Bucs HC Reveals Diaby's Injury, 'Hopeful' to Avoid IR

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 16-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons Sunday at Raymond James Stadium was joyful for the most part.

The Bucs shut out a division rival, pulled to within a half game of first place, and did all of it without the benefit of completing a pass.

The downside is that one of their best players got hurt.

Yaya Diaby, fresh off a three-sack performance against the Carolina Panthers, went down with an injury in the first quarter and didn't return.

Speaking with reporters early Monday afternoon, head coach Todd Bowles revealed that Diaby has an MCL sprain and said it's not yet known how long he'll be out. 

Bowles said that the Bucs are "hopeful" that Diaby won't have to go on injured reserve.

No injury is ever ideal, let alone to a key player. With that said, the silver lining is that the Bucs have been solid at the EDGE position.

David Walker has four sacks on the season, one more than Diaby.

Free agent signee Al-Quadin Muhammed started slow, but has recently had sacks in consecutive games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers. Reuben Bain Jr. was a guy the Bucs were delighted to take at pick No. 15 in this year's draft,

He’s gotten better as his rookie season has progressed, recording seven total pressures, six hurries and a sack in the team's last three games. He had two pressures and two hurries in his first three games.

It's a group that Bowles feels good about, and one that will need to continue to progress for the Bucs to get back into the playoff picture.

For all of Tampa Bay’s promise on the edge, the team is tied for 20th in the league with 16 sacks on the season.

Tampa Bay hasn't done a particularly good job at pressuring the quarterback, either, standing at 22nd in the league.

Walker leads the Bucs in pressures with 17, with defensive tackle Calijah Kancey placing second at 15. Diaby is in third with 14, and defensive tackle Vita Vea is right behind him with 13.

The Buccaneers defense has been a bright spot all season, even during the team's 1-5 start.

Currently, the unit ranks sixth in the league in eighth in the league in points allowed and sixth in the league in opponents' point per game.

It all continues Sunday night against the Chicago Bears on the road.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 ET on NBC.