The Buccaneers’ defense just pitched a 23-3 masterpiece in New Orleans without its $14M edge ace, and now there’s real optimism he won’t be out long. Head coach Todd Bowles said Monday that Haason Reddick’s MRI showed no knee damage and that the star pass rusher is week-to-week with a sprained ankle.
“It is just a sprain. Right now, we are taking it day-by-day, week-by-week. The knee is sore, but it will be okay,” Bowles said.
Reddick was injured against the Lions, missing Week 8 while Tampa Bay’s defense forced four turnovers and held the Saints to three points. The bye arrives at the perfect time: no game in Week 9, then the Bucs host the Patriots in Week 10, giving Reddick a built-in recovery window.
While the sack total (2) isn’t eye-popping, the underlying impact is. Per PFF, Reddick has 27 total pressures this season — the kind of heat that tilts protections and unlocks opportunities for everyone else in Todd Bowles’ front. That’s why this update matters: Tampa Bay’s defense looked ferocious in New Orleans; re-adding its premier closer only raises the ceiling.
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Caveat: “week-to-week” in Tampa has been elastic. Chris Godwin Jr. (since Week 5) and Bucky Irving (since Week 4) have both worn that label and still missed multiple games. The hope is that Reddick’s situation tracks closer to the short end of that spectrum, especially with the MRI clearing the knee.
The Bucs dodged the worst-case scenario. If Reddick trends up through the bye, Bowles could get his mismatch machine back just as the stretch run begins, and this defense, already cooking, could start humming at playoff volume.
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