Davin

Joseph

Joseph projects as a stud run blocker so he should help the cause of Cadillac Williams. Dan Buenning and Joseph are a formidable young guard duo.

Joseph, a first-round pick, has already been ruled out of Week 1 and fellow starter Dan Buenning is questionable. Joseph is out indefinitely.

Tampa Bay’s bye is in Week 4. The absence of Joseph, a first-round pick who projects as road-grading run blocker, certainly didn’t help the Bucs’ cause in Week 1. Sean Mahan might start in his place next week.

Both of Tampa’s starting guards are questionable for Week 1. The Bucs have good depth on the interior, but the injuries and a matchup with Baltimore’s defense makes Cadillac Williams a shaky fantasy start.

Joseph is known as a serious mauler and we were excited to see his affect on the running game. It will make Carnell Williams’ matchup against Baltimore that much tougher. Coach Jon Gruden says Joseph is “week-to-week.”

He’ll undergo surgery on Monday. There was speculation Joseph had “only” suffered a broken kneecap, but now he’ll be sidelined for upwards of a year. It’s a massive blow for a Bucs team hoping to rely on a power-run game, and significantly weakens an interior line that was one of their only obvious strengths. G/C Ted Larsen will slide into the lineup opposite All-Pro LG Carl Nicks. Joseph, who was named to his second Pro Bowl last season, turns 29 in November.

Multiple observers suggested the injury looked serious, and Joseph was replaced by Ted Larsen. Losing Joseph could be a large blow to Tampa’s offensive line, which is a power-blocking unit. Joseph is perhaps their most powerful lineman.

Joseph will undergo further testing, but his year is likely through. It’s a crushing blow for a Bucs team hoping to install a smash-mouth rushing attack under new coach Greg Schiano, as Joseph is amongst the league’s strongest interior linemen. He was named to last season’s Pro Bowl. G/C Ted Larsen is the first man up opposite All-Pro LG Carl Nicks.

There’s a glimmer of hope Joseph could return this season, but he’ll still more than likely be placed on injured reserve. A broken kneecap would be preferable to a host of torn ligaments, but it’s still awful news for a team counting on a power-rushing attack and powerful play from their mauling right guard. What was going to be one of the Bucs’ only obvious strengths -- interior offensive line play -- is now a question mark with G/C Ted Larsen expected to line up opposite All-Pro LG Carl Nicks.

“I’ve always had minor issues with my patellar and I think my right knee is stronger now than it’s ever been,” he said. Joseph suffered the injury in preseason and underwent surgery in late August. With Joseph and LG Carl Nicks (toe) returning to health, it’s a boon to Doug Martin’s already-high fantasy stock. When healthy, the Bucs offensive line is one of the most powerful run-blocking units in the league.