Todd Bowles 'expects' AWOL player to attend Bucs training camp even though he hasn't shown up all offseason

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookies report to training camp on July 22 and the veterans report on July 23. Right now, there are two names that are on the minds of not only fans, but the coaching staff.

Those two guys would be stud left tackle, Tristan Wirfs, and recent free agent signing, Randy Gregory. Everyone knows the situation with Wirfs and the hope is he participates in camp and isn't a "hold-in" while he awaits his new contract.

When it comes to Gregory, however, no one knows why he's yet to show up to any offseason activities. Not even the coaching staff, including head coach Todd Bowles, knows why.

That's because, simply, no one has head from Gregory over the last couple of months. And that's still the story heading into training camp. But, Bowles does expect Gregory to show up, even if he hasn't received any confirmation, at this point.

"We have not had any conversations. I expect him to be here, but we'll see," Bowles said on the most recent episode of the The Pirate Parlay Podcast with JC Allen .

Bowles also offered up a comment on Wirfs' status, but it was similar to what we've heard from him throughout the offseason.

"I hope he's there and I hope he's practicing. I understand how the business goes. I played so I understand the players' side. I understand the business side. And hopefully that situation will resolve itself sooner than later"

Gregory is skating on the thinnest of ice, right now

The Bucs have plenty of options at outside linebacker, even if none of them are surefire Pro Bowlers, right now. Bowles, himself is a fan of the depth at the position, which begs one to wonder what exactly is going through Gregory's mind, right now.

Right now, the room consists of YaYa Diaby, who is a guaranteed starter. Then, there is former first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, sixth-year veteran Anthony Nelson (who's been in Bowles' defense his entire career), rookie second-rounder Chris Braswell, and then Markeese Watts and Jose Ramirez, two guys that the coaching staff likes. There's also Daniel Grzesiak and Shaun Peterson Jr. on the roster.

"I think the outside linebacker spot has depth," said Bowles. "... That's going to be a tough one. I think we have the most depth on the team, right there, at that spot. We have a lot of guys that can play and do a lot of different things, all of them physical, all of them tough. That's going to be probably the biggest battle. I'd like to see some things from Jose, who's coming back off of practice squad, and it's gonna be a tough battle.

"There's gonna be some tough decisions to make."

Sure, Gregory's experience could come in handy in a rotation, but the Bucs don't need him, at all. He's going to be competing for a job, and not even a starting job, so every rep is just as important as the next.

The former Cowboy, Bronco, and 49er is currently mired in a lawsuit against the NFL, which could be playing a role in his absence. Again, no one knows, though, since he hasn't spoken with anyone.

We'll see if Gregory shows up on the July 23. There's zero doubt the clock is ticking, though, and has been ticking for a while, now.