The hits have kept on coming for the Bucs less than 24 hours after their 9-0 loss to the Saints. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tampa Bay will be without special teams ace Pat O’Connor for the rest of the season. O’Connor is believed to have torn his PCL and partial MCL. Either way, the backup defensive tackle will be out for whatever remains of the Bucs season.
It’s not just Chris Godwin:
Bucs’ DL Patrick O'Connor, a core special teams player, suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday night vs. the Saints, per source. Doctors believe he tore his PCL and partial MCL, but he is getting more medical opinions.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 20, 2021
O’Connor had recently become a more critical part of the Bucs defensive rotation too, notching a season-high 15 snaps two weeks ago against the Falcons. He’d been effective too, with a tackle-for-loss and a sack in limited action. But O’Connor’s loss is greatest on special teams. The defensive lineman has been one of the Bucs top performers on kick coverage for years now. Unfortunately, O’Connor’s injury occurred while attempting to block a punt late in the loss to the Saints.
It’s uncertain how the Bucs will deal with O’Connor’s loss. His ability to play defensive line was a luxury on game days, so it isn’t automatic that Benning Potoa’e will be promoted to take his place. Tampa Bay could look to bring up their best special teamer from the practice squad, without much regard to position.
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About the Author: Jon Ledyard
The hits keep coming. I expect to lose starters every week.
I would most definitely reach into the practice squad player versus the other option as we already know he can’t do much of anything
I think the all injuries during the Saints game were the result of retaliation for Winston tearing his MCL/ACL in their first matchup.
Fire the strength and conditioning staff, this is just ridiculous.
What’s “ridiculous” is that you feel the need to blame the strength and conditioning staff. The same staff, by the way, whose team had very few injuries last season and won the championship. These players are professional, many have their own trainer, I think by now they take responsibility for their own physical condition. Often critics will say a player is “injury prone” even though that’s an equally “ridiculous” remark. Fact is, injuries occur for a variety of reasons…………..like a defender blasting into their knee.
Injuries are a part of the game. And ours are starting to mount up bigtime. To be champion you must beat the champions. Now we shall see what our champions are made of folks. Nobody feels sorry for us. Its crap or get off the pot. Ruck up Bucs, Contenders be coming for you. Next man up.