In another stretch of bad luck, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed All-Pro guard Carl Nicks on injured reserve with a toe injury. That's a hefty blow against an already limited offensive line, which earlier saw the loss of Pro Bowl right guard Davin Joseph before the season started.

Nicks was signed to a five-year $47.5 million contract this offseason and was part of the massive influx of free agents in Tampa Bay. Nicks had performed at a very high level this season and was a big part of the team's recent offensive resurgence.

Nicks had struggled with a toe injury throughout the season, but never appeared to be a threat to miss any game time. According to Jenna Laine, Nicks has a torn plantar plate in his left toe requiring surgery to repair.

Ted Larsen will presumably take over at left guard, although the team was far from satisfied with his performance at right guard earlier in the season. The Bucs don't have a lot of depth at the position, as Cody Wallace now is the only backup really capable of playing guard or center, assuming Larsen starts. The Bucs have promoted guard Roger Allen from the practice squad to alleviate this concern, but what was a strength at the start of the season now increasingly looks like a weakness.

In addition, the Buccaneers placed rookie tight end on Danny Noble on injured reserve.