Kregg Lumpkin

It is being reported the Tampa Bay Bucs have lost running back LeGarrette Blount for at least a few weeks with an MCL sprain in his knee. Blount suffered the injury when he was nailed on his knee against the San Francisco 49ers.

Local radio broadcaster J.P. Peterson first reported Blount had suffered an MCL Grade 2 tear and would be out for four-to-six weeks. Normally Grade 2 tears takes four to six weeks to heal according to UCSF.com.

But here is where it gets interesting: the Bucs released running back Allen Bradford on Thursday. Bradford had been inactive for the team’s first four games before being activated in last Sunday’s contest. Bradford was the team’s sixth-round draft pick in April’s NFL Draft.

Yet, Bradford’s departure leaves the Bucs with just two running backs — Earnest Graham and Kregg Lumpkin — along with fullback/tight end Erik Lorig.

Four weeks of recovery would mean that Blount would miss Weeks 6 & 7 and potentially return after the Buccaneeers' bye in Week 8. Earnest Graham will take over for the time being with Kregg Lumpkin rotating in.