William

Gholston

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.

Gholston has spent his entire 11-year career with the Buccaneers and is set to return for a 12th season this year. The veteran lineman played on a career-low 244 snaps last season despite playing in 16 games and hasn’t registered a sack since 2021. Gholston is likely returning on a low-end salary and will be used in a situational role.

Gholston is about to enter his 10th season in the NFL. He has never played anywhere but Tampa Bay since joining the league in 2013. Gholston recorded 4.5 sacks and seven TFLs in 2021. His sack total was a career-high. Gholston reportedly had interest from other teams but chose to stay in Tampa Bay in pursuit of his second Super Bowl.

Gholston spent three days on the list after coming into close contact with someone with coronavirus. Gholston has featured on 54 percent of the Bucs’ snaps this season.

Gholston announced he was in close contact with an infected individual and is self-quarantining. He said he already had the virus earlier in the summer. The 29-year-old has been in on 54% of the Bucs’ defensive snaps this season.

He could be wearing the boot as a precautionary measure, though it’s still a situation worth monitoring. The seventh-year run-plugger has compiled 24 tackles and one sack over 10 appearances including seven starts this season.

Gholston is an imposing 6-foot-6, 281 pounds with 34-inch arms, but lacks high-end athleticism (4.96 40-yard dash, 1.73 ten-yard split). He’s more adept at swallowing up blockers than exploding off the edge. Gholston will likely play limited snaps as a rotational end this season.

Gholston (6-foot-6 1/4, 281) recorded 30 career tackles for loss and 10 sacks across 36 games for the Spartans, making 24 starts. Big Ten coaches voted him honorable mention all-conference last year. The cousin of former megabust Vernon Gholston, William is a pure five-technique, 3-4 end prospect who ran 4.96 at the Combine with a plodding 1.73 ten-yard split. He offers little natural edge-rushing ability, but possesses long arms (34") to control blockers. Gholston could line up at end on early downs before kicking inside on passing downs in Tampa Bay.

He sat out the Bucs’ final two games with a dislocated elbow. Severe dislocations can sometimes lead to bone chips and ligament damage but Gholston’s was relatively mild. His biggest issue is getting his full range of motion back. Regardless, Gholston should be healed in plenty of time for the start of OTAs.

There are no surprises. Robert Ayers will start in Gholston’s place.