TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady returned to the team Monday after being excused for a personal matter since August 11.
The Buccaneers confirmed the return with a video posted just after 1 p.m. Monday.
QB1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/1N7wCqptAQ
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 22, 2022
The absence was scheduled "way before training camp," head coach Todd Bowles said previously. In his absence, the Buccaneers have gone with a quarterback rotation of Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask.
Getting Brady back will be an instant lift to an offense that is struggling with injuries. Multiple Bucs players have been injured in preseason including starting center Ryan Jensen, guard Aaron Stinnie, right tackle Tristan Wirfs, and several others.
Brady didn't speak to the media on Monday, but his teammates said the 45-year-old future Hall of Famer hasn't missed a beat.
"Having someone as popular and famous as Tom, there’s so much intrigue- everything he does. We’re happy to have him back," tight end Cam Brate said after Monday's practice. "If anyone can get away with the 11-day break during training camp, it’s Tom. He came back firing on all cylinders again today."
"His presence is different. Just the leader that he is, the type of guy he is," added linebacker Lavonte David. "It’s great to have a guy like that back, man. He came ready to go and pick up where he left off and leading the guys on offense."
The Bucs preseason finale is Saturday at Indianapolis. Head coach Todd Bowles said he'll wait until later this week to decide how much playing time his starters will see in that game.
