The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are leaning towards putting linebacker Kendell Beckwith on the NFI/PUP (Non-Football Injury / Physically Unable to Perform) list to start the 2018 regular season. Beckwith has missed every OTA (organized team activity), mini-camp and training camp practice as he recovers from an offseason ankle injury he suffered in a car accident. Beckwith will not count against the team’s 53-man roster.

Beckwith will not be eligible to return until after the first six games of the season. Tampa Bay will keep rookie outside linebacker Jack Cichy, the team’s sixth-round pick, to help weather the loss of Beckwith. Adarius Taylor will start at SAM (strongside) linebacker in Beckwith’s absence.

Bucs DT Mitch Unrein – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs defensive tackle Mitch Unrein may start the season on injured reserve with a designation to return. The team is currently weighing its options and is reviewing the medical reports regarding his recovery. Unrein suffered a concussion during the second week of training camp and hasn’t practiced since. He missed all four preseason games and has not cleared concussion protocol. Unrein has not even been at practice on the sidelines since getting concussed.

Unrein signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract with Tampa Bay, including $4 million in guaranteed money, according to OverTheCap.com. In order for Unrein to be placed on IR with a designation to return, which would me he would be out for the first eight games of the year, he would have to be on the Bucs’ initial 53-man roster first per NFL rules.

The Bucs have been ravaged with injuries at the defensive tackle position with Unrein missing all four preseason games in addition to Vita Vea, the team’s first-round pick, who suffered a calf injury on the first day of full pads in training camp. Tampa Bay also released defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu, the Bucs’ seventh-round pick in 2017, after he suffered a triceps injury during training camp.