A source says Bucs LB Shaquil Barrett came out for the season with a ripped Achilles

Tampa, Florida – Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaquille Barrett He will miss the rest of the 2022 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon, a source told ESPN’s Adam Shifter on Friday.

An MRI on Friday confirmed the Achilles rupture, with the source saying Barrett is expected to be out in seven to nine months.

Barrett was injured in play three and three during the third quarter of Thursday’s 27-22 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Attended by the athletic trainers, Barrett walked off the field with barely any weight on his lower left leg and was taken to the locker room once on the sideline.

The 29-year-old has played three sacks in eight games this season, and fourth in Tampa Bay, but Thursday night was perhaps one of his best performances of the season — with a sack, three tackles for loss, and four tackles combined. And a 21.1% compression rate before leaving the game.

The Buccaneers surrendered three touchdowns after Barrett left the match in the third quarter. has been replaced by Anthony Nelsonwho had five sacks last season.

Barrett, a two-time Pro Bowler, has been a top pick in the Buccaneers since his breakout season in 2019, when he led the NFL with an astonishing 19.5 sacks. Barrett’s 40.5 sacks are the fourth most of any defensive player since 2019, right behind her Aaron Donaldas well as his 12 compulsory holdings.

Barrett’s injury couldn’t come at the worst of times for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have dropped five of their past six matches and have fallen to a record 3-5. Their defense has given up the once-first-race 632 fast yards over the past four weeks – the most in the NFL – and the unit has struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Next week, the Bucs face the Super Bowl holders Los Angeles Rams, who have lost three times since 2020, including a January 30-27 loss that knocked the Buccaneers out of the postseason.