The Bucs have placed reserve guard Aaron Stinnie on injured reserve. Stinnie suffered a patellar injury to his knee in the first quarter of Tampa Bay’s 38-31 win in Indianapolis. He started in place of left guard Ali Marpet, who missed the Colts game with an oblique injury.

“[It’s] probably looking like a longer injury,” Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said.

Stinnie, who is in a contract year, started three postseason games, including Super Bowl LV for the Bucs last season when he replaced right guard Alex Cappa in the team’s playoff win at Washington. He was Tampa Bay’s top reserve at guard before sustaining his knee injury.

Bucs G Nick Leverett – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stinnie saw his first action of the season against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, playing most of the game at left guard after Marpet suffered his abdominal injury in the first quarter of action.

First-year player Nick Leverett filled in for Stinnie on Sunday in Indianapolis and received a game ball from Arians for doing a credible job in his first NFL action in a regular season game. Marpet returned to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday and is expected to start at left guard on Sunday in Atlanta barring a setback. Leverett will take Stinnie’s place as Tampa Bay’s top backup at guard.

The Bucs did not make a corresponding roster move on Wednesday with Stinnie going on I.R. Tampa Bay’s roster stands at 52 players.