Buccaneers confirm G Carl Nicks has MRSA again

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Carl Nicks is being treated for a recurrence of the MRSA infection in his left foot.

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said the team received confirmation Thursday that Nicks has MRSA again in the "same place, same location."

Nicks had already missed most of training camp while recovering from surgery on his left big toe when he was initially diagnosed with MRSA in late August. MRSA is a staph infection that is resistant to some antibiotics.

Nicks sat out the remainder of the preseason, then missed the first two games of the regular season. He started the past two games against New England and Arizona.

A second player, kicker Lawrence Tynes, also was diagnosed with MRSA in August.

"From everything we've been told and understand, this does happen, which is why MRSA is a bacteria that's hard to treat," Dominik said of the recurrence.

"In talking with the infectious disease specialist who's been treating Carl and working with us, and working with other professionals," Dominik added, "he also confirms and believes strongly this is the same infection."

The initial cases were confirmed while the Bucs were in New England holding joint practices with the Patriots before a preseason game. The team hired a company to sanitize One Buc Place, the team's headquarters and training facility, on two separate occasions in an effort to minimize the prospect of other cases.

The Bucs said at the time they did not know where Nicks and Tynes were exposed to MRSA.

Nicks, who signed with the Bucs as a free agent in 2012, was an All-Pro two years ago with the New Orleans Saints. He was listed on Thursday's injury report as "limited" in practice for the second straight day.

Earlier Thursday, coach Greg Schiano said the sixth-year pro had a problem with his left foot, but declined to give specific details.

Tynes, who helped the New York Giants win a pair of Super Bowls, signed with the Bucs before training camp. He was sidelined by an ingrown toenail on his kicking foot when he was diagnosed as having MRSA.

The Bucs later placed Tynes on the non-football injury list.

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