Donovan Smith Goes Down
August 21st, 2018
UPDATED: 9:55 a.m. – This may be the first major injury of training camp.
Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith went down today and had to be both assisted up and helped back into One Buc Place. If there is any positive out of this it is that he was not carted off.
Smith has been an ironman for the Bucs never missing a start since he was drafted in 2015. Smith has only missed one half of a game, last year at New Orleans.
Joe sure hopes the Bucs play this safe for Friday’s night’s preseason game against Detroit, even if Smith is deemed ok. The only upside here could be the Bucs getting an honest assessment Friday of what they have at backup left tackle.
Michael Liedtke, who was on the Bucs’ active roster last season and joined their practice squad in 2016, has had a decent summer and could be the go-to guy.
#Bucs offensive lineman leaves practice Tuesday with what looks like and ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/m9Sr9wxD1T
— Bob Hansen (@WFLAHansen) August 21, 2018
August 21st, 2018 at 9:53 am
Please let this be a minor injury.
August 21st, 2018 at 9:54 am
Both rt and lt should have been upgraded to nfl level talent. Next man up…. this o line is scary bad with no depth or hope.
August 21st, 2018 at 9:56 am
I realize injuries happen but sheesh. We REALLY need to look into the trainers and doctors we have on staff. This is ridiculous.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:02 am
How do trainers keep ankle and knee injuries from happening? This is just part of football, look around the league, we have been lucky. Depth is the answer, not trainers….smh
August 21st, 2018 at 10:02 am
like joe said, he’s an iron man….if no cart was needed, he’ll be ready to go week1…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
August 21st, 2018 at 10:03 am
Just thinking same thing dam
August 21st, 2018 at 10:03 am
Buc believer
Every aspect of the glazers organization is sub standard and built for basement titles not to be competitive in nfl. Glazer’s have taken one teams trash is another teams treasure to extreme. From the front office to supporr staff glazers only hire garbage……
August 21st, 2018 at 10:05 am
Many do not understand that wins and loses are a direct reflection of how healthy you are sometime. The bucs have been serverly cursed as it relates health. Even the bucs 10-6 yungry team had like 19 players on IR ie McCoy and they also had to play the greatness of cody grimm etc.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:05 am
Need to look at the trainers…seriously. This is football and this happens. Trainers don’t prevent a damn knee injury. How dumb is this comment section? Seriously?
August 21st, 2018 at 10:06 am
Hope he gets better fast.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:11 am
TMaxCon Says
“Both rt and lt should have been upgraded to nfl level talent. Next man up…. this o line is scary bad with no depth or hope.”
Seriously, you’ve lost what limited credibility you have here, and have become a running joke.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:12 am
@ reality
You are the type of poster i was talking about in my post on another thread. There are 14 LT in the nfl making at least 10 mil that have never made the pro bowl. Nate solder the highest paid LT is making 16 mil and no pro bowl. Many of the 14 are making about 13-14 mil. Many of those you would not take over smith. Smith will get paid his going rate. Educate yourself without always coming on here looking like the little boy who did not get his banana pudding at snack time.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:13 am
Broy34 Says
“Need to look at the trainers…seriously.”
It;s not the trainers, its the environment. All three Florida teams have this issue.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:15 am
If…IF he is down for the count, I hope we have a good option to replace him. I expected Smith to have stepped up his game this year with Marpet next to him. Hopefully this is something minor and he will be back by the start of the season…or maybe we get lucky and he isn’t injured at all.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:16 am
@ joe
Was justin evans carted off the field too?
August 21st, 2018 at 10:16 am
Carted is never good.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:17 am
reality-is-a-beotch/tmaxcon,
Hate to break it to you but if Donovan Smith is not out for the season and manages to have a better year than last year he is going to get paid by the Bucs. Get used to it. Embrace it. Go to NFL.com and buy a Donovan Smith jersey.
If this injury is serious this is a huge loss for the Bucs. Let’s not pretend you can get any LT off the street and have him fill in for Donovan Smith.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:19 am
#dpenn70
August 21st, 2018 at 10:19 am
Justin Evans was carted off the field though!!
