The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just captured their first win of the season in Week 2 but their search for consistency will be without tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins who is expected to be out for four to six weeks due to a shoulder strain.
Seferian-Jenkins suffered the injury in the Bucs' 26–19 victory over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday.
It is a big loss for the Buccaneers since Seferian-Jenkins is one of their most consistent contributors on offense this season.
In their 42–14 season opener blowout loss to the Tennessee Titans, Seferian-Jenkins had five receptions for an impressive 110 yards with a touchdown.
This season, the 22-year-old tight end has so far a total of seven receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns in two games played.
Last season, Seferian-Jenkins had a total of 21 receptions for 221 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.
Since Week 6 is Tampa Bay's bye week, Seferian-Jenkins will likely return in their games against the Washington Redskins in Week 7 (Oct. 25), Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 (Nov. 1), or the New York Giants in Week 9 (Nov. 8).
The pressure of Seferian-Jenkins' absence will be on number two tight end Brandon Myers who has yet to record a reception in the 2015 season.
But during the 2014 season, Myers played in 14 games having 22 receptions for 190 yards.
Other tight ends that will be given the chance to step up in the wake of Seferian-Jenkins' injury are Luke Stocker and Cameron Brate.
Stocker played in 13 games for Tampa Bay last season and had seven receptions for 41 yards, while Brate was added from the New Orleans' practice squad.
The Buccaneers will play the last of a two-game road trip when they take on the winless Houston Texans in Week 3 this Sunday at the NRG Stadium.
Following the game against the Texans, Tampa Bay will head back home for Week 4 and 5 action when they host the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 4 and the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 11 at Raymond James Stadium.
