The Tampa Bay Buccaneers initial fears have proven true.
A Monday MRI revealed starting linebacker and defensive captain Kwon Alexander indeed tore his ACL during Sunday’s 26-23 overtime win over the Cleveland Browns, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Alexander suffered the injury near the end of the first half after making a handful of big plays throughout the first two quarters, helping the Bucs shut out the Cleveland offense. His absence was painfully obvious when the Browns came back in the second half and forced overtime.
In the final year of his rookie contract, Alexander was in line for a long-term extension, making this the worst possible time for such an injury.
"He said to us before we left out there for halftime, he was like, 'Never take anything for granted,'" Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston said Sunday. "We see the passion he plays with. We see the heart he puts in the locker room. We are going to have his back just like we had his back today.
"I love Kwon. We're going to miss him and I know he is going to make an amazing comeback. That's just the type of person that he is and his work ethic has been strong since he's been here."
The Bucs are now razor-thin at linebacker. Rookie Jack Cichy, who stepped into Adarius Taylor's strongside spot (Taylor slid over to Alexander's middle spot), also left with a knee injury and did not return. Last year's starting strongside linebacker, Kendell Beckwith, is still recovering from ankle surgery after an offseason car accident.
The team did re-sign linebacker Devante Bond this week to provide more depth. Bond had been waived after suffering a foot injury during the preseason and received an injury settlement.