August 21st, 2018 at 10:20 am
Well, here is the tough camp that the sheep wanted!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 21st, 2018 at 10:23 am
Buccaneer Bonzai
The only joke are the moroons like yourself who think there is hope and that bucs are an actual competitive entity which they are not and have never been outside of Gruden’s glory year. The ON FIELD RESULTS prove my opinions beyond a reasonable doubt. Results are all that matter mr bonzi and you dont have a leg to stand on
August 21st, 2018 at 10:26 am
Heard that but didn’t see it
August 21st, 2018 at 10:33 am
“Glazer’s have taken one teams trash is another teams treasure to extreme” You really just say stuff to say it don’t you? You know we drafted this guy right? how is he another teams trash? If your going to make dumb comments at least get your facts straight. You’re such a joke dude. Now get off your phone and back to cleaning the bathrooms at BK.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:37 am
With no Smith and Dotson being medically shaky the Bucs are probably bottom five in the league as far as quality of offensive line.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:40 am
Neal
hey reading comprehension expert the Other teams trash was referencing a comment made about medical staff… florida public school education I assume?
August 21st, 2018 at 10:43 am
Well Tandy Man Fan might get what he wanted if Evans is really hurt.
Otherwise time to call Earl Thomas.
As far as Donovan Smith goes, we need to seriously start talking to teams about trading one of our receivers for a LT because the run game will be atrocious if we don’t!
August 21st, 2018 at 10:48 am
The curse of Joebucsfan.com strikes again. I’m starting to think it might be all of Lee’s negativity…
August 21st, 2018 at 10:49 am
The curse of Joebucsfan.com strikes again. I’m starting to think it might be all of Joe # 2’s negativity…
August 21st, 2018 at 10:57 am
Reality – Tmax – with your limited vocabulary and horrible punctuation, as well as a third grade level of grammar and reading comprehension, are you seriously calling out the Florida public school system? I promise no school is proud to call you an alum.
When your crowning achievement is clowning Joe to get back on this board I wouldn’t be casting stones.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:58 am
Might as well move Marpet to LT if he’s out, dude can play every other position.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:16 am
Hopefully it’s not season-ending. Get well Donovan.
This is where your depth gets tested. You can never have enough competent o-linemen.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:18 am
I don’t post that often but what in the hell is going on with injuries for the Bucs. This is INSANE!! It’s happening every year now. By the time season starts, we are DECIMATED with injuries. Somethings not right…I don’t see Miami or Jacksonville having this happen???
We have the absolute worst luck I’ve ever seen. If injuries keep piling up like this, we haven’t a prayer this season….Frustrating to say the least..
August 21st, 2018 at 11:21 am
Not good
Smith and Evans injured. We need a lot of luck that these are not bad. This is injury #15
Maybe they should play flag football on practice until season starts
August 21st, 2018 at 11:26 am
Do people really think no other teams are experiencing injuries?
Go look up any other team and there are a multitude of injuries. Hell like 1/2 or more of the Vikings starting O-line is hurt. The Chargers lost multiple key starters for the entire year weeks ago (starting CB and the TE Henry who was going to be probably the #2 passing target).
And lol @ this having anything to do with “soft” or “hard” training camps…
Praying that Smith is OK for the season. Same with Evans. As of now the sky isn’t falling yet.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:29 am
@ billy
So you would give up a stud wr for a back up left tackle who may not be better than what we already have at back up left tackle. Hahaha gotta love the armchair madden gms.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:34 am
@ lord
I think you are missing the point. Yes the vikes have injuries to their oline and they could have a very crappy season because of it. But they are not decimated with injuries every year and that is why they have made the playoffs for a few years. Teams who make the playoffs are relatively healthy. The bucs have been decimated with injuries every year for the past decade. There is something different with this franchise as it relates to injury.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:35 am
Think positive about potential injuries. I thought all US public school system grades 1-12 are more about not teaching things you need to know that really matter. Like relevant truths about the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:41 am
LC
BINGO!!!!
every team has injuries in TC…..football is a physical game….players will get hurt….its up to the coaches to adjust….cant play the same style with back ups…..each player has their own strengths and weaknesses…..coaches have to find out what they are and put players in position to be successful…..
not have this “woe is me” attitude and throw out a bunch of excuses like @rhealist…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
August 21st, 2018 at 11:49 am
Try Dotson at LT Friday night and leave the right side as is.
