As if the Bucs hadn’t already been coping with sufficient on the harm entrance, one other considered one of their key starters suffered an harm in Sunday’s 20-16 win over the Lions. Nostril deal with Vita Vea was dominated out for the sport with a knee harm early within the second half and was seen carrying a brace on his knee within the locker room after the sport.
Bucs DT Vita Vea has a brace on his proper knee however is standing on each toes.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) September 15, 2024
The harm occurred as a result of some pleasant hearth, as Bucs outdoors linebacker Yaya Diaby collided with Vea’s knee.
Right here is the play the place #Bucs NT Vita Vea was injured. Appears to be like like Yaya Diaby who was coming round on the loop fell into his knee. Doesn’t look nice pic.twitter.com/yT3X1JArtN
— JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL) September 15, 2024
Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
It appeared fairly unhealthy when it occurred, and Vea was dominated out for the rest of the afternoon pretty shortly. Nevertheless, the preliminary information on Vita Vea’s knee harm seems to be optimistic, all issues thought of.
NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero (amongst others) reported Sunday night that Vea is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain. Pelissero additionally famous that there’s optimism that it’s not too critical of an harm because the veteran deal with is about to get an MRI in Tampa on Monday.
Nonetheless, it’s a tricky break for Vea, as he labored onerous this offseason to rework his physique partly with the hope of having the ability to stay wholesome and accessible for his staff. For this harm to come back on what was a freak play is particularly robust.
The Tampa Bay protection did nicely to resist the lack of Vea and nonetheless emerge with a win in Sunday’s sport, however there’s no denying the influence he makes. It turned clear comparatively shortly, as Detroit discovered some success on the bottom within the second half as soon as massive No. 50 left the sport.
Vita Vea’s Damage Is Simply The Newest Concern For The Bucs
The Bucs are 2-0 for the fourth consecutive season, they usually’ll return to Raymond James Stadium in Week 3 to host the 0-2 Broncos. That’s excellent news.
However each Tampa Bay victories to open the season have been expensive by way of accidents. The staff took the sector in Week 1 with out defensive tackles Calijah Kancey and Logan Corridor and proceeded to see All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr., No. 2 cornerback Zyon McCollum, No. 3 cornerback Bryce Corridor and No. 4 cornerback Josh Hayes all endure accidents throughout its season-opening win over the Commanders.
Bucs DTs Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
To make issues worse, proper deal with Luke Goedeke entered concussion protocol in the course of the week and missed Sunday’s Week 2 victory in Detroit. And regardless of Logan Corridor and Zyon McCollum returning for this week’s win, Winfield might be out for a couple of extra weeks, Corridor will seemingly miss the remainder of the season, Hayes will not be again for a few weeks and Kancey won’t be rushed again into motion as he recovers from a calf harm.
So, once you add Vita Vea’s knee harm – even when it’s not the worst-case situation – the harm state of affairs for the Bucs isn’t in the least supreme. If the MRI comes again and it’s confirmed that it’s simply an MCL sprain for Vea, Tampa Bay remains to be taking a look at a while with out each Vea and Kancey on the defensive position. As a lot because the staff’s secondary depth was examined on Sunday, the defensive position’s depth will now be examined much more going ahead.
Whereas Tampa Bay will look to get to 3-0 with a win over Denver subsequent Sunday, the staff can even be hoping it may get by means of that sport with none extra unhealthy harm information. It’s been a storm of points to this point and as a lot as Todd Bowles’ group seems able to weathering it, some excellent news can be good because the hardest a part of the schedule looms in just some weeks.
