Sims (knee) wasn't present at Thursday's practice, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Sustaining a knee injury in the first quarter of the Bucs' Week 4 loss to the Broncos, Sims wasn't deterred, yet he turned 15 carries into 28 yards and two catches (on three targets) into seven yards. The miserable output was hindered further by a lost fumble, one of three turnovers on the day by the offense. With a Monday night contest in Carolina on the docket, Sims has an extra day to recover before the team's Week 6 bye. The latter point may actually sway the decision to keep him on the sideline alongside Doug Martin (hamstring), meaning Tampa Bay may trust in a running back combo of Jacquizz Rodgers and Peyton Barber for one game.