Buccaneers training camp has claimed its latest victim.
According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, Buccaneers cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah has a fractured patellar tendon in his right knee. Adjei-Barimah is getting a second opinion, but will more than likely undergo season-ending surgery to repair the injury. According to Laine, the injury was non-contact and the surgery could be as early as next week, though it’s yet to be official.
Source tells me Bucs CB Jude Adjei-Barimah has a patellar fracture. He's currently getting a second opinion https://t.co/XbMG96U4rC
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) August 10, 2017
After impressing coaches as a rookie, the 25-year-old Adjei-Barimah found a role as Tampa Bay’s primary nickel cornerback entering the 2016 season. A four game suspension for PEDs, followed by a patellar injury ended Adjei-Barimah’s season. You have to feel bad for Jude, as he was in line to make a full recovery and play a role for the team this season. Beyond just this season this latest news puts his future with the team in jeopardy. Adjei-Barimah was tendered last February by the Bucs and will likely face free agency next off-season.
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The emergence of undrafted free agent Javien Elliott softens the blow from the Bucs perspective. After Adjei-Barimah was lost last season, Elliott was thrown into the fire as the full-time nickel cornerback and played a key role during the teams mid-season winning streak. Elliott continued to impress during this years off-season and training camp and he was more than likely going to be the starter regardless of Adjei-Barimah’s injury. Without the safety blanket of Adjei-Barimah behind him, Elliott’s success is now much more important.
Next: Javien Elliott working to lock up nickel corner role
In two seasons and 23 games with the Bucs, the Bowling Green product Adjei-Barimah tallied three passes defended, 63 tackles, one forced fumble, two sacks, and zero interceptions.