Tampa Bay running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and tackle Luke Petitgout both will miss the rest of the season with knee injuries sustained Sunday.
Williams injured his right knee when he was tackled by Carolina safety Chris Harris at the end of an 18-yard run during the first quarter of Sunday’s 20-7 victory over the Panthers. Petitgout was hurt when defensive tackle Kris Jenkins fell into his right leg in the second quarter.
“That’s a big blow. … We have some people who need to step up,” coach Jon Gruden said Monday.
Williams was the 2005 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Tampa Bay’s leading rusher the past two seasons. Petitgout, a ninth-year pro who spent the first eight seasons of his career with the New York Giants, was signed during to stabilize an offensive line featuring three starters in their first or second year in the NFL.
An already banged-up Buffalo defense took more hits.
Backup linebacker Kevin Harrison is lost for the season because of a knee injury. Starting safety Jim Leonhard and starting cornerback Ashton Youboty are both likely to miss next Monday night’s game against Dallas.
All three were hurt in Buffalo’s 17-14 win over the Jets on Sunday.
Leonhard has started the last three games for Ko Simpson, who was placed on injured reserve with a broken ankle sustained in the season opener. Youboty has also started the last three games since Jason Webster broke his forearm in the Bills’ opening day loss to Denver. Webster was placed on IR, as well.
Harrison was signed just before the Jets game to add depth at linebacker. Rookie Paul Posluszny (broken forearm) is out for the year, while starter Keith Ellison (high ankle sprain) and backup Coy Wire (knee) are still hobbling.
Ellison, Wire and backup defensive end Ryan Denney (broken foot) all could return following the team’s bye after the Dallas game.
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