Nelson (knee) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.
Nelson was diagnosed with a knee sprain Monday after playing just three defensive snaps in last Sunday's loss to the Panthers before departing with injury. The linebacker was unable to practice Wednesday and will likely not be able to for the remainder of the week, leaving Chris Braswell and Jason Pierre-Paul to fill the hole at outside linebacker.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Diagnosed with knee sprain
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Coach Todd Bowles said Monday that Nelson suffered a sprained knee in Sunday's loss to the Panthers, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Nelson played just three defensive snaps against Carolina before departing with the injury. On the season, the veteran edge rusher has recorded 38 tackles (21 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and a pair of pass breakups, including one interception. Chris Braswell and Jason Pierre-Paul will be candidates for increased playing time if Nelson needs to miss any further game action.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Won't return vs. Carolina
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Nelson (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Panthers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Nelson injured his knee in the first quarter and after he was evaluated by medical staff, his injury has been determined severe enough for him to be sidelined for the rest of Sunday's game. Chris Braswell, Markees Watts and Jason Pierre-Paul are slated for more rotational snaps at the edge rusher position due to Nelson's injury.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Hurts knee, questionable to return
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Nelson is questionable to return to Sunday's Week 16 game against Carolina due to a knee injury.
Nelson was hurt during the first quarter of the big NFC South matchup. The veteran linebacker typically logs a defensive snap share north of 50 percent while also contributing on special teams, so his exit is impactful. While Nelson is out, Chris Braswell and Jason Pierre-Paul could see more reps on defense.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Questionable to play vs. Cards
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Nelson (ribs) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Cardinals, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
After missing practice Wednesday with the rib injury, Nelson managed a limited practice Thursday and upgraded to full participation Friday. He's trending in the right direction, but if there's a setback before Sunday's game, 2024 second-rounder Chris Braswell might benefit in terms of playing time on the edge in Week 13.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Returns to practice Thursday
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Nelson (ribs) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Nelson has been working through a rib injury during Week 13 prep, but his ability to return to practice Thursday -- albeit in a limited capacity -- is a sign that the 2019 fourth-rounder is trending in the right direction. Nelson's practice participation Friday will provide more clarity on his status heading into Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: No go for practice
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Nelson (ribs) was a non-participant at practice Wednesday.
Nelson recorded three total tackles (two solo) in Sunday night's 34-7 loss to the Rams, and he may have picked up a ribs injury in the process. The linebacker will have two more opportunities to practice prior to the team's matchup with the Cardinals on Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Two stops against Buffalo
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Nelson posted two tackles (one solo) during the Buccaneers' 44-32 loss to the Bills on Sunday.
Nelson was able to shake off an illness to suit up Sunday and played 60 total snaps (49 on defense, 11 on special teams), though his tackle count was his lowest since Week 5 against the Seahawks (one). The 2019 fourth-rounder has started in each of the Buccaneers' last three games, which has coincided with the absence of Haason Reddick (ankle). Nelson is up to 29 tackles (16 solo), including 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pick-six through 10 regular-season games.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Nelson (illness) did not practice Thursday.
Nelson popped up on Thursday's injury report with an illness, leaving his status for Sunday's road game against the Bills in question. Due to the absence of Haason Reddick (ankle/knee), the outside linebacker played 92 percent of defensive snaps in last week's loss to the Patriots and made use of the increased opportunity by logging six tackles (three solo). Nelson's participation level in Friday's practice should provide a much more concrete indication of his chances of suiting up for Sunday's Week 11 matchup against the Bills.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Secures six stops in Week 10 loss
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Nelson posted six tackles (three solo) Sunday in a loss to New England.
Nelson compiled the third-most tackles on Tampa Bay while recording a season-high 92 percent defensive snap share in the defeat. The increased opportunity came as a result of Haason Reddick (ankle/knee) missing another contest. Nelson has registered 27 tackles (including 3.0 sacks), two forced fumbles and a pick-six across nine games this season.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Solid in rotational role
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Nelson totaled 40 tackles (25 solo), including 4.0 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games in 2024.
