Vita

Vea

Vea was added to the team’s injury report Saturday after missing practice with a hamstring injury, placing his status for the team’s Week 7 showdown with the Ravens in question. Vea has struggled through multiple injuries this season but has missed just one game, although a late-week addition to the injury report with a new injury is never a good sign for a player’s chances of suiting up. Considering Vea remains one of the better run-stoppers in the league, his potential absence is meaningful with a matchup against Derrick Henry and the Ravens on tap.

Vea had a shot at suiting up last week, but the Bucs ultimately held him out on Sunday. He was limited in all three practices this week and looks to be on the right side of the questionable tag heading into the weekend. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. both remain out for Week 4.

Vea suffered a sprained MCL in Week 2 and missed last week because of the issue. He only practiced once before being assigned a questionable tag. While he may be listed as questionable again this week, a limited session to start the proceedings is a step in the right direction.

Vea suffered a sprained MCL in the team’s Week 2 win over the Lions and came into the weekend with a doubtful designation alongside Johnson, both ultimately downgraded to out. The Buccaneers will be without four primary contributors on the defensive side of the ball as they face off against rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Vea suffered an MCL sprain in Week 2 against the Lions and didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Per Palmer, “He practiced today for the first time this week, but only did a few things.” The Bucs will monitor his health throughout the weekend, giving him a shot at suiting up on Sunday. Still, it sounds like he is on the wrong side of questionable. Down multiple starters on the defensive side of the ball, this isn’t the most formidable version of the Bucs we’ll see this year. If Bo Nix is going to turn things around, Week 3 would be a great time to start.

Neither did DT Calijah Kancey (calf), and OT Luke Goedeke (concussion) was limited to side work with trainers. Not having Vea and Kancey would be a major issue for the Bucs’ run defense; however, they’re facing a Broncos offense that seemed incapable of moving the ball through the first two weeks. As it stands, this is a slight upgrade for Javonte Williams and a slight downgrade for the Bucs defense but doesn’t figure to drastically change the complexion of the game.

Vea was reportedly scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the injury’s severity. No new information has been released beyond confirming the knee injury is an MCL sprain. Vea could miss time. Buccaneers DT Calijah Kancey (calf) and backup DL William Gholston (knee) likewise did not practice Wednesday, though EDGE Logan Hall (foot) was limited.

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said Vea is considered day to day ahead of the team’s Week 3 game against the Broncos. The last time he suffered a grade 2 MCL sprain, Vea missed one game. His injury is one of many on Tampa’s defense over the past two weeks.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said, Vea “received an initial diagnosis of MCL sprain, source says... but the hope is that it’s not an extended absence.” Though undoubtedly painful, Vea could potentially play through a Grade 1 sprain; he missed on game after suffering a Grade 2 MCL sprain in 2021. The Buccaneers’ defense has had terrible injury luck over the last seven days, with S Antoine Winfield Jr. (undisclosed) and DT Calijah Kancey (calf) both ruled out preemptively on Friday.

This is big news for the Buccaneers run defense, especially against a team that likes to run as much as the Lions. Tampa Bay was already without Calijah Kancey. It’s unclear how long Vea might be out for, but this is a serious blow to Tampa Bay’s defense.