APRIL 26, 2021 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
VITA VEA #50 - NOSE TACKLE - TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
31 TCKL •
0 INT •
5 SCK
31 TCKL
0 INT
5 SCK
Super Bowl champs exercise fifth-year option on DT Vita Vea The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have exercised the fifth-year option on the contract defensive tackle Vita Vea signed as the 12th overall pick in t...
Super Bowl champs exercise fifth-year option on DT Vita Vea The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have exercised the fifth-year option on the contract defensive tackle Vita Vea signed as the 12th overall pick in t...
APRIL 26, 2021 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Super Bowl champs exercise fifth-year option on DT Vita Vea
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have exercised the fifth-year option on the contract defensive tackle Vita Vea signed as the 12th overall pick in the 2018 draftAPRIL 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gets fifth-year option The Buccaneers have picked up the fifth-year option on Vea's rookie contract, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Impact The fifth-year option is usually picked up for any first-round pick that hasn't been a bust. It's debatable if Vea has lived up to his status as the 12th overall pick in 2018, but there's no question he's a quality player, picking up 73 tackles and 7.5 sacks through 34 NFL games despite taking a lot of snaps at nose tackle. He missed the final 11 games of the 2020 regular season with a leg fracture, eventually returning for the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. A breakout season could be ahead in 2021, especially if he doesn't have any issues with the leg this offseason. In any case, the Bucs aren't taking too much of a risk here, as fifth-year options are guaranteed for injury only.
APRIL 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Likely staying with Tampa Bay Vea's contract option will likely be picked up by the Buccaneers according to GM Jason Licht, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Impact Though Vea didn't have as much game action in his 2020 campaign as seasons prior because of a leg injury, he managed to record 10 tackles (six solo) and two sacks through his five games. The 26-year-old plays a pivotal role in the team's defense, and it's no surprise Tampa Bay would want to keep a crucial part of their defensive line in the mix.
APRIL 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Vita Vea reflects on his recovery from injury and playing RB in high school Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT Vita Vea joins
MARCH 2, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Danny Shelton Versus Vita Vea: The Husky Difference Two players. Same college. Same position. Drafted with the same pick. Similar sizes but totally different games. What can we learn?
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM
Endures injury-shortened 2020 Vea, who recorded a solo tackle Sunday during the Buccaneers' 31-9 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, finished the regular season with 10 tackles (six solo) and two sacks across...
Impact The 2018 first-round pick was off to a fine start until suffering a fractured leg Week 5 against the Bears, resulting in him landing on injured reserve. However, with the Buccaneers advancing to the NFC Championship Game, Vea had just enough time to heal sufficiently and make his return in that contest. He logged 33 snaps in that contest, albeit without accruing any statistics. If he isn't quite already back to 100 percent health, the jumbo-sized defensive tackle should be at full strength for Tampa Bay's offseason program. He'll once again play a pivotal role in helping the Buccaneers maintain their No. 1 ranking against the run in 2021.
FEBRUARY 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Bucs' Arians scoffs at rumors, says he's returning 'for 2'
Tampa Bay's Bruce Arians made history by becoming the oldest head coach in NFL history to win a Super BowlFEBRUARY 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Super Bowl LV's top 10 players, according to Colin Cowherd
Which players could have the biggest impact on Super Bowl Sunday? Colin Cowherd ranks his top 10 between the Bucs and Chiefs.FEBRUARY 7, 2021
From players to pedigree, Chiefs edge on Bucs in all aspects
Patrick Mahomes has surpassed Tom Brady as the NFL’s best quarterbackFEBRUARY 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vita Vea should have huge impact in Super Bowl LV The Tampa Bay Buccaneers should benefit from Vita Vea in Super Bowl LV. In case you haven't heard, Vita Vea came off of injured reserve for...
FEBRUARY 4, 2021 • THEPEWTERPLANK.COM
Nick Wright's Super Bowl LV Most Important Player Pyramid
Ahead of Super Bowl LV, Nick Wright ranks who needs to show up most to win the Lombardi on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.FEBRUARY 4, 2021
Video of Vita Vea Playing Running Back in High School is Incredible Tampa Bay Buccaneers defender Vita Vea returned from an ankle injury in the NFC Championship, and while he only played 33 snaps, his impact...
FEBRUARY 3, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Lavonte David discusses Vita Vea's impact on Bucs defense Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte Davis answers media questions ahead of his team's matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl...
FEBRUARY 2, 2021 • NFL.COM
Super rematch: Hill burned Bucs repeatedly in 1st meeting
Tyreek Hill was unstoppable against Tampa Bay in late NovemberJANUARY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vita Vea Stayed Locked in on Football Throughout Rehab | Carmen Catches Up He may not have been out on the field after suffering a fracture in Week Five, but nose tackle Vita Vea stayed locked in with his team throu...
JANUARY 29, 2021 • BUCCANEERS.COM
'You keep winning, I'll show up': How Vita Vea returned to Bucs after 15 weeks Massive defensive lineman Vita Vea broke his leg in Week 5, but the Bucs extended their season long enough to allow him to return healthy.
JANUARY 29, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Vita Vea Reveals Secret Behind Quick Recovery From Injury The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense received a big blow in Week 5 when defensive tackle Vita Vea suffered a fractured ankle that put his seaso...
JANUARY 29, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Officially activated from IR The Buccaneers activated Vea (leg) from injured reserve Friday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Impact Vea practiced this week for the first time since suffering a fractured ankle in Week 5 against the Bears. The third-year defensive tackle will immediately bolster the Buccaneers' front seven when he's on the field, but Vea could be on a pitch count in his first game in over three months. Through the first five games of the year, Vea recorded 10 tackles, two sacks, an additional tackle for loss and three quarterback hits.
JANUARY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Packers' offensive line still rolling even without Bakhtiari
Not even the loss of All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari can slow down a Green Bay Packers offensive line that has withstood adversity all seasonJANUARY 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vita Vea in, Antonio Brown out for Bucs in NFC title game TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers bolstered their defense for Sunday’s NFC championship game, activating nose tackle Vita Vea from...
JANUARY 22, 2021 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM
Vita Vea in, Antonio Brown out for Bucs in NFC title game The Tampa Bay Buccaneers bolstered their defense for Sunday’s NFC championship game, activating nose tackle Vita Vea from the reserve/injure...
JANUARY 22, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM
Vita Vea in, Antonio Brown out for Bucs in NFC title game
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers bolstered their defense for Sunday’s NFC championship game by activating nose tackle Vita Vea from the reserve/injured listJANUARY 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Expected to play The Buccaneers plan to activate Vea (leg) from injured reserve for Sunday's game in Green Bay, Peter Schrager of FOXSports.com reports.
Impact Coach Bruce Arians said the decision wouldn't be made until Saturday, but Schrager suggests it's close to a done deal. The 347-pound defensive tackle has been practicing this week, hoping to return from IR and make his first appearance since he fractured his leg/ankle Oct. 8 in a loss to the Bears. His return could make life more difficult for Aaron Jones and the Green Bay running game, though Vea probably won't be in top form after the extended absence.
JANUARY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
