Bucs coach Greg Schiano gently chided LE Da'Quan Bowers' effort level Tuesday.

"I want to see him play hard play after play after play after play," Schiano said. "He needs to string together some plays where he's going at a high level. ... You've got to play the dirty stuff down after down. He's going to do it, I believe he will." Bowers is making the transition from situational pass rusher to every-down player. He showed well in limited playing time last season, notching three sacks in 292 snaps.

The Tampa Bay Times names Bucs LE Da'Quan Bowers as the main defensive player that needs to "break out" this season.

Bowers has started just six games in his first two seasons, mainly playing behind since-departed DE Michael Bennett, but he's being thrust into the starting lineup in year three. He's worked himself into better shape this offseason, preparing for a bigger role. "If he wants to become anything more than just a situational pass rusher, he's got to grind through it," coach Greg Schiano said. "He's got to go through the pain of being an every-down player." We're skeptical of the Bucs' ability to generate consistent pressure in 2013.

Bucs LE Da'Quan Bowers said anything less than double-digit sacks this season is a "failure."

Bowers has posted a total of 4.5 sacks in his first 26 games. But now that Michael Bennett is gone and Bowers is healthy, the Bucs are counting on him in a big way. "I think the way Coach Schiano has the scheme set up, and my capabilities, and having Gerald [McCoy] draw all the attention, it could be a whole lot easier to get double-digits sacks," Bowers said.

Bucs LE Da'Quan Bowers is 100 percent healthy.

The felonies and misdemeanors associated with Da'Quan Bowers' gun charges were dismissed Thursday.

Bucs LE Da'Quan Bowers is in a New York court Thursday to face gun charges.

Bowers is arguing that since he alerted airport officials to the gun in his bag, he had no criminal intent. The Bucs are expecting him to avoid any punishment as they've let Michael Bennett walk and are counting on Bowers to be their primary pass-rusher this season. The charges are considered Class C felonies in New York and carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 3.5 years.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano expects LE Da'Quan Bowers to reach double-digit sacks in his third NFL season.

"He has to," said Schiano, who clearly realizes his team is thin at defensive end. The Bucs have outwardly expressed confidence in Bowers and RE Adrian Clayborn, but Bowers has 4.5 sacks across 26 career games and Clayborn is coming off an ACL tear. They need to think about another end at the 13th overall pick.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, part of the reason the Bucs let Michael Bennett walk in free agency is because they view DE Da'Quan Bowers as a "player with more upside."

Bowers missed the first six games of 2012 as he recovered from a torn Achilles' tendon, but managed to notch three sacks in 10 games as a rotational rusher. He's also facing gun charges in New York, but the Bucs apparently believe he'll escape without jail time. Letting Bennett walk - for only $5 million, no less - was a risky move by the Bucs, but Bowers will make them look smart if he can live up to his potential. 2013 will be a telling year for a player who fell to No. 51 in the 2011 draft because of concerns about his knee.

A New York defense attorney tells the Tampa Bay Times Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers could escape with "minimal discipline" in his airport gun case.

"The state of New York doesn't care what the federal law is or what other states' laws are," the attorney told the Times. "But the Queens DA has a very pragmatic approach if the gun is registered somewhere else. It might not be that bad. ... I've been very successful in Queens, in some cases even getting (charges) dismissed." All that is contingent on Bowers' gun being legally registered in his home state of South Carolina, which is believed to be the case. Why Bowers had the gun in New York and how he was transporting it will also be factors. Bowers is by no means out of the woods, but could avoid a Plaxico Burress-like fate.

The lawyer for Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers expects him to be "fully exonerated" in his airport gun case.

"After a full and fair investigation of the facts and circumstances regarding this registered firearm Mr. Bowers will be fully exonerated," Bowers' lawyer told the Tampa Tribune. Bowers is hinging his defense on the fact that he alerted airport security about the gun in his bag after he realized his mistake. New York's gun laws are notoriously tough, however, meaning no amount of contriteness is a guarantee to save Bowers from at least a short stay in jail. That being said, it is unlikely the law comes down as hard on Bowers as it did on Plaxico Burress, who served 20 months in jail as part of a plea deal.

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers reportedly informed airport personnel about the loaded gun in his bag himself.

