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Pro Bowl linebacker Kwon Alexander, who left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' overtime victory over the Cleveland Browns just before halftime with a left knee injury, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the remainder of the season, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter announced Monday.
Alexander underwent an MRI on Monday to confirm the diagnosis. He was placed on injured reserve.
"It's unfortunate," Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said Monday. "It's very unfortunate." Kwon came out of the room, "We were so excited about it." It was emotional. "
Alexander suffered the injury with 18 seconds left in the first half of the Bucs' 26-23 victory Sunday. He was blitzing Baker quarterback Mayfield and planted his foot, going down without contact. Players on both teams immediately knelt down. Alexander was able to leave the field under his own power.
He was like, 'Never take anything for granted,' "Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston said Sunday. "We see the passion he plays with." We see him in the locker room.
"I love Kwon, we're going to miss him, and I know he's going to make an amazing comeback." "That's just the type of person he is, and his work."
The timing could not be worse for Alexander, who is trying to negotiate a new contract.
Left tackle Donovan Smith, who was part of Alexander's 2015 draft class along with Winston and Ali Marpet said, "He's like my brother, it's really tough, I'm at a loss for words. that's huge for our team. "
The Bucs are now razor-thin at linebacker. Rookie Jack Cichy, who stepped into Adarius Taylor's strongside spot (Taylor slid over to Alexander's middle spot), also suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and is out for the season.
Last year's starting strongback linebacker, Kendell Beckwith, is still recovering from ankle surgery after an offseason car accident.
The team did re-sign linebacker Devante Bond this week to provide more depth. Bond had been waived after suffering a foot injury during the preseason and received an injury settlement.
To help fill the void, the Bucs have re-signed linebacker and Hard Knocks star Riley Bullough, a source confirmed to ESPN. Bullough had suffered a foot injury during the preseason and reached an injury settlement with the club in September.
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