Tampa Bay’s defensive backs coach, Jimmy Lake, injured himself during the Buccaneers’ 26-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Coming into this game the Bucs had just two interceptions. In this game against the Saints they had a season high three picks and those interceptions were worth celebrating. However, one of those celebrations came at a cost to Lake.

Lake injured his patella tendon during his celebration of an interception by Tanard Jackson in the second quarter. The injury will require surgery which he will undergo once the team returns from London. When asked about his injury he kind of brushed it off.

“I am feeling fine,” Lake said. “I am feeling fine. It is just stiffer than anything. I got the Cadillac Williams injury. It is the patella tendon. I will have surgery right when I get back from London.”

With Lake not being able to be on the sidelines for the remainder of the game, the team turned to veteran player Ronde Barber to assist in the relaying of information to the defense on the field.  Barber was seen on the field wearing a headset after the injury to Lake. According to Barber, he was not play-calling, but rather just relaying the calls of what coach said in his ear to his teammates. 

“I wasn’t really in there play calling,” Barber said. “When Jimmy went down [and] we don’t really have another secondary coach – we got some guys that have been there for a couple months, but nobody that can talk in front of the room. I have done plenty of talking in front of our room [and] I spend an enormous amount of time with Jimmy so I know what he is going to say. I wasn’t calling plays I was really just relaying the information. Wearing another hat for the defense and just helping him out because he had to go up to the box. He couldn’t stand on the sideline.”

Lake had nothing but praise for his unit and admitted to getting excited when playing such a team.

“Yes, not supposedly they are,” Lake said. “They are the best third down offense in the National Football League. I have a lot of respect for Sean Payton—the best play caller in the NFL. They have Drew Brees who is obviously a pro bowl quarterback. It gets me juiced up and it gets our guys juiced up to go out and face the best because we want to be the best.”