Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit with some rough news on Monday regarding one of their biggest names

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to be without their best player on defense for an extended period, it appears.  

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles announced at his press conference on Monday that starting safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. is going to be lost for an "extended period" with a knee injury he sustained in the Bucs' 28-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

"He's got a knee sprain. He'll be out a little while," Bowles said on Monday afternoon. "A couple of weeks, yeah."

The news was a little bit better for the other starter who left Sunday's game in running back Bucky Irving.  However, Bowles wouldn't commit to his availability for Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. 

"It's tightened up, we've got to see how he feels. If we can get it loosened up, he should be ok. If not, we'll see how the week goes."

Winfield, Jr. left the Bucs' win over the Raiders in the second quarter and was ruled out by the team with a knee injury.  His departure left the Bucs with just Christian Izien and recent signing Kaevon Merriweather as the team's remaining safeties on Sunday.  

With Jordan Whitehead on injured reserve and Mike Edwards trying to recover from a hamstring injury, the team will likely be on the lookout this week for help at that position.  The team signed Ryan Neal last week to their practice squad, but his previous performances left a lot to be desired. Tykee Smith cross-trained some at safety and could be a potential option. 

In any event, regardless of what move(s) they make, Winfield is a talent that can't be replaced internally or externally.  We'll see if the Bucs can weather the storm of his absence over the next two weeks (at least) against the Chargers and Dallas Cowboys as the Bucs look to hang onto their lead in the NFC South.