BUCCANEERS 101

We all knew the bad news was coming, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made it official on Saturday.

Pro Bowl right guard Davin Joseph will miss the entire 2012 season after tearing his left patellar tendon in Friday night's 30-28 win over the New England Patriots. The Bucs also announced that Joseph will undergo surgery on Monday for his injury.

Joseph got injured in the second quarter when left tackle Donald Penn blocked Patriots rookie defensive end Chandler Jones down to the ground and right into Joseph's knee. He was promptly carted off the field and replaced by backupTed Larsen.

Head coach Greg Schiano believes that the team can replace Joseph in the starting lineup with the players currently on the roster.

"I think we have the answer internally already. That’s why we’ve been trying to build depth at all the positions," said Schiano. "But we always look outside. That’s a constant. If there’s somebody we think fits our mold, then we’ll try to do what we can to get him."

The Bucs may have to dig through the waiver wire or wait until final cuts are made because Larsen, who started three games at guard last season for Tampa Bay, didn't look good in relief of Joseph Friday night. He got flagged for back-to-back false starts at one point in the third quarter and clearly doesn't have the strength that Joseph possesses.

Whoever replaces Joseph has big shoes to fill and Schiano knows losing his Pro Bowl guard will have a major impact on his team.

"It’s big but you know that’s part of what we do. You mourn and you move on," said Schiano. "That’s what you do. That’s what we have to do. Davin wants us to do that. He’s going to get surgery and start on his road to recovery, and we have to fix our sights on how we’re going to move forward."

Moving forward starts this coming week and against the Washington Redskins on Wednesday night in the final preseason game for both teams.

Tags: Davin Joseph, Football, NFL, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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