Tampa Bay Buccaneers Outside Linebacker Escapes Serious Injury After MRI

It looked grim, but Yaya Diaby looks to be okay after a big scare in training camp.

Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) and linebacker Anthony Nelson (98) react after a play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers fans breathed a sigh of relief when Tristan Wirfs was finally locked up ahead of Day 7 of training camp, and now, they can do so again after one of their star players avoided a serious injury.

Bucs edge rusher and outside linebacker Yaya Diaby went down in practice on Thursday after defensive lineman Vita Vea rolled up his ankle, and it didn't look good as he was taken off on a cart. Later prognosis, however, revealed that he did not appear to tear his Achilles and that his x-ray came back negative, and now, an MRI revealed that he likely has escaped serious long-term injury per the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud:

After the MRI, #Bucs believe they avoided a serious injury with OSLB YaYa Diaby, who was carted off the field after hurting his ankle when he tangled with Vira Vea during a two minute period. The plan will be to get him ready for Week 1. He’s not expected to play in the…

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 1, 2024

It's unknown exactly what injury Diaby suffered. There's a possibility that it's an ankle sprain of some sort, since the X-ray and MRI came back negative — ankle sprains are worse than low ankle sprains, taking six weeks or longer to recover. Thankfully, Diaby has plenty of time, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't face off against the Washington Commanders for Week 1 for about six weeks or so, so he could come back before that time to make Week 1. And even if he doesn't, the Buccaneers will be very happy with that outcome.

In the meantime, the Bucs will lean on Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Chris Braswell, Anthony Nelson and Markees Watts, among others, while Diaby recovers from his injury.

READ MORE: 5 Key Takeaways From Day 7 of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp 2024

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