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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Injury Report, Week 17: Defensive Line Woes Could Create Depth In 2012

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been ravaged by injuries all season, and for the Bucs' defensive line new young talent has emerged as potential impact players in 2012.

GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 20:  Albert Haynesworth #95 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is injured in the first half against the Green Bay Packers  on November 20,2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 20: Albert Haynesworth #95 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is injured in the first half against the Green Bay Packers on November 20,2011 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Injuries on a football team can tend to help create depth for the future. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have dealt with their fair share of injuries all season, and younger players have had to step up and play. Per the PewterReport.com, rookie defensive end Da'Quan Bowers has a good perspective on the experience gained this season what the future may hold for the defensive line:

"I think we all made great strides [with] myself starting the last couple of games and Adrian (Clayborn) being in the starting lineup the whole season along with Mason (Foster)," Bowers said. "You know it just goes to show you what this team is going to be capable of in the future. Got a young team and hopefully we can get everybody back in next year and make a decent run at what we need to be on like the Super Bowl and all those type of things. Been a tough year, but [with] us being so young it is not necessarily a bad thing. It gives you a time to grow as a team and as a unit."

That defensive line's goal on Sunday will be to take down Atlanta Falcons' QB Matt Ryan, as the Bucs try to finish the season strong. Here is the full injury report for the Falcons in week 17:

WR Arrelious Benn (neck) DNP
DE Michael Bennett (toe) DNP
DT Adrian Clayborn (hamstring) LP
LB Geno Hayes (finger) LP
DT Albert Haynesworth (knee) DNP
LB Adam Hayward (foot) FP
DT Roy Miller (back) DNP
WR Preston Parker (concussion) DNP
DT Brian Price (ankle) DNP
WR Sammie Stroughter (knee) FP
T Jeremy Trueblood (concussion) DNP

Legend

LP: Limited participation in practice
FP: Full participation
DNP: Did not practice

For more on the Falcons check out The Falcoholic, SB Nation's Atlanta Falcons blog. For more on the Bucs check out Bucs Nation, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog. For more on the NFL, check out the SB Nation NFL hub page.

Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.