TAMPA, Fla. -- At first, he thought his season was over. The pain in his shoulder was intense. Now the only indicator of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Noah Spence's injury -- a dislocated shoulder and partially-torn labrum -- is the neoprene shoulder harness he wears tucked tightly beneath his jersey and shoulder pads.
The brace has taken some getting used to, because the very thing it does -- restrict movement and protect the injury -- can make pass rush moves, especially ones that require violent hands and a strong punch, more challenging.