Buccaneers designate DT Vita Vea for return

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea was designated for return from injured reserve and will practice with the team on Wednesday.

Vea suffered a broken lower leg October 8 against the Chicago Bears and was thought to be out for the season.

"It's a big, big loss," head coach Bruce Arians said at the time of the injury.

The imposing nose tackle could be activated for a limited role at Green Bay on Sunday in the NFC Championship game.

Vea, 25, was taken off the field on a stretcher with an air cast around his lower leg and ankle with what was originally thought to be a fractured ankle in a Thursday night loss to the Bears.

But the Buccaneers updated the injury to a broken leg.

In five games before he was injured, the 330-pound Vea had 10 tackles and 2.0 sacks in 2020.

Pairing Vea with Ndamukong Suh could be a major boost for a Tampa Bay defense that had been stellar against the run before Alvin Kamara had 18 carries for 85 yards on Sunday.

--Field Level Media