Buccaneers starting safety Ryan Neal exited the Saints game early in the first quarter and did not return with the team announcing that he was being evaluated for a concussion.
He was taken off the field and has now been downgraded to OUT for the remainder of the game per the Buccaneers PR staff.
He is the third Buccaneers starting defensive player to miss this game with Calijah Kancey and Jamel Dean being ruled out before the contest.
Neal is in his first season with the Buccaneers and has been playing for the Seattle Seahawks since 2019 prior to signing with Tampa Bay in the off-season.
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Dee Delaney has replaced him on the field and will fill in for the rest of the game versus the Saints.
Delaney is in his third season with the Buccaneers and has filled in across the secondary when others have missed time.
This could be a huge hit for Tampa Bay's defense as the team finds itself holding on to a 7-3 advantage with half time closing in.
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