Tampa Bay Buccaneers Roster, Injury News 2017: Defensive End Noah Spence to Undergo Second Shoulder Surgery
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Noah Spence's season is likely over due to another shoulder injury.
The Bucs have announced that they are placing the second-year pro on the injured reserve list after he dislocated his shoulder in their 30–27 loss to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. This is the fourth time Spence has dislocated his shoulder in the past two seasons.
The first time he dislocated his shoulder was on Oct. 2, 2016, in a game against the Denver Broncos, but he continued to play on and got hurt again earlier this year when the Bucs took on the Carolina Panthers on Jan 2.
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Spence had surgery at the end of the 2016 season and he was expected to make a full recovery. However, he dislocated his shoulder again during their 34–17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings last month, and now the Bucs have finally decided to shut him down for the rest of the season.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter confirmed that Spence is set to undergo his second shoulder surgery in as many seasons.
"Noah's toughness is beyond question because most guys that have that injury are out three to four weeks right off the bat. It's the same shoulder that Noah had last year, [but] when it happened in Minnesota he went in and put a harness on and went right back in the game. Any time a guy has a shoulder that's coming out, they'll let you play in a harness until it starts coming out more often and then the doctors have to shut it down," Koetter said on Wednesday, via ESPN.
In six games this season, Spence has recorded only one sack and a forced fumble.
Meanwhile, the Bucs have brought in veteran defensive end Darryl Tapp to fill his spot on the roster.
