NFL: Whittle could help solidify O-line

Head coach Jon Gruden expressed optimism Wednesday that offensive guard Jason Whittle is close to being healthy enough to start at right guard next to Kenyatta Walker. He hasn't been able to start there since the 35-13 win at Washington on Oct. 12, after which Cosey Coleman took his place and Kerry Jenkins moved to left guard.

"Kerry is hurt a little bit, Whittle has been hurt although he was pressed into service Monday night when Kerry came out in the third quarter with a sprained foot," Gruden said after practice. "Kerry practiced with the first team today. He's played with cracked orbitals and all that stuff so he's a tough guy."

Roman Oben returned to left tackle on Monday night after missing three starts -- all losses -- with a broken right hand. He was pretty effective early on and allowed Walker to move back to right tackle, where he played well against New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan in the Bucs' 19-13 win that improved their record to 5-6. That move sent Cornell Green back to the bench.

Center John Wade and Coleman are the only two linemen to have started all 11 games, but Coleman has flip-flopped between right and left guard. Wade gets a chance to face his former team this Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9).

"It's a good defense. They've been playing well and their front seven I think is pretty tough," Wade said. "So we have to play physical because they've got a physical unit, and the effort will be on the details and the execution."

The Jaguars are third in the NFL against the run, so the offensive line will be hard pressed to open holes for running backs Michael Pittman, Thomas Jones and Aaron Stecker.

HUNGRY MAN: Bucs wide receiver Keenan McCardell was named the Monday Night Football Snickers Hungriest Player for Week 12 after catching nine passes for 83 yards against the Giants. He now has 698 career receptions, two shy of 700.

INJURY FRONT: Oh, what a pretty sight this week's injury report had to be for Gruden. Five players appeared on the sheet, but all were listed as probable -- wide receivers Joe Jurevicius (knee) and Keenan McCardell (hip), linebackers Shelton Quarles (groin) and Nate Webster (turf toe) and defensive end Simeon Rice (elbow.) Jacksonville listed cornerback Fernando Bryant (back) as doubtful, quarterback Mark Brunell (elbow) as questionable and tight end Kyle Brady (calf) and guard Vince Manuwai (foot) as probable.