Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike James is going to miss the remainder of the season with a broken left ankle, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The news comes from head coach Greg Schiano, who just earned his first win of the season on Monday when the Buccaneers beat the Miami Dolphins and when James sustained the injury.
Mike James injury: Bucs RB officially out for season
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have now lost two running backs for the season in Mike James and Doug Martin.
Mike Ehrmann
Against the Dolphins, James carried five times for 41 yards before sustaining the ankle injury. He was carted off the field after a carry near the goal line and was taken to the locker room. Obviously, he did not return to the game. It's an unfortunate end to a promising rookie season. James took over as the primary ball carrier in Week 8 and carried the ball 28 times for 158 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.
James, a sixth-round pick out of Miami, took over starting duties after Doug Martin sustained a season-ending shoulder injury. Martin is a second-year back who had been struggling all season, and the Buccaneers had to have felt that they lucked out when James had his big game against Seattle.
It's likely that James will hit injured reserve shortly. Brian Leonard and Bobby Rainey are now the top two running backs in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers face the Atlanta Falcons (No. 27 rush defense in the NFL) in Week 11.
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