The Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave a positive injury update on NT Vita Vea ahead of Week 8 road game against the New Orleans Saints.

The Buccaneers will have their quarterback when they play the Saints on Sunday, but a key defender's status remains uncertain.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have run into plenty of injury problems, and the last thing they need is more — unfortunately, that's just what they got on Thursday on

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was a full practice participant Thursday as he seeks to recover from a sore knee.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was upgraded on Tampa Bay's Thursday injury report, but the club also added a key defensive player to the list.

Vita Vea, at 347 pounds, is one of the NFL's most difficult players to handle. It'll be up on the interior of the Lions' O-line to slow him down.

On Thursday for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Vita Vea (foot), Haason Reddick (ankle/knee), Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder), Teddy Bridgewater (teeth) and Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) did not participate in practice. In addition, six players upgraded to limited participation after not practicing on Wednesday, including Emeka Egbuka and Antoine Winfield Jr.

FILE: Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Vita Vea has his eyes on the quarterback during the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 10, 2024, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.