August 21st, 2018 at 11:50 am
Buccfan37- “Truth isn’t truth!”
August 21st, 2018 at 11:53 am
Buc believer Says:
August 21st, 2018 at 9:56 am
I realize injuries happen but sheesh. We REALLY need to look into the trainers and doctors we have on staff. This is ridiculous
——————
You might know less about sports than my mother if you think a doctor or trainer can prevent a knee injury. Trainers can help prevent soft tissue injuries but there is very little that can be done about knee trauma (and I assume our OL are already wearing knee braces to begin with).
August 21st, 2018 at 11:54 am
813bucboi Says:
August 21st, 2018 at 10:02 am
like joe said, he’s an iron man….if no cart was needed, he’ll be ready to go week1…..
——————-
I remember former Giants CB Jason Seehorn tearing his ACL against the Jaguars in preseason while returning a kick off. He jogged off the field and was later diagnosed with a torn ACL. He was never the same player again.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:06 pm
“We REALLY need to look into the trainers and doctors we have on staff. This is ridiculous.”
—-
YEP. Its an issue that isn’t ever dealt with. I’d be curious to know when the last time the medical staff was cleaned out. Its not typically done with coaching staff changes necessarily.
And people will say… “How was this unavoidable?” Its not. But the numbers of hamstring, soft tissue injuries, etc that happen to this team is INSANE.
Its an issue. This team never makes a full season without at least a third of their team out for significant time. Healthy teams win. Injured teams finish in last place year after year.
Has this staff been cleaned out since MRSA?
August 21st, 2018 at 12:09 pm
Move Dot to left tackle
August 21st, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Sc
I see the priests are at it again…. nice cover up
August 21st, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Webster
nawl I disagree….LC got it right
no team is “relatively health” when making the playoffs…..the healthiest a team is during the season was 3weeks ago…..
the difference is coaching….good coaches know what to do when faced with adversity(injuries)…..they adjust and make things happen….they don’t mail it in and die slow….
I think the changers and Texans have been hit harder than any team over the years….their injuries are always season ending injuries…..we just pulls, sprains and strains…
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 21st, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Brandon
an how old was seehorn?….I believe he was at least 29 30….he was on the back end of his career by then….
plus technology has grown leaps and bounds since then….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 21st, 2018 at 12:33 pm
I would look at strength and conditioning to prevent, before Docs and trainers to repair or maintain. Many more injuries aren’t preventable, but many are with good stretching and caloric intake. Fat doesn’t help you so why are any of these players carrying extra weight. It is a sign of overeating or a bad diet. They don’t have to lose weight, just convert it to muscle. I’m not saying they all need to look like Noah Spence but lose the fat and your body will thank you. Get limber by forcing players to stretch for about 20+ minutes twice each day. Have you ever seen a fat person who was limber? Stand up straight legs and touch their toes. No one on this team wants to do it or gives a cr&p. Serious lack of self discipline. Js
August 21st, 2018 at 12:38 pm
@Reality is a Beotch…. I agree totally.
August 21st, 2018 at 12:43 pm
@813/Webster
I think that yes – health plays a role in teams making playoffs – but the idea that the Bucs have been way less healthy than most teams is not something i really buy. Last year we had bad luck with all the injuries piling up on one area of the team (defense primarily and our QB); but in general every team has injuries.
And sure – there are a few times a team like the Falcons in 2016 has their entire starting O-line all year and does very well because of it – but that’s not normal. Every team shuffles their O-lines and D-lines every year due to injuries.
The Patriots lost their 1st round O-lineman for the season; and their 1st round RB hasn’t even played yet because of injury. The Chargers are down two key players for the year with multiple other injuries. Both teams likely are in the playoffs and both teams will likely have 4-6 more injuries this season. Same with the Vikings – they will likely get in still – although theirs is the most concerning since it wasn’t an elite O-line to begin with.
