Buccaneers Also Lose Petitgout to Torn ACL

Losing Cadillac Williams for the season was bad enough for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they already had serviceable running backs behind Williams. (Expect rookie Kenneth Darby to get a call-up from the practice squad this week.) Who do the Bucs have behind Luke Petitgout?

The Bucs lost the nine-year veteran tackle to a torn ACL, leaving the rebuilt offensive line without one of its key bricks for the remainder of the season. His replacement will be Donald Penn, a second-year tackle out of Utah State, and now the question remains whether he can help Jeff Garcia stay upright and help guys like Michael Pittman, Earnest Graham and Darby run effectively.

Losing Petitgout to injury may prove to be even more costly than losing Williams. The Bucs have given up only six sacks in four games, and the revamped O-line was a big reason for that. How that line fares without its biggest free agent signing remains to be seen. Penn will have to deal with Falcons defensive end John Abraham twice, and that's a tall order for just about anybody.