TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Evan Smith had an MRI taken on his injured left knee, which revealed that he has a grade-2 MCL sprain, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan.
Smith, who suffered his injury during Sunday's win over the visiting Chicago Bears, will have the MRI results read by Dr. Lyle Cain. After Dr. Cain gives his opinion on the reading, a timetable for Smith to return to the field will be known. A grade-2 MCL sprain typically keeps a player out from two to four weeks.
Center Ben Gottschalk, who was signed off the practice squad on Saturday, replaced Smith. It was Gottschalk's first NFL game Sunday, and the first time he snapped the ball to quarterback Jameis Winston since training camp in 2015. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2014 by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Smith was starting for center Joe Hawley, who missed Sunday's game with a knee injury. MRI results taken last week on his injured knee revealed no structural damage, a source said. Hawley only saw limited practice time leading up to the game.
The Bucs were also without left guard Kevin Pamphile, who suffered a concussion against the Atlanta Falcons and remained in the protocol the entire week of practice. Rookie Caleb Benenoch, like Gottschalk, had never seen action in an NFL game before.
