The big man in the center of the Bucs defense returned to practice Friday. Defensive tackle Vita Vea, who suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain during last Sunday’s 20-16 win over the Lions in Detroit, was limited during the workout.

The Buccaneers’ injury troubles on the defensive line continue, losing a key player in their matchup with the Detroit Lions. Defensive tackle Vita Vea has been ruled out for the rest of the

The defense already was playing without starting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, defensive tackle Vita Vea received an initial diagnosis of an MCL sprain in the aftermath of Sunday’s win over the Lions. Vea will undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm it. The hope is that Vea will not be out for an extended period of time.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers landed in Detroit with a jam-packed injury report and the odds stacked against them. 24 hours and a 20-16 victory later, the Bucs are heading back South with a 2-0 record, league-wide respect, and uncertainty on the defensive line.

Buccaneers star DT Vita Vea suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain to his right knee and will be "day-to-day," coach Todd Bowles said Monday.

Vita Vea wore a brace on his right knee after spraining the medial collateral ligament during the win at Detroit. The Bucs had been bracing themselves for much worse news about his injury than what they received Monday.

The Bucs had a scary sight during Sunday’s game as Vita Vea suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the second half in Tampa Bay’s 20-16 win on the road against the Lions.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been hit hard by injuries over the first two weeks of the season and things went up a notch on Sunday after Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea was injured in the third quarter.