Getty KJ Britt headed to injured reserve on Tuesday due to an ankle injury.
Injuries keep mounting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers going into a critical Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, October 27.
Second-year inside linebacker K.J. Britt became the latest Bucs player on injured reserve on Tuesday. Britt exited the Week 7 game at Carolina on Sunday due to an ankle injury and didn’t practice Monday and Tuesday.
A former fifth-round pick, Britt played in all seven games with all of his snaps coming on special teams, a team-high of 141 snaps per Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith. Britt’s absence leaves the Bucs with one reserve at inside linebacker, Olakunle Fatukasi, Smith noted.
Bucs’ LB K.J. Britt has been placed on IR (Ankle)
Tampa Bay can sign an additional player to the 53-man roster with Britt on IR. The Bucs “did not announce a corresponding move” on Tuesday, Smith wrote.
Greg Auman of The Athletic anticipates the Bucs moving rookie linebacker J.J. Russell to the roster from the practice squad. Russell “would make his NFL debut on special teams”, Auman wrote.
Tampa Bay has three defensive players who play regular snaps not practicing so far this week, per the Bucs injury report. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting sat out due to a quad injury, Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. remained concussion protocol, and cornerback Carlton Davis III remained out with a hip injury.
Bucs Get Good News on Defensive Front
Amid the defensive injuries, the Bucs at least saw Pro Bowl defensive end Akiem Hicks practice this week for the first time since a foot injury in Week 2.
Hicks showed up as a limited participant in practice for Monday and Tuesday after missing his fifth-consecutive game in a Week 7 loss to Carolina. Whether or not Hicks will play against Baltimore on Thursday in Week 8 remains unknown. He wouldn’t tip his cap either way.
“Super close,” Hicks told reporters via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “Can’t say, but super close.”
It couldn’t come soon enough for the Bucs, a team that’s 1-4 without Hicks on the field after a 2-0 start with him in the trenches as Stroud noted. Hicks tallied four tackles and a quarterback hit in those wins at Dallas and New Orleans.
“It stinks. It’s unfortunate,” Hicks said via Stroud. “It’s a hurdle I have to overcome. It not being my first and probably not my last, it’s something you have to push through, as typical as that sounds. But I will say this: Every one is a challenge. Every time. For guys that have long careers, anytime you’re down, it’s a frustration, it’s a mental battle as well as a physical battle.”
Akiem Hicks practiced again. Shaq Mason returned.
Russell Gage was out there, but unsure if he participated. Evans, Godwin & Julio had helmets.
No Carlton Davis, SMB, Luke Goedeke, Cam Brate or Antoine Winfield Jr.
K.J. Britt had a walking boot on his right foot. #Bucs
“It’s life, right? As far as having ups and downs,” Hicks added. “Whether you’re in the NFL or you’re working down the street, you’re going to have ups and downs. We’re just fortunate — sometimes it’s an unfortunate spot that we get put into — it’s all broadcast. That’s the only difference between me and my brother and the guy that works at Kinkos. That’s it.”
“There’s real life stuff that goes on outside of here as far as your family,” Hicks continued. “Health. Sickness. People passing. Like, there’s real life hurdles that come along with it, but with the camera, it just gets magnified. Everybody is going through the same stuff.”
Offensive Injuries Abound for Bucs
The Bucs offense faces its share of injuries with two starters out and another five in limited participation.
Tight end Cameron Brate (neck) and guard Luke Goedeke (foot) didn’t practice Monday and Tuesday. Wide receiver Russell Gage (hamstring) didn’t practice both days, too, but the Bucs got some good news on the receiver front.
Julio Jones (knee) had limited participation at practice on Tuesday after missing the past three games. Mike Evans, who hurt his ankle at Carolina, had limited participation Tuesday, and rookie tight end Ko Kieft (ankle) also had limited participation.
Bucs guard Shaq Mason also has an ankle injury, and he practiced in limited capacity on Tuesday.