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About the Author: J.C. Allen
Latest Bucs Headlines
The hits keep coming for the Bucs, as the team has officially placed linebacker Lavonte David and running back Leonard Fournette on injured reserve. Both players fell to injury against the Saints in Week 15. However, their move to IR confirms they will miss the rest of the regular season.
More losses for the Bucs followed. The team also announced defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches and wide receiver Jaelon Darden were placed on the reserve/COVID list. They join wide receiver Breshad Perriman as the only Bucs on the list.
We've moved ILB Lavonte David and RB Leonard Fournette to injured reserve and placed WR Jaelon Darden and DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 23, 2021
Veteran Kevin Minter will be thrust into the starting role with David out for the second time this season. David missed Weeks 6-7 earlier in the season with an ankle injury. Ronald Jones will need to step up in place of Fournette. The team also brought in veteran running back Le’Veon Bell this week as insurance.
Meanwhile, rookie receiver Jaelon Darden has been the Bucs primary returner for most of the season. Returner/running back Kenjon Barner should be elevated from the practice squad to replace Darden this week. Nunez-Roches has been a strong rotational player for the Bucs’ defensive line. He’s recorded 13 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss.
The Bucs currently have 48 players on the active roster with their recent moves. That includes the reinstatement of Antonio Brown and Mike Edwards. The team will be able to elevate up to three players this week from the practice squad. Likely candidates are Barner, wide receiver Cyril Grayson and defensive lineman Benning Potoa’e.
