Another key injury hurts outlook for Buccaneers defense

Last night was more than just a loss for the Buccaneers on the stat sheet. The loss of Shaquil Barrett is going to hurt the defense in a major way.

The Buccaneers have a good defense, but it is fair to say that the unit has fallen from the pedestal that it started the season on.

There has been a lot of questionable play on defense, especially from guys like Devin White, but one guy that has been playing at a high level from the jump is Shaquil Barrett.

Barrett has been an extremely consistent force on the defense from his arrival in Tampa. The unit has worked well off the pressure that he is able to generate at one of the best and most effective rates in the league.

Unfortunately, Tampa is likely going to need to figure out a way to turn this defense around without Barrett going forward.

As if the team could get worse news at a worse time.

The Buccaneers are currently perched on the precipice of disaster. The losses have been unacceptable, and they don’t show any sign of slowing down with the remainder of the schedule.

Team cohesion and maintaining that chemistry is vital to make sure this team still has a shot at the playoffs come the end of the season, but that task becomes all the more difficult without Barrett.

Maybe this will be another Ryan Jensen situation where the team can get some faith that he will return at the very end of the season, but one has to think that an injury like this will not end in such news.

Without their best pass-rusher, the Bucs have a major need in a unit that is slowly starting to slip. The Buccaneers will have to get busy on the trade market or in free agency if they want to help stem the bleeding.

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