The veteran linebacker logged the second-highest snap count of his career on defense (538), and Nelson turned in a second consecutive 40-tackle campaign and third straight in which he at least hit that threshold. Nelson also recorded one additional sack compared to 2023, and he added five tackles during the Buccaneers' wild-card loss to the Commanders over 49 snaps. Nelson also played a career-high 381 snaps on special-teams coverage and return units, and he's now finished out the two-year, $10 million contract he signed prior to the 2023 season. Given Nelson has proven to be such a reliable and effective fit as a complementary component of Tampa Bay's linebacker corps, it wouldn't be surprise for both team and player to be interested in re-upping their commitment to one another this offseason.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Records fourth sack Sunday
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Nelson supplied two tackles (both solo), including 1.0 sacks, in the Buccaneers' 48-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Nelson was one of five Buccaneers to record a sack of Bryce Young, the sixth-year pro's fourth QB takedown of the season. Nelson continues to fill a rotational role in the linebacker corps, and he's logged at least 30 snaps in eight consecutive games.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Dealing with shoulder injury
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Nelson (shoulder) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's injury report.
Nelson started at outside linebacker opposite Yaya Diaby against the Panthers in Week 13 due to Joe Tryon-Shoyinka being ruled out with an ankle injury. Nelson played a season-high 53 defensive snaps and finished with six tackles (five solo), but it appears he may have picked up a shoulder injury in the process. He'll have to return to practice in at least a limited capacity over the next two days to be available for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Active Sunday
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Nelson is active for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The outside linebacker missed practice Friday due to a personal reason, per Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com. Now, he might have a chance to start opposite Yaya Diaby with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka inactive with an ankle injury. Nelson has played on at least 30 percent of the defensive snaps in all 11 of Tampa Bay's games this season, recording 25 tackles (14 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Deemed doubtful
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Nelson has been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday's game against the Lions due to a concussion, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Nelson was apparently in concussion protocol all week, although he was a full participant at practice. His doubtful designation indicates he is not trending toward clearing the league's protocols prior to kickoff Sunday. Still, final confirmation on his status is unlikely to come until a few hours before game time. With Shaquil Barrett (illness) considered questionable, the Bucs could be spread a little thin on the edge. Thus, YaYa Diaby, Markees Watts and Cam Gill have the potential to see increased workloads.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Ready to play at Minnesota
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Nelson (hamstring) was a full participant at practice Friday ahead of Sunday's game at the Vikings, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
After limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday, Nelson got in a full practice Friday ahead of Tampa Bay's regular-season opener. He'll try to improve on the career-high 5.5 sacks he recorded last season.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Stays with Tampa
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Nelson re-signed with the Buccaneers on Thursday.
Nelson was a steady contributor on the Bucs' defense in 2022, setting career highs across the board in his fourth NFL season. He should remain a regular part of the team's linebacker corps next season.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Career-best season in '22
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Nelson totaled 46 tackles (26 solo), including 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 17 games during the 2022 regular season.
Nelson added three solo stops across 60 snaps in the wild-card loss to the Cowboys. The fourth-year linebacker turned in career-best tackle, sack and forced fumble totals while playing a career-high 604 snaps on defense. While Nelson is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year in mid-March, the 2019 fourth-round pick could certainly prove to be a more cost-effective alternative for the Buccaneers than fellow free agent Lavonte David.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Another sack in Week 17
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Nelson registered four tackles (three solo), including a sack, during the Buccaneers' 30-24 win over the Panthers in Week 17.
Nelson pushed his sack total to 2.5 over the last three games with his takedown of Sam Darnold in the win. The 25-year-old has put some solid play on tape down the stretch while starting in place of Shaquil Barrett (IR-Achilles), and he'll head into the regular-season finale versus the Falcons averaging 4.3 tackles per contest since Week 12.
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Buccaneers' Anthony Nelson: Expected to be starter sans Barrett
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Nelson is expected to start at outside linebacker in the absence of Shaquil Barrett (Achilles), Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Nelson has recorded two sacks across eight appearances this season, but he's in line for increased opportunities with Barrett sidelined for the remainder of the season. The 2019 fourth-round pick played a season-high 46 percent of Tampa Bay's defensive snaps during Thursday's loss to Baltimore, but he figures to finish around the 60-70 percent mark moving forward.
