TAMPA, Fla. -- One day after he was carted off the field in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jacquies Smith is heading to injured reserve, the team announced Monday.
Smith, 26, suffered a torn ACL to his right knee during a punt return in the first quarter. He left the locker room Sunday with a bulky brace and a crunch, and underwent an MRI Monday.
"It's big," head coach Dirk Koetter said of losing Smith. "He's a guy that's a starter in our nickel package and a key contributor.