. Running back Earnest Graham (knee) was listed as having limited participation in practice, but Bucs head coach Jon Gruden said Graham did not practice. Tight end Alex Smith (ankle) was held out of practice. Both Graham and Smith are dealing with the injuries they sustained in the Bucs victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. After practice, Gruden updated the status of his injured players.

“Earnest Graham didn’t practice,” said Gruden. “Hopefully he can do a little bit more tomorrow. He and Alex Smith did not practice. We have a number of guys that are injured.”

On Wednesday, wide receiver Maurice Stovall was placed on injured reserve. Pewter Report has learned that Stovall was scheduled to undergo surgery on his left hamstring this week. Stovall contributed mostly on special teams during the 2008 season, and for the second straight year he ended the season on injured reserve. The move of Stovall to the injured reserve opened up a roster spot for wide receiver Brian Clark. Gruden was asked about his reaction to Stovall’s injury.

“It is unfortunate. We had high aspirations for him this season,” Gruden said. “Our receiving corps has changed dramatically since the last day of training camp. Thankfully Antonio [Bryant] has come through. Clayton is really playing well. Ike [Hilliard] has been real solid. Thankfully we got Joey back and hopefully we can find more things for him to do. It has been unfortunate.”

Running back Warrick Dunn practiced after missing the Bucs last game at Kansas City. Gruden was confident that Dunn would play against Minnesota, and that he would be ready to handle a significant workload. There have been reports that wide receiver Ike Hilliard could miss more action due to the concussion he sustained against the Seahawks, but Hilliard was practicing for the Buccaneers on Wednesday.

“He’s going to play,” said Gruden. “Knowing Ike, he is special. I wish he felt better all the time, but that guy is unbelievable. He’ll find a way to play in my opinion, but we’ll see.”

Fullback B.J. Askew appears to be getting closer to his return to action. He has been out of the lineup since tearing his hamstring in Week 3 at Chicago.

“I hope so,” said Gruden. “He practiced Monday and returned today. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

Safety Jermaine Phillips is also progressing in his effort to return after having surgery on a broken forearm.

“He’s progressing well,” said Gruden. “I don’t know if he’ll be ready this week, but maybe we have a chance in the coming game or two to get him back. It hurts him not playing. I really feel bad for him. He was playing really good football for us.”

On the official injury report, the Buccaneers had Smith and Phillips listed as no participation. The following players were listed as limited participation: Graham, linebacker Derrick Brooks (knee), quarterback Brian Griese (elbow), and defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson (illness). Askew, Dunn, and Hilliard were stated to have full participation.

For the Bucs Sunday opponent, the Minnesota Vikings, only two players were on the Wednesday injury report. Defensive end Jared Allen (shoulder) and safety Madieu Williams (shoulder) were both listed as limited participation.

GARCIA DISCUSSES RELATIONSHIP WITH GRUDEN
Buccaneers starting quarterback Jeff Garcia discussed his relationship with Gruden. There have been stories throughout the season that called into question the working relationship of the Bucs head coach and starting quarterback.

“I think it’s all worked out,” Garcia said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s water under the bridge. It’s something that I don’t even look back upon. If anything, it’s a lesson learned. I’ve tried to learn from it and grow from it and better myself because of it. I think things have worked out. What we do have is a quality group of quarterbacks that if anybody is given that opportunity – like Brian [Griese] or Luke [McCown] – the opportunity to step in, we have players who can step in and do it. But for me, I don’t want to have to go through what I went through again. So I’m making sure that I’m prepared weekly and mentally. Like I’ve said before, it’s about strength in this game. You have to be mentally strong in order to compete week in and week out.”

Garcia was asked if his relationship with Gruden was just as strong as it was when he first came to Tampa Bay in 2007.

“I think it’s just as strong,” Garcia said. “It’s definitely better than where it was in the first few weeks. We had our own struggles in that sense. Like men, we dealt with it and grew from it and moved past it. I think our relationship is great. We have a great working relationship. The communication – there is an open line of communication at all times. We’re able to do whatever we need to do to try to get this offense to be better.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY
On Monday, Gruden said he had no interest in leaving the Buccaneers for the coaching position at the University of Tennessee. Wednesday, ProFootballTalk.com revealed that Gruden owns a good deal of property in Tennessee. Gruden responded about the property he owns there, and how that has perpetuated rumors of him being linked to coaching the Volunteers.

“My wife is from there, okay. I have three sons and we go there every year. The Smokey Mountains is some place special to me. To be honest with you I don’t like seeing trees going down. I’m a conservative person that way. I like to protect those 30 acres, or whatever it is we have, 25 acres. I’d prefer to have more acres there to prevent anybody from building something there. There is nothing on that land except trees. There is nothing else to it. Hopefully you guys hold me true to my word.”