In our own division – the Panthers starting RT / RG are expected to miss significant time; and their CB Cockrell is on IR as well. And they lost LG Norwell in FA.
Saints/Falcons been relatively lucky with health so far; although both have a few injuries with guys like Alex Okafor / Deion Jones / Tak McKinley/ Calvin Ridley all getting banged up here or there.
As of now we don’t even know that anyone will miss week 1. Vea likely will be back along with Unrein/Allen/VHIII/etc.
ANyway – this is why you have depth. I am wondering wtf happened to Cole Gardner & Leonard Wester? I have not been impressed by this other OT in preseason so far
August 21st, 2018 at 12:47 pm
@ Webster
Who said anything about a STUD WR?
You are a legend ONLY in your own mind man.
All you do is bash people on here when anyone says anything you disagree with.
Keep eating those fatty potato chips “FAT BOY”
Talk about armchair GM
August 21st, 2018 at 1:54 pm
We always get injuries at positions we are thin on depth….never fails. A decent LT isn’t likely available….Hopefully it’s just a sprain
August 21st, 2018 at 2:42 pm
Not Good!
“what they have at backup left tackle” – that would be – um – um…..
August 21st, 2018 at 4:13 pm
@ billy
Djax, evans, hump, godwin is off the table so who do you want to trade? Bobo, lounge singer or the unproven watson? In either case who do you think the bucs will get in return at left tackle for those players? The same type of player they already have. Again thanks but no thanks madden gm lol
August 21st, 2018 at 4:18 pm
@ 813
Look at when the bucs won it all. Only booger was the significant injury. Most playoff teams are not missing 10 significant injuries. Health is a big part of success whether you want to believe it or not. The bucs consistently have significant injuries all at one time just like last year. No grimes, spence, jw3, kwon, hargraeves, lvd etc. And when some of them got healthy, then ayers, mcdonald, oj marpet, sweezy, justin evans goes down. Reality is a B
August 21st, 2018 at 5:15 pm
Webster
whats your definition of an “significant” injury and how many games should an “significant” injury keep you out?……
grimes(3), Winston(3), kwon(4), LVD(3) all missed a few games….they all played in at least 12games….that’s well over half the season
spence was the only player that missed an “significant” amount of time…..
you don’t have to go that far back….look at the current champs….they were hit hard by injuries to starters….Jordan hick, Sidney jones, Jason peters, Darren sproles, caleb strugis all missed at least 10games…..that a “significant” amount of time….not 3 and 4 games…..
imo, a “significant” injury keeps you out at least half the season… 8games…..being out 3 for 4games doesn’t qualify…..
stop making excuses!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
August 21st, 2018 at 6:26 pm
This article comes right after “your franchise left tackle” article, which talked about how he only missed one half of a game in 3 years.
Stop jinxing these guys Joe!!! (kidding, sort of…)
August 21st, 2018 at 8:40 pm
@813
Again you miss the point. When grimes was missing games, so was kwon, lvd spence, jw3 hurt shoulder etc which means the bucs are behind the 8 ball. When some of them come back, then hargraeves, marpet, oj, justin evans, mcdonald, ayers, sweezy, dotson etc out. You cant win when 6 or more significant players are injured at the same time as the bucs have encountered the past decade. Yes, you can overcome bobo, tandy, hump, ryan smith, marpet at one time because only one of those are significant. Stop being blind. No team overcomes 7+ starters at one time for a long period of time. The bucs who won it all only had to overcome booger and that is with brad johnson missing 3 games
August 21st, 2018 at 8:49 pm
@813
You can lose sproles when you have blount and ajaye. You cant lose grimes and hargraeves when all you have is ryan smith and mclain and elliot. You cant lose kwon, lvd when all you have is bond, and glanton. Come on man
August 21st, 2018 at 8:55 pm
@ 813
When peters went down, the eagles still had a top 5 oline. I would not cry if the bucs had to play without one starter on the online but when you lose 3 starters at one time on the oline, you can not compete like that. Stop tripping
August 21st, 2018 at 9:02 pm
Remember when the bucs had 3 olineman hurt, they also was missing oj, justin evans, djax, spence, ayers, hargraeves, tandy etc. You cant win like that