As the Buccaneers get ready for their first pre-season game in Pittsburgh Friday night, the team will be without two key defensive players Lavonte David and Vita Vea.
This is that time of year when those nagging injuries start to come to the surface and the Bucs are starting to feel those effects.
Their best Linebacker Lavonte David tore his meniscus last week and had surgery to repair the tear. He is expected to be back for the start of the regular season but will most the rest of training camp and the pre-season.
Defensive tackle Vita Vea went down with a knee injury in yesterdays practice after getting locked up with offensive lineman Alex Cappa in a blocking drill.
Vea was able to walk off under his own power and Bruce Arians said that he did not have any new information on the injury as practiced wrapped up. According to Jenna Laine of ESPN, Vea will undergo an MRI on Friday.
Vea injured his calf in training camp last year and while not believed to be serious at the time, Vea ended up missing half of the season. If this injury turns out to be serious, it would be another blow to this defensive unit who is already with out linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul until at least November.
Two of the Bucs rookie defensive backs Mike Edwards and Jamel dean also missed practice. Dean missed his third practice with a hip flexor.
Reserve safety D’Cota Dixon also missed practice, as did outside linebacker Anthony Nelson.
Other players who did not practice yesterday due to various issues were rookie wide receiver Scotty Miller, running back Bruce Anderson, offensive lineman Mike Liedke and wide receiver K.J. Brent.
