Tampa Bay Buccaneers OLB Yaya Diaby reveals his prospects to play in Week One against the Washington Commanders

That sound you heard on Thursday was the Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan base across the country making a collective gasp when the news about edge rusher Yaya Diaby broke.  The talented and promising second-year defender went down during practice and had to be carted off the field with an unknown (at the time) lower body injury.

Fears began to subside later that day when X-Rays and an MRI revealed no significant injury.  Instead, Diaby suffered just a high ankle injury, one that often carries a 4 to 6-week time frame to recover from.

So where does that put Diaby as far as his availability for the Buccaneers' season opener on September 8 against the Washington Commanders?  According to him, he's on track to play.

Tampa Free Press reporter Rock Riley caught up with Diaby, who was walking without a boot or any other apparent external support, at camp on Wednesday, and he says he'll be good to go for the Bucs' opener.

"I'm taking it day by day," Diaby said.  "I'll be ready Week One."

That should be music to Bucs fans' ears, because the options behind him aren't great right now.  Anthony Nelson appears to be in line to spell Diaby this year, at least per the first depth chart.  Nelson is a savvy veteran, but his pure pass rushing skills aren't up to those of Diaby.  Rookie Chris Braswell obviously has yet to play an NFL snap.  Markees Watts has one sack in 7 career games.

As such, having a healthy and effective Diaby to start the season would be a huge boon for the Bucs' defense.  They'll need both Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to stay healthy this season - and for the latter to finally live up to his draft status in his fourth year. Because the options behind them aren't the best right now.

Fortunately, if you take Diaby at his word, it sounds like they'll at least have both of their starters ready to go on September 8.

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