Just two days after suggesting his bruised back was still so sore that he could barely bend over and could not throw a football, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' quarterback Jeff Garcia returned to practice on a limited basis Friday, providing the team some hope that he might be able to play in Sunday's game at New Orleans. "I feel a lot better than I thought I would," Garcia told local reporters after practice. Because reporters cannot watch the "team" segments of practice, it remains unclear exactly how much Garcia participated in the workout. But the mere fact he was on the field was a sign of progress after several days of treatment. Garcia, 37, has started all 11 games for the first-place Bucs this season. He was injured on the first play of last Sunday's victory over the Washington Redskins. Garcia sat out most of the game and returned briefly in the fourth quarter but was ineffective.

Jeff Garcia's injured back was sore Monday, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remained hopeful their 37-year-old quarterback will be able to play this week against the New Orleans Saints. Garcia was hurt on the first play of Sunday's 19-13 victory over Washington. He left the game two plays later and remained on the sideline until the Redskins trimmed a 16-point halftime deficit to six early in the fourth quarter. Coach Jon Gruden described the injury as a lower back bruise. He said the three-time Pro Bowl selection's status is day to day. "He's a sore man right now," Gruden said, declining to speculate whether Garcia will play Sunday or if Bruce Gradkowski or Luke McCown would start if Garcia can't go.

Linebacker Cato June was arrested early Monday, just hours after the Buccaneers returned home following a 31-7 victory in Atlanta and charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. According to a Tampa, Fla., police spokesman, June was stopped at 2:52 A.M. after he was clocked at 66 mph in a 45-mph zone. Arresting officer Peter Bucher, in the arrest affidavit, said that as he approached June's vehicle he detected the smell of alcohol. June, who celebrated his 28th birthday Sunday, refused a breathalyzer test. But the officer subsequently conducted a field sobriety test and noted in his report that June "exhibited clues of impairment." At 11:30 A.M., June was released after posting $500 bail. The incident, details of which were still being sought by Bucs' officials, could bring June under review because of the NFL's personal conduct policy.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday signed cornerback Keiwan Ratliff. Terms were not disclosed.

The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bucs' cornerback Phillip Buchanon plans to fly to the Bahamas today and return Sunday. "I'm going to do a lot of sleeping, a lot of resting," said Buchanon, a Lehigh Senior High School graduate and former Miami Hurricane. "I just like to hang out and think about the good life. I'm going to be able to kick it back and think of ways to make my life better." With a league-high 12 players on injured reserve, the Bucs also had a number of key players nursing injuries. Defensive end Greg Spires, wide receiver Michael Clayton and running back Michael Pittman all have been nursing various leg injuries, and defensive end Patrick Chuckwurah has been recovering from a shoulder problem. Buchanon said every player on the team has various bumps and bruises that require healing. "For me, rest is really important," he said. "It takes a big toll on your body."

An old, trusty ally has shown up in support of Tampa Bay's bid to get back to the playoffs. Stingy defense was the team's hallmark for most of the past decade, and it was the key Sunday as the Buccaneers surpassed their victory total for last season with a 17-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Jeff Garcia threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway, while Earnest Graham scored on a 2-yard run and had his first 100-yard rushing performance as a pro for the Bucs (5-4), whose 4-12 record a year ago was the franchise's worst since 1991.