Report: Brown expected to rejoin Buccaneers in Week 16

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown is expected to rejoin the team Monday once his suspension for violating COVID-19 protocols ends, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The NFL banned Brown for three games after investigating an allegation from his former personal chef that he submitted a fake vaccine card before the season. The league issued matching suspensions to Buccaneers defensive back Mike Edwards and free-agent wide receiver John Franklin III, who spent the preseason with Tampa Bay.

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians was previously noncommittal on Brown's future with the team in light of the alleged act.

Brown has been out of the lineup since mid-October due to an ankle injury. He had 29 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdowns over the first five games.

Tampa Bay picked up Brown midway through the 2020 campaign while he was finishing a suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He caught a touchdown in the Buccaneers' victory in Super Bowl LV.