Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Career-high sack total in '24
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Vea finished the 2024 regular season with 42 tackles (27 solo), including 7.0 sacks, and one defensed pass across 16 games.
The veteran defensive tackle added a solo tackle over 47 snaps in the Buccaneers' wild-card loss to the Commanders. During the regular season, Vea continued to profile as one of the best interior pass rushers in the league, setting a new career high in sacks while exceeding 5.0 sacks for the third straight season. Vea's tackle total was also the second highest of his career, and unless the Buccaneers opt to exercise an out in his deal this offseason at a dead cap hit of $11.5 million, Vea is due to play out the 2025 season in his usual capacity on the interior of Tampa Bay's defensive front.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Sets new career best in sacks
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Vea recorded three tackles (one solo), including 1.0 sacks, in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Vea finished the 2024 season with a new career high in sacks (7.0) thanks to Sunday's takedown of Spencer Rattler. The 2018 first-round pick also compiled the second-highest tackle total (42) of his career, and Vea figures to continue serving a critical pass-rushing and run-stuffing presence when the Buccaneers welcome in the Commanders for Sunday night's wild-card showdown.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Late addition to injury report
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Vea (hamstring) did not practice Saturday, and he is listed as questionable for Monday's game against Baltimore, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Vea was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday, but he popped up on Saturday's injury report due to a hamstring issue. Given his late addition to the injury report, that could make Vea a game-time decision for Monday's game unless the team announces his status earlier. Greg Gaines started at nose tackle for Vea earlier in the year while the latter was dealing with an MCL sprain in his right knee.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Extends sack streak to three games
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Vea tallied four tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks, during Sunday's 51-27 win over the Saints.
Vea logged a sack in his third straight game Sunday, as he got to Spencer Rattler midway through the second quarter, which led to a Blake Grupe 29-yard field goal on the next play. Vea is up to 3.0 sacks on the year, and he'll look to extend his sack streak to four games in Week 7 against the elusive Lamar Jackson.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Estimated as limited
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Vea (knee) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimation.
Vea returned to the field in Week 4 after missing the Buccaneers' Week 3 loss to the Broncos, posting three total tackles, including 1.0 sacks and an additional tackle for loss, across 38 defensive snaps. The 2018 first-round pick will likely still suit up for Tampa Bay's divisional matchup against the Falcons on Thursday night unless his participation downgrades Tuesday or Wednesday.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Listed as questionable for Week 4
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Vea (knee) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and has been listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Philadelphia.
Vea sprained the MCL in his right knee in Week 2 against the Lions, which forced him to sit out Week 3 against the Broncos. The 2018 first-round pick was a limited participant in all three practices this week, and he has given himself a fair shot at returning Sunday from a one-game absence. Greg Gaines would continue to see extended snaps at nose tackle if Vea was ruled out for Sunday's game or operated on a snap count.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Unlikely to play Sunday
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Vea (knee) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Vea is working through a Grade 2 MCL sprain he sustained in the Bucs' Week 2 win over the Lions. He opened the week with back-to-back DNPs, and while he was able to practice in a limited capacity Friday, the 2018 first-round pick isn't expected to suit up Sunday. Greg Gaines is the top candidate to slot into the starting nose tackle spot should Vea be inactive.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: DNP to open week
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Vea (knee) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Vea suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in Tampa Bay's Week 2 win over Detroit, and the 2018 first-round pick is considered day-to-day. His practice participation Thursday and Friday will provide a better indication of his availability for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Considered day-to-day
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Vea is dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain and will have a chance to play in Week 3 after suffering the injury in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Lions, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Vea was expected to undergo an MRI on Monday, which likely led to this diagnosis. The potentially quick return for the Washington product would be great news for the Buccaneers' defensive front, with Vea being one of the premier run-stopping tackles in the game. A final verdict on his ability to play in Week 3 against the Broncos probably won't be available until closer to kickoff Sunday, however.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: May be dealing with MCL sprain
