Whatever the adversity his Green Bay Packers face, coach Matt LaFleur is quick to say that nobody is going to feel sorry for his team.
That lack of sympathy is a two-way street. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be without their mountainous defensive tackle, Vita Vea, for Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field. Vea didn’t practice all week due to a toe injury. Coach Todd Bowles listed him as doubtful and called him a game-time decision.
Only two players this season played while listed as doubtful: Raiders star Maxx Crosby and Giants receiver Darius Slayton both did it three weeks ago.
So, presumably, Vea will miss a second consecutive game.
“I wouldn’t mind that,” Packers guard Jon Runyan said of Vea’s potential absence.
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 337 pounds, Vea is an every-down menace. Not only is he hard to displace in the running game because he’s so huge, he’s got 5.5 sacks (one off his career high, which was set last year) and nine tackles for losses (a career high).
“We’ve played Vita a few times here and he’s a large human being; I think one of the heaviest in the NFL,” Runyan said. “He’s tough to move out of there. Whether he’s out there or not, we’ll be prepared. I wouldn’t mind if he’s not, though. We’ll see. We’re preparing like he is, though. I know he doesn’t practice much and he plays a lot and is a tough guy. We’re preparing for him to be out there and whatever happens, happens.”
Vea returned from injured reserve to help the Bucs beat the Packers in the 2020 NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field. He had two tackles and a quarterback hit in the Packers’ win at Tampa Bay last year, when Green Bay rushed for 67 yards on 2.7 yards per attempt.
When he’s on the field this year, the Buccaneers allow just 3.23 yards per carry, according to league data. That’s 0.55 yards better than when he’s off the field.
Vea, the 12th pick of the 2018 draft, was selected to his only Pro Bowl in 2021.
The Packers struggled to handle the Giants’ enormous Dexter Lawrence in Monday night’s loss at the Giants.
“He’s a monster,” coach Matt LaFleur said of Vea. “There’s not too many guys that are his size that are that athletic. He does a great job, obviously. He’s a tough guy to move in the run game, and then in the pass game he’s got some unbelievable quickness and power. He’s a tough guy to go against in both phases. Usually, you don’t see a guy that big that can dominate in the pass game the way he can.”
Also for the Bucs, cornerback Carlton Davis is out with a groin injury. Davis, who has an interception in two of the previous three games, is tied for the team lead with two interceptions and is second with nine passes defensed.
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