Second-year tight end, O.J. Howard, could miss up to a month with a sprained MCL.
The score was ugly on Sunday. The defense was ugly. In fact, most of the football game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was ugly up in Chicago on Sunday. The 48-10 loss was just the beginning. It was announced Monday morning that the 2017 first-round draft pick will miss some significant time due to the injury suffered in the loss.
The good news?
The Bucs are on a bye this week. That means Howard’s timeline looks a bit less ominous. He could only miss 2-3 games and return by Week 8 when the Bucs travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals. The worst-case scenario is he returns the following week in Carolina.
Howard has 11 catches this season totaling 222 yards and a touchdown.
Cameron Brate, a favorite target for returning QB Jameis Winston, will get more opportunities. The other two tight ends on the depth chart are second year man, Anthony Auclair, and third-year pro Alan Cross.
The Bucs head to Atlanta after the bye week to face the division rival Falcons.
