Bucs' offensive tackle shortage goes from disconcerting to dire A day after elevating an offensive tackle from the practice squad, the Bucs found themselves one more injury from using him Sunday. Veteran Josh Wells, filling in for injured starting left tackle Donovan Smith (inactive), was carted off the State Farm Stadium field after contorting his left knee, tearing his patellar tendon, while pass-blocking less than a minute into the second quarter. Brandon Walton filled in for his first extensive offensive action in exactly three months. Walton had totaled five offensive snaps in the previous 11 contests after starting for Smith (hyperextended elbow) against the Packers on Sept. 25. Moreover, right tackle Tristan Wirfs was playing his first game since suffering a high-ankle sprain Nov. 27 in Cleveland and appeared to be limping by game's end. The only other available tackle Sunday? Justin Skule, one of two practice-squad elevations on Saturday. The only other noticeable injury appeared to be sustained by receiver Russell Gage, who had two critical receptions in overtime but was bent backward awkwardly on the second catch. Veteran safety Logan Ryan, who played every defensive snap the previous three games, had his iron-man streak end when he was shaken up after a hard downfield hit on Cardinals receiver Greg Dortch in the first quarter. Ryan reentered and finished with eight tackles. Millennial mark within reach With a pair of overtime receptions Sunday night, Mike Evans nudged closer to his ninth consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. Evans, targeted only six times in regulation as Tom Brady was unable or chose not to let downfield plays develop, finished with 29 yards on three catches. With two games remaining, he still needs 83 yards to tie Tim Brown for second-most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history. His eight in a row are the most by anyone in the first eight seasons of their career. Evans has 156 receiving yards in his last three games, but 83 came in the first half against the Bengals two weekends ago. Joey Knight, The Tampa Bay Times, published 26 December 2022