In other words, Bowers did not try to sneak the gun through security. But under New York law, just having a gun in an airport is a crime. The Tampa Bay Times says Bowers has "consistently been a player of high character" throughout his NFL career and he has no history of violence or wrongdoing. We'll see if his clean record will give the "I forgot the gun was in my bag" excuse more viability.

Updating a previous item, Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers will be charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession after showing up to New York's LaGuardia Airport with a loaded gun in his carry-on bag.

The charge is identical to the one Plaxico Burress faced in 2008, and carries a minimum sentence of 3.5 years in prison, with a maximum of 15 years. Burress, who accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub, accepted a plea deal and served 20 months. "We are aware of the situation and are gathering information," said Bucs GM Mark Dominik. "We will withhold comment until we know all the facts."

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers was arrested at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Monday after trying to get a loaded gun through security.

Bowers has been charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon after screeners found a loaded .40 caliber firearm in his carry-on luggage. He's set to appear in court on Monday evening. Like Shaun Rogers before him, Bowers will almost certainly insist he forgot the gun was in his bag. Rogers was not suspended for a similar incident in 2010. Billed as a character concern in the 2011 draft, this won't help Bowers' standing with disciplinarian coach Greg Schiano after his recovery from a torn Achilles' tendon limited him to just 10 games and 292 snaps last season.

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers (Achilles) is officially active for Thursday night's game against the Vikings.

Bowers tore his Achilles' tendon just five months ago, but the Bucs activated him off the PUP list just three hours before game time, so we knew he was going to play. Tampa Bay defensive ends have generated no pass rush in Bowers' and Adrian Clayborn's (torn ACL) absence. Bowers will join the rotation with Daniel Te'o-Nesheim and Michael Bennett, but his snaps will certainly be limited. The Bucs declared RB Michael Smith, CB Myron Lewis, DB Keith Tandy, LB Najee Goode, G Cody Wallace, WR Chris Owusu, and TE Danny Noble inactive.

Bucs activated DE Da'Quan Bowers (Achilles) from the PUP list.

CB LeQuan Lewis was waived in a corresponding roster move. Tampa's second-round pick last season, Bowers appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, but made just six starts. He tallied 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Bowers should immediately begin rotating with Michael Bennett and Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, but only five months removed from tearing his Achilles' tendon, his snaps will surely be limited. He will be active for Week 8. It's a nice boost for a club that lost RE Adrian Clayborn in September.

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers (PUP, Achilles) will not be activated for Week 7.

Bowers tore his Achilles' five months ago, which is around the same time Ravens rush LB Terrell Suggs partially tore his. Bowers, a 2011 second-round pick, returned to practice on Wednesday and is "chomping at the bit to return." The Bucs play the Vikings next Thursday night, so a potential return could come then. Tampa Bay is currently trotting out Michael Bennett and Daniel Te'o-Nesheim as the starting defensive ends. Bowers' return should help an anemic pass rush that has generated just eight sacks.

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers (PUP, Achilles) will resume practicing on Wednesday.

The Bucs will have a three-week window to activate Bowers once he's resumed practicing. According to coach Greg Schiano, Bowers is "chomping at the bit to return to action." A healthy Bowers would help offset Tampa's season-ending loss of RE Adrian Clayborn.

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers (PUP, Achilles) says he's four weeks away from being ready to play.

Bowers apparently has no intention of shutting it down for the season despite tearing his Achilles' tendon in May. He's eligible to start practicing after Week 6. The Bucs could certainly use him after losing Adrian Clayborn (knee) for the season.

The Bucs placed DE Da'Quan Bowers (Achilles' surgery) on PUP to open camp.

Bowers will stay on PUP into the season, costing him the first six games. The Bucs could evaluate his recovery after that point, but it remains a long shot that Bowers will play at all in 2012. He tore his right Achilles' tendon in early May. The 51st overall pick in the 2011 draft, Bowers' career couldn't have gotten off to a much worse start. We don't like his long-term outlook.

Bucs GM Mark Dominik is holding out hope that DE Da'Quan Bowers (Achilles' surgery) will play late in the 2012 season.

It's a long shot, but does confirm Bowers will be placed on PUP rather than I.R. "He's going to do his rehab with Shannon Merrick, who is one of the best rehab gurus in the NFL, which is why guys have been able to come back like they have at a quicker pace," Dominik said. "We hope it does the same thing for him."