After heading to the locker room in the second half of the Bucs’ 38-31 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, head coach Bruce Arians told the media that tight end O.J. Howard had likely suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Arians said Sunday after the game that the expected injury would rule Howard out for the remainder of the year and on Tuesday NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed the torn tendon was a season-ender.
#Bucs TE OJ Howard’s MRI confirmed that he tore his Achilles, source said. This is what was expected. The former first-round TE is done for the season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 6, 2020
Howard will finish the year with 11 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including a 28-yard touchdown catch to bring Tampa Bay within three points of the Chargers in their comeback victory on Sunday. Howard is under contract for one more year with the Bucs, after Tampa Bay picked up his fifth year option this past spring.
PR Roundtable: Who Is The Bucs' Unsung Hero So Far?
Bucs' Brady Nominated For FedEx Air Player Of The Week