The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost a key member of the offensive line for the rest of the season.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, starting right tackle Cody Mauch suffered a season-ending right knee injury against the Houston Texans on Monday. Following Mauch’s injury, Tampa Bay is expected to sign guard Dan Feeney of the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad, per Schefter.
Through two games, Mauch recorded a 63.4 PFF grade, which ranks 28th among guards. He had one penalty and allowed only one sack.
Mauch, a second-round pick out of North Dakota State in 2023, has been an iron man through his first two seasons, as this Sunday will be the first game he’s missed in his career.
Before Mauch was diagnosed with a season-ending injury, head coach Todd Bowles said the team was planning to play Sunday’s game without him. He noted that Luke Haggard, Elijah Klein and rookie Benjamin Chukwumah were options for the right guard position.
“We juggled quite a few people around there,” Bowles told reporters. “Whether it was Haggard, whether it was Klein or whether it was ‘Choo,’ we’re trying out some different sets just in case something happens Sunday and we’ve got to play with these guys.”
Mauch’s injury only adds to a depleted Bucs’ offensive line. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs has missed the first two games of the season as he recovers from a July knee surgery, and starting right tackle Luke Goedeke aggravated a foot injury on Monday.
Despite the injuries to the offensive line, the Bucs have started the season with wins over the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans. They’ll look to stay undefeated this week when they face the New York Jets in their home opener.
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