[.
TheRobGoldberg is the featured Columnist for December 19, 2021.
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Antonio Brown is expected to return to the team on Monday.
Brown was suspended along with teammate Mike Edwards and free agent John Franklin III after the NFL determined they misrepresented their vaccination status. Brown was accused of obtaining a fake vaccination card.
Bruce Arians was unsure if Brown or Edwards would be accepted back on the team.
"It could go either way right now; it really could," said Arians. Continuing where those two guys are and where the team is.
Rapoport reported that Brown's future with the team was in the air with the possibility he could be released.
Rapoport states that the 33-year-old has done enough to keep his job, including attending meetings and working out at the facility during his suspension.
Since Week 6 Brown has been out with an ankle injury. The seven-time Pro Bowler has been an impact player when he's healthy, totaling 418 receiving yards and four touchdown on 29 catches in five games.
Brown leads the team in receiving yards with 83.6 per game.
Brown's possible return in Week 16 will make the Buccaneers even more dangerous, even though he won't play against the Saints. The team is first in the league in points per game, yards per game and passing yards per game.