Buccaneers WR Russell Gage to miss 2023 season with knee injury, per report

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage is out for the season after suffering a severe knee injury during Wednesday's joint practice against the New York Jets, according to a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The 27-year-old was carted off the field after sustaining the non-contact injury and was unable to put any weight on his leg, according to Pewter Report. He was also in "obvious duress" while being seen by athletic trainers, per team reporter Scott Smith.

After practice concluded, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters the team wasn't anticipating a positive update.

"We hear it's going to be pretty serious," Bowles said during a news conference Wednesday. "He's been battling back for the last, obviously since he's been here it seems like. We wish him the best. I can tell by the way he was sitting on the truck that it's probably something that happened pretty bad. Our hearts go out to him and we'll see how it goes."

Last season, Gage caught 51 passes for 426 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 13 games. He was sidelined for three games with a lingering hamstring injury. His season came to a frightening end when he sustained a concussion and neck injury that forced him to leave Tampa Bay's playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys on a backboard. The injury, which required him to be hospitalized overnight, occurred when he stumbled on a route. Missing the catch, he took a hard hit to the neck from safety Donovan Wilson. Cameras caught Gage attempting to get up and slamming his hand on the field when he couldn't.

