Bucs DT Vita Vea’s Knee Injury Won’t Require Surgery, Expected To Be Out 6-8 Weeks

Update:

Adam Schefter confirms the news and adds that Vita Vea‘s LCL injury could sideline him 6-to-8 weeks. However, the Bucs are not ready to rule him out of the opener.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the MRI on Buccaneers DT Vita Vea came back with good news and he will not need to undergo surgery for his knee injury. Instead, Rapoport says Vea could return in the next month.

According to Mike Garafolo, the thinking is that Vea “dodged a bullet” with what’s believed to be an LCL sprain. 

Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians explained that Vea‘s knee had a “little fluid” in it along with some swelling.

Vea, 24, is a former first-round pick of the Buccaneers back in 2018. He agreed to a four-year, $14,878,424 contract that included an $8,900,672 signing bonus.

The contract has a fifth-year option for the Buccaneers to pick up in 2021. 

In 2018, Vea appeared in 13 games for the Buccaneers and recorded 28 tackles and three sacks.