Ali Marpet suffers ankle injury against Giants

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have just suffered their first serious injury against the New York Giants, as rookie right guard Ali Marpet had to be helped off the field with an ankle injury and is questionable to return. He was replaced by Evan Smith.

Marpet had been a bright spot on the offensive line prior to his injury, playing better every game and looking like he belonged in the NFL despite being drafted out of lowly Hobart College. The Division III prospect came in to reinforce the worst offensive line in the NFL, and the Bucs have looked much better in the trenches this year.

Marpet got his ankle wrapped and appeared to be lobbying to return to the game, but he remains out with injury for now. It's not clear how serious his injury is, but the Bucs called his return questionable.

If Marpet is out for an extended amount of time, the Bucs will have Evan Smith fill in, who repaced Logan Mankins for a game when he suffered an injury, or they could move right tackle Gosder Cherilus to right guard as right tackle Demar Dotson should be on the verge of coming back from his preseason knee injury.