Bucs running back Chase Edmonds suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s 27-17 win over the Chicago Bears and could be out four-to-six weeks. Edmonds exited the game in the first half after two carries for 12 yards, including a 14-yard dash on his first tote, which is the longest run Tampa Bay has had in the first two weeks of the season.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that Edmonds sustained a Grade 2 MCL sprain and will miss at least a month’s worth of action. The team will likely put Edmonds on short-term injured reserve as a result, which would mean that he won’t be able to return until the Bucs vs. Falcons game on October 22 at the earliest.

Bucs RB Room Lacks Experience

Bucs RB Chase Edmonds – Photo by: USA Today

Chase Edmonds, who was signed in the offseason as the most experienced player in Tampa Bay’s running back room, had been splitting backup duties with rookie Sean Tucker.

With Edmonds out Tampa Bay will rely on Tucker, an undrafted free agent, as the primary backup to starter Rachaad White. Fourth-year running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn is the team’s fourth-string runner and was a healthy scratch for the second week in a row as part of the Bucs game day inactives.

The Bucs also have Patrick Laird on the practice squad. Laird spent all of the offseason and training camp, so he knows the offense.

Potential veteran free agent signings off the street could include running backs Kareem Hunt, J.D. McKissic, Caleb Huntley and Dontrell Hilliard. Former Bucs running back Leonard Fournette is also a free agent, but is not an option to return to the team.