The Bucs’ offensive line shuffle isn’t slowing down anytime soon. On Tuesday, Tampa Bay placed starting guard Ben Bredeson on injured reserve after he suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Saints. With just four games left in the regular season, Bredeson’s status is up in the air for the playoffs - though if the Bucs can win the NFC South and punch their ticket to the postseason, there’s a chance he could return.
It’s another blow for a unit that’s been in flux all year. The Bucs have been forced to mix and match up front since Week 1, and Bredeson’s injury adds yet another twist to the ongoing line dance.
This isn't Bredeson’s first trip to the injury report this season. He missed two games earlier in the year after tweaking a hamstring against the Patriots on November 9.
He made it back for the November 30 win over the Cardinals, but now the knee issue sidelines him again. He becomes the second starter on the offensive line to land on IR this season, joining guard Cody Mauch, who was lost for the year with a knee injury following the Week 2 win in Houston.
The Bucs have already had to operate without their anchor at left tackle, Tristan Wirfs, who missed the first three games of the season recovering from knee surgery. He was sidelined again last Sunday due to an oblique strain but is trending toward a return for Thursday night’s divisional clash with the Falcons - a game with real playoff implications.
Injuries haven’t been limited to the offensive line, either. Tight end Cade Otton (knee), defensive back Christian Izien (neck), safety Tykee Smith (neck/shoulder), and outside linebacker Haason Reddick (ankle) were all banged up and did not practice Monday.
The good news? All four were spotted at the portion of Tuesday’s practice open to the media - a positive sign as the team prepares for a short week.
Also on the field Tuesday was veteran pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul, who just rejoined the Bucs on the practice squad. His presence adds experience and depth to a defense that’s been dealing with its own share of attrition.
With the NFC South still up for grabs and the margin for error razor-thin, Tampa Bay’s ability to stay healthy - or at least healthy enough - could be the deciding factor down the stretch. The offensive line, in particular, will need to stabilize quickly if the Bucs want to keep their playoff hopes alive.