TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson said Tuesday he's likely to be held out of the remainder of the team's offseason program.
Goldson, who is recovering from foot surgery in February, said he suffered the injury last season and wanted to get it cleaned up after the season. Goldson said he has a date in mind for his return.
"I think training camp will be a good timetable," he said. "Right now, I'm just relying on our training staff to get me back right."
Mark Barron, Tampa Bay's other starting safety, missed the team's first minicamp with an unspecified injury. But Barron was being eased back into the practice routine Tuesday.
Although he hasn't had his two starting safeties on the field together, coach Lovie Smith said he has a lot of confidence in Goldson and Barron.
"It's critical for us to have great safety play," Smith said. "It's been like that since the beginning of time and it hasn't changed. We're as good as anybody around at the safety position. Dashon Goldson is one of the guys that's watching right now. Mark Barron is getting back out there. They have video. Both of them are perfect matches for what we're going to do."
Goldson said he agrees that he and Barron can form one of the NFL's best safety duos.
"Coming into our second year together, we know each other's weaknesses and strengths," Goldson said. "We'll get on same page and eliminate a lot of those mistakes we had last year."
Goldson signed with the Bucs as a free agent from San Francisco last season. He missed two games with an injury, was suspended one game for an illegal hit and was fined multiple times.
He said he's ready to put last season behind him and hopes to make the illegal hits things of the past.
"I'm confident," Goldson said. "I'm comfortable with my game. I've just got to be careful. I'm trying not to lose any more money or any more games here due to suspension. I've just got to find my zone."