Tampa Bay's offensive line has sustained another blow ahead of the 2022 season.
Buccaneers guard Aaron Stinnie suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Saturday night's preseason defeat to the Tennessee Titans, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, per a source.
ESPN first reported the news.
Entering his third full season with the Bucs, Stinnie was slated to start at left guard following the offseason retirement of Ali Marpet. Second-round rookie Luke Goedeke and second-year pro Sadarius Hutcherson are next up on the Bucs' unofficial depth chart.
“We have some depth right now, but we are always looking to bring in somebody that can help the team," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Sunday, confirming Stinnie's injury. "So, if there is something out there that is available to us that we can get, then we’ll try to take a shot at it.”
The Bucs lost the heartbeat of their O-line after center Ryan Jensen sustained a knee injury during the first week of camp. While they hope to successfully fill that absence internally with the promotion of Robert Hainsey, Stinnie's injury is sure to create depth issues along the line and may force the Bucs' hand in free agency.
“Any time you lose depth at any position, it’s a concern, but we’ve got guys that can play," Bowles said. "Unfortunate things happen in preseason -- obviously, you can’t help the injuries. We can’t afford to get anymore hurt down there. I still think we have enough right now, but we’re going to be thin in the depth department.”
INJURIES/COVID-19
- RB Jonathan Ward suffered a shoulder injury and did not return in Sunday's preseason game versus the Ravens.
- RB Nate McCrary suffered a knee injury and did not return in Sunday's preseason game versus the Cardinals.
- DT Travis Jones suffered a knee injury and did not return.
- WR David Moore (lower leg) placed on injured reserve.
- OL Lamont Gaillard suffered a calf injury and did not return in Sunday's preseason game versus the Giants.
- OT David Bakhtiari (knee) is being activated off the physically unable to perform list and will take part in individual drills this week, coach Matt LaFleur told reporters Sunday. LaFleur didn't provide a timeline on when Bakhtiari will be game-ready.
- WR Chester Rogers placed on injured reserve.
- DE Jordan Jenkins place on injured reserve.
- WR Tyquan Thornton suffered a broken clavicle in Friday's preseason win and is expected to miss around eight weeks, NFL Network's Mike Giardi reports, per a source.
- QB Jameis Winston returned to practice Sunday and participated in 7-on-7 drills, per multiple reports. Winston has been sidelined by a right foot sprain since Aug. 9.
- WR Michael Thomas sat out Sunday's practice with what coach Dennis Allen called "a little bit of a hamstring" issue.
- WR C.J. Board suffered a rib injury and did not return in Sunday's preseason game versus the Bengals.
- LB Kayvon Thibodeaux suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and did not return.
- LB Darrian Beavers suffered a knee injury and did not return.
- K Graham Gano suffered a concussion and did not return.
- WR Austin Mack will miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury, coach Kyle Shanahan said.
- OL Sam Schlueter is day to day with knee tendinitis.
ROSTER MOVES
- Reached injury settlement with LB Kamal Martin.
- Signed FB Jake Bargas
- Waived LB Carson Wells, per the transaction wire.
- Released C Ty Clary.
- Released LB Chauncey Manac.
- Waived OL Myron Cunningham.
- Released LB Tae Davis.
- Released FB Andy Janovich.
- Waived K Elliott Fry, per the transaction wire.
- Released TE Dalton Keene.
- Waived QB K.J. Costello.
- Waived RB Devine Ozigbo.
- Waived K John Parker Romo.
- Waived DT Christopher Hinton, per the transaction wire.
- Waived LB Ulysees Gilbert, per the transaction wire.
- Released WR Vyncint Smith.
- Reached injury settlement with LB JoJo Ozougwu.
- Waived S Troy Warner.
- Claimed TE Kendall Blanton, per his agent.
PRESEASON PARTICIPATION
- Head coach Frank Reich told reporters Sunday that starters will play up to a half in the preseason finale versus the Buccaneers.
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