Bucs LB Barrett suffered torn Achilles, out for '22

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers extracurricular linebacker Shaquil Barrett volition miss the remainder of the 2022 play aft suffering a torn Achilles, manager Todd Bowles said Friday.

An MRI connected Friday confirmed the Achilles tear, with a root telling ESPN's Adam Schefter that Barrett is expected to beryllium retired 7 to 9 months.

"It's a pugnacious interruption for him," Bowles said. "Any clip you suffer idiosyncratic similar that that commands double-teams, it makes it harder for everybody else. He's been accordant since he's been here. He's been productive. He started disconnected playing good past night. It's conscionable a shame to see."

Barrett was injured connected a third-and-1 tally play during the 3rd 4th of Thursday's 27-22 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. After being attended to by diversion trainers, Barrett came disconnected the tract portion hardly putting immoderate value connected his little near limb and was carted disconnected to the locker country erstwhile connected the sideline.

The 29-year-old had 3 sacks successful 8 games this season, his 4th successful Tampa Bay, but Thursday nighttime mightiness person been 1 of his champion performances of the play -- with a sack, 3 tackles for a loss, 4 combined tackles and a 21.1% unit complaint anterior to leaving the game.

The Buccaneers surrendered 3 touchdowns aft Barrett near the crippled successful the 3rd quarter. He was replaced by Anthony Nelson, who had 5 sacks past season.

Nelson volition proceed to service arsenic Barrett's replacement, Bowles said, with Carl Nassib rotating successful arsenic well.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Barrett has been the Buccaneers' apical borderline rusher since his breakout play successful 2019, erstwhile helium led the NFL with an astounding 19.5 sacks. Barrett's 40.5 sacks are the 4th astir of immoderate antiaircraft subordinate since 2019, conscionable down Aaron Donald, arsenic are his 12 forced fumbles.

Barrett's wounded couldn't travel astatine a worse clip for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers person dropped 5 retired of their past six games and person fallen to a 3-5 record. Their once-top-ranked tally defence has fixed up 632 rushing yards implicit the past 4 weeks -- the astir successful the NFL -- and the portion has struggled to unit opposing quarterbacks.

Next week, the Bucs look the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, whom they person mislaid to 3 times since 2020, including a 30-27 nonaccomplishment successful January that knocked the Buccaneers retired of the postseason.