By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

arichardson@tampatrib.com

TAMPA - Bucs coach Jon Gruden has not hit the panic button yet, but his hand is hovering above it.

For the second consecutive day, quarterback Jeff Garcia was a limited participant in practice Thursday because of a calf injury, and his status for Sunday's critical NFC South game against Atlanta is not clear. If he is unable to play, backup Luke McCown will make the eighth start of his NFL career.

"It's a concern," Gruden said. "Hopefully, he can get well in the next day or two. We need him."

Garcia, 37, injured his right calf this week during individual drills, Gruden said. Although it is the same calf Garcia hurt during training camp, also during individual drills, it is not the same injury.

"It's a different part of the calf, although Jeff's calves aren't the biggest calves in the NFL," Gruden said. "It's a little bit different injury, although it is the calf."

Gruden said McCown has taken the majority of snaps during practice this week. It appears that Garcia will be a game-time decision in Atlanta.

McCown was 1-2 as a starter last season, his most memorable performance a 27-23 victory at New Orleans.

Playing for an injured Garcia, McCown completed 25 of 38 passes for 266 yards, including 15 consecutive completions - second-best in team history - and a winning 4-yard touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevens with 14 seconds left.

"That's the first time in the last couple of months we've seen him throwing the ball as well as he is," Gruden said of McCown. "It's a good sign for us."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425.

Photo: Jeff Garcia

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