The NFL locker room is no stranger to staph infections. In fact, former Washington Redskins defensive lineman Brandon Noble nearly lost a limb during a 2004 outbreak.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers left guard Carl Nicks and kicker Lawrence Tynes are being treated for MRSA infections, team and union sources told NFL.com's Albert Breer on Thursday. The Bucs' situation was described to Breer as "something like what the Cleveland Browns dealt with" from 2003 to 2008.
Fox Sports 1 first reported the infections, and Bucs general manager Mark Dominik confirmed the news to ESPN.com.
The Bucs sanitized the facility last weekend while the players were in New England for last week's preseason game. They plan to do the same again this weekend, and Breer reported the team handed out a soap that helps control any outbreak. Dominik told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport that the Bucs have not had any new infections in a week.
"We had a company come in and nuke the building a week ago after the cultures taken from Nicks and Tynes confirmed it was MRSA," Dominik told ESPN.com. "It was a precautionary move, but we didn't want to fool with it. Our owners said spare no expense. We had the facility treated, and the league office approved of our actions."
The Bucs announced Thursday that Nicks will need five to seven days for the medicine to work before establishing a timetable for his return. Rapoport reported Thursday that Nicks is out for the rest of the preseason and is doubtful for Week 1, per a source. The Bucs don't intend to rush Nicks back, according to Rapoport.
Nicks' infection is to the same toe that prematurely ended his season last year. The Bucs proceeded to lose five of their six games with the All-Pro guard out of the lineup.
Sidelined the entire preseason, Tynes might end up losing his roster spot because of his own toe infection. Tynes had toe surgery this week to scrape out the infection, per ESPN and Fox Sports 1. The Bucs recently signed longtime Buffalo Bills kicker Rian Lindell, and rookie Derek Dimke has been impressive in practices.
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