TAMPA, Fla. -- All-Pro defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said Tuesday he'll be a game-day decision for Tampa Bay's Thursday night NFC South matchup at Atlanta.
McCoy broke his left hand in Sunday's loss to St. Louis. McCoy said any decision will balance the risk of playing versus making the injury worse.
"Most of it is pain tolerance, whether I can tolerate it or not," McCoy said. "As much as you want to be out there, you also want to be smart because the risk of missing a game or a couple of games as opposed to the risk of the rest of the season, it's not worth it."
McCoy was not wearing a cast or any padding on the hand as he talked to the media. But his hand was placed in a cast later Tuesday, coach Lovie Smith said.
"There's always a risk you could make it worse," McCoy said. "It's just been a couple days. I don't think it's a secret that it's going to be hard to play with a broken hand after a couple days. It can always get worse. That's the risk of going out there Thursday."
But McCoy isn't ready to say he can't play Thursday. He said the medical staff has been experimenting with braces and other protective devices.
"We've been doing everything," McCoy said. "Being one of the leaders of the team and the defense, it's obviously better if I'm out there. Me personally, anybody that knows me knows I'm going to fight until I can't fight anymore. I'm going to do everything in my power to go, so I've been experimenting with everything."