Bucs ILB KJ Britt – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs have announced that they have placed second year backup inside linebacker K.J. Britt on injured reserve on Tuesday due to an ankle injury.

Tampa Bay is down another defender and this time a key special teamer with Britt. During the Bucs-Panthers game on Sunday, Britt injured his ankle on a special teams play and needed a cart to get back to the locker room.

Britt was seen in the locker room on Monday in a walking boot, but he wasn’t present during their walkthrough practice. On Tuesday, Britt was on the field at practice but just watching. He still had a boot on his right foot.

Unfortunately, Britt won’t be available on a short week when the Bucs host the Ravens on Thursday. He’ll have to miss at least at least the next four games before he is eligible to return onto the 53-man roster. Britt hadn’t played a snap on defense yet, but has contributed on special teams with three tackles.

Bucs Limited In Depth At ILB

The Bucs will be pretty thin at inside linebacker until they decide to make another move soon. They have not announced a corresponding move at this time.

After the duo of Lavonte David and Devin White the only other inside linebacker the Bucs have on their active roster is undrafted rookie free agent out of Rutgers, Olakunle Fatukasi. They do have fellow undrafted rookie free agent from Memphis, J.J. Russell, on the practice squad along with four-year veteran Ulysees Gilbert.

Either Russell or Gilbert would fill a role in replacement of Britt on special teams as well. They also recently called up Genard Avery to the active roster, but a roughing the kicker penalty late in the fourth quarter on Sunday essentially sealed the Bucs’ chances of coming back in the game.

Tampa Bay will have to make another move soon before their Thursday night game at home.