Buccaneers will use Dolphins’ practice facility as Hurricane Ian looms

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will use the Dolphins’ practice facility in Miami Gardens this week as Hurricane Ian’s landfall looms over Florida.

The Bucs announced on Monday they will move their football operations to South Florida on Tuesday as they prepare for their home game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. The Dolphins are expected to travel to Cincinnati on Wednesday for Thursday night’s road game against the Bengals, making the Baptist Health Training Complex available for Tampa Bay.

According to South Florida talk show host Andy Slater, the Dolphins offered the Bucs use of their indoor and outdoor practice fields, as well as their weight rooms. Tampa Bay won’t use the Dolphins’ meeting rooms.

The latest forecast at 5 p.m. Monday from the National Hurricane Center continued to raise the risks for the Tampa Bay area

The projected path steers Hurricane Ian just offshore of the Tampa Bay-Bradenton area as a powerful Category 3 storm, and a slower pace could add damage from drenching rain and pounding surf. It’s ultimately expected to make landfall to the north in the Big Bend as a slightly weaker hurricane. Southeast Florida was no longer in the cone but rain spinning off the growing hurricane was already soaking Miami-Dade and Broward Monday night.

The NFL has yet to announce any changes to the Bucs’ game, scheduled for 8:20 p.m. Sunday. However, Slater reported that Hard Rock Stadium has been made available if the league needs to move Tampa Bay’s game from Raymond James Stadium.

The Bucs hosted the Dolphins for a pair of joint practices in August ahead of the teams’ preseason opener, a 26-24 Miami win.

Alex Harris and Michelle Marchante contributed to this report.