TAMPA — When the Bucs lost LB Kwon Alexander to a four-game suspension, their first response was to start in his middle spot Bruce Carter, who had a sack and eight tackles before being sidelined by an ankle injury and missing Thursday's game against the Rams.
As the Bucs returned to practice Tuesday, Carter was back practicing and getting work in the middle again, with last week's starter, Danny Lansanah, back to his old position at strongside linebacker.
Coach Lovie Smith declined to respond to a question about the middle linebacker position, in part because the league doesn't require teams to acknowledge injuries until Wednesday in a normal game week.