CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Bowl outside linebacker Shaq Barrett suffered a knee injury in the second quarter Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. After briefly returning in the third quarter, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Initial indications are that Barrett suffered an MCL sprain and "nothing long term," a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Further testing will be conducted on Monday.
Barrett had just recorded his 10th sack of the season, becoming the fourth player in Bucs history with multiple double-digit sack seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Lee Roy Selmon and Warren Sapp and Super Bowl champion Simeon Rice.
But then on a third-down pass attempt by Sam Darnold, one of Barrett's legs was stepped on as he rushed to collapse the pocket. He was on the field for several seconds as trainers attended to him, but was able to walk off under his own power. After attempting to play the first defensive series of the second half, he left the game.
The Bucs are already without outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul, who has been battling a torn rotator cuff nearly the entire season. They are also without wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, running back Leonard Fournette, inside linebacker Lavonte David and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Godwin is done for the season and Fournette and David are on injured reserve but likely to return for the postseason.
Without Pierre-Paul, the Bucs relied on rookie Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. In Barrett's absence, they're turning to reserves Anthony Nelson and Cam Gill.
