NFL News: Buccaneers Rookie DE Da’Quan Bowers Says His Knee is “Great”

Da’Quan Bowers took a free fall on NFL Draft weekend this year when every NFL team passed on him, in some cases teams passed on him up to three times before he was finally selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the middle of the second round. The Bucs had already drafted Adrian Clayborn in the first round and took a risk on Bowers in the second.

Bowers fell in the draft due to long-term concerns about his recently repaired knee, which he now says is just fine. In fact, he says it’s more than fine:

“My knee is great. It’s back to where I needed it to be. You know, It’s back to playing shape. You know, I’ve been rehabbing and working out all throughout the whole summer, even through the lockout. The knee is fine. I’m running, cutting, jumping. Everything’s a full go.”

Bowers recently said all of this in an interview with WDAE-AM, but saying that his knee was great wasn’t the only tidbit he offered to the media, a report you can read in full at NFL.com. He also says that the Bucs will have a long ride ahead of them, one that will capitulate in a Super Bowl appearance:

“Get (the) popcorn ready,” he said. “It’s gonna be a long ride to the Super Bowl.”

The rookie defensive end and former number one high school player in the United States also said that he skipped the recent Rookie Symposium because he did not want to sacrifice any time rehabbing his knee. Apparently the extra couple of days paid off, because now Bowers is ready to go. Only time will tell if Bowers’ knee is not degenerative, but you have to love his confidence and what he can bring to the Bucs’ defensive line.