Carl Nicks is still excused from Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp for personal reasons, general manager Jason Licht just said in an interview on 98.7 The Fan.

Carl Nicks was excused for personal reasons yesterday as well, and he'll miss the Bucs' first practice. Lovie Smith wasn't concerned by his absence and noted yesterday that that's life: things happen. We have no details on Nicks' reasons for being absent, but if the team is allowing him to stay away, then there really shouldn't be any question that his reasons are legitimate.

Still, this is annoying for us observers, if only because it means we still won't have any clarity as to whether the big guard can even practice at this point. Yesterday in an interview with the local media Licht wouldn't rule out placing Nicks on the Physically Unable to Perform list. While he's been steadily progressing this offseason, whether or not he'll be able to practice, let alone play is simply impossible to know at this point.

Meanwhile, his absence will give every other guard on the roster a shot at a starting job. Every day he isn't practicing gives Patrick Omameh and Kadeem Edwards a chance to shine.