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Vea, who suffered a knee injury in Sunday's 20-16 win over Detroit, is believed to be dealing with a sprained MCL, but the Buccaneers have optimism the issue isn't serious, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Vea went down in the second half of Sunday's game and didn't return. He's slated for an MRI on Monday, which should provide clarity about his injury and his status moving forward. If Vea is unable to suit up Week 3 versus Denver, Greg Gaines would likely take over as Tampa Bay's starting nose tackle.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Spotted with knee brace
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Vea was seen with a brace on his right knee following Sunday's 20-16 win over the Lions, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Vea was ruled out early in the second half of Sunday's game due to a knee injury. The 2018 first-round pick will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Vea's practice participation leading up to Week 3 against the Eagles will be closely monitored, and if he's unable to play, then Greg Gaines would slide into the starting nose tackle spot while C.J. Brewer serves as the backup.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Won't return Sunday
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Vea has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Lions due to a knee injury, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The Buccaneers were without Calijah Kancey (calf) for Sunday's game, and they'll now be down another starting defensive lineman in Vea. Greg Gaines will take over for Vea as the primary nose tackle for the rest of the game while C.J. Brewer provides depth.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Drops weight for third downs
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Coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday that Vea has dropped weight this offseason in the interest of playing increased snaps, including third downs, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Vea is coming off a career 2023 campaign, with a new high of 43 tackles (28 solo), while his 5.5 sacks fell just one short of tying a career-best mark. An ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks provides Vea with more IDP value than the usual defensive tackle, so if he can keep racking up sacks despite dropping weight, the addition of third-down reps could provide a significant boost to the 29-year-old's fantasy prospects.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Another productive season in books
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Vea recorded 43 tackles (28 solo), including 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles across 15 regular-season games in 2023. He added three stops (two solo), including a half-sack, in two postseason contests.
The mammoth defensive tackle set a new career high in regular-season tackles and fell just one sack short of tying the career-best 6.5 he'd recorded in 2022. Vea's pair of forced fumbles also represented a new high-water mark, and although he's currently on the books for a cap hit of just under $21 million in 2024, there aren't any indications he won't be back in his usual role as the anchor of Tampa Bay's defensive line next season.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Logs full practice Thursday
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Vea (toe) was a full participant at practice Thursday.
After being a limited participant in the Buccaneers' practice Wednesday, Vea upgraded to full practice Thursday. The veteran nose tackle has been nursing a toe injury, but it appears the issue is behind him and he's likely on track to play in a Week 16 matchup against the Jaguars.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Doubtful versus Green Bay
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Vea (toe) has been listed as doubtful ahead of Sunday's contest against the Packers.
Vea missed the Buccaneers' Week 14 win over the Falcons with a toe injury, and he's likely to miss a second straight game after logging a DNP for all three practices this week. Greg Gaines stepped in as the starting nose tackle for Week 14 and figures to reprise that role Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Limited in practice Wednesday
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Vea (groin) was a limited participant in the Buccaneers' practice Wednesday.
Vea is still dealing with a groin injury that held him out of the team's Week 8 loss to the Bills. The 2018 first-round managed to play through the injury last week and will look to do the same versus the Titans on Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Vea (groin) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Vea missed the Bucs' Week 8 contest against the Bills on Thursday after sustaining a groin injury Week 7 against the Falcons. Barring a setback, Vea should be able to return against the Texans on Sunday. He has 21 tackles (13 solo), including 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in six games this year.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Will be game-time decision
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Coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Vea (groin) would be a game-time decision for Thursday's game at Buffalo, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Vea was questionable in Week 7 with a foot injury, but it's a groin injury that's putting his availability for Week 8 in doubt. If he's sidelined, Greg Gaines could draw the start at nose tackle.
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Buccaneers' Vita Vea: Productive in win
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Vea recorded three tackles (two solo), including two sacks and one tackle for loss in Sunday's 26-9 win over New Orleans.
Tampa Bay's 347-pound nose tackle battled through a pectoral injury after not practicing for the majority of last week, recording two of the team's three sacks this past Sunday. Vea continues to be an integral part of the Buccaneers' defensive line, as he leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss heading into Week 5's game against the Lions.
