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Earlier this week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sent Vita Vea to get an x-ray on his injured knee but it was determined that there was too much swelling and he would need to get it done, once the swelling was done. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the swelling has gone down enough to get the x-ray and it has been completed.
Following his MRI, good news for #Bucs 2018 first-round DT Vita Vea. Sources say he can return within the first 4 weeks of the season but no surgery is required for his knee injury. Or what @MikeGarafolo tweeted a few days ago. Should miss minimal game time. (Fixed earlier tweet)
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2019
According to Rapoport, Vea won't need surgery which is good news, but it's expected that he will miss at least some time during the regular season.
Head coach Bruce Arians said before this test that the team was hoping that it wasn't a major injury.
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“We did the MRI right away on Vea yesterday,” said Head Coach Bruce Arians following Wednesday's practice. “[There is] a little fluid in there, a little swelling, so we'll do another one on Friday. There's nothing really to report on what it is yet, or how much [the] timetable [is] as far as [his] return. We'll know more on Friday. But the original prognosis was good. Other than that, good fast practice, ready to go hit somebody else.”
Earlier this week Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reported the hope inside the locker room was that it was just an MCL sprain, and it appears with no surgery being needed that is the case.
I was told the early hope there is LCL sprain and no ACL tear but we’ll see what the MRI says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 7, 2019
After being a first-round pick last year, Vea was a huge part of the defense and the expectations this season is he will only get better. Hopefully, this injury is only a minor setback and he can still have a great season with the Buccaneers.
