When Buccaneers defensive end Adrian Clayborn injured his right leg during Sunday’s loss vs. the Giants, teammates feared it could be a season-ender. Those fears were correct.
Coach Greg Schiano said Monday that Clayborn tore ligaments in his right knee and that his 2012 is over.
"Unfortunately, it's not a good one. Adrian is going to have to have surgery, so he's done for the season," Schiano told reporters, via the Tampa Bay Times. "You know, it'll probably be a couple weeks before it happens that he has it. Certainly, it's unfortunate for him and the team.
"It's a knee. I don't know exactly what it is. It's one of those three-letters deals. It may be more than one. I got to see. They're not sure yet.”
Clayborn joins fellow defensive end Da’Quan Bowers on the sideline, though Bowers -- who tore his Achilles tendon in May -- could return off the Physically Unable to Perform list after Week 6.
It’s a bad blow to the Buccaneers, because Clayborn was coming off his 7.5-sack rookie season and because the team appeared to be more comfortable rushing the passer, sacking Tony Romo four times and causing two fumbles Sunday.
"I look around the league, and a lot of people have issues,” Schiano said. "I mean, the team we're playing this week [the Redskins], have similar issues on the front. Look, it's part of life in the NFL. It's a bad part. And unfortunately, it's people's lives you're talking about, the guys you get injured. It's something you know going in and you have to have plans in place and that's what we have to do.”
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