Bengals’ defense will suffer blow if Ossai misses season
Joseph Ossai suffered a knee injury in the Cincinnati Bengals’ first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 14. and reportedly might be out for the season.
NFL Networksaid Ossai will have surgery this week for a meniscus injury.
If Ossai is unable to play this season, the loss could be significant for the Bengals. After finishing last in the NFL in sacks in 2020 with 17, Cincinnati expected Ossai to make an immediate impact.
Ossai, Cincinnati’s third-round pick out of Texas, had arguably one of the best preseason debuts of any rookie in the NFL. In Tampa, Ossai sacked Tom Brady on the Buccaneers’ first drive. He finished the game with five quarterback pressures and three tackles.
With Ossai out, the team signed former Ohio State defensive end Noah Spence. The former second-round pick in 2016 was released by the Saints last week. Tampa Bay drafted Spence with the No. 38 overall pick. During his three seasons with the Buccaneers, Spence started six games and recorded 6.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits.
Spence was cut by Tampa prior to the start of the 2019 season and signed with the Washington Football Team, where he lasted two months. The following season as he was getting ready for his first year with the New Orleans Saints, Spence suffered a torn ACL and was placed on injured reserve. The Saints resigned Spence in free agency this offseason, but his second stint didn’t last long as he was released on Aug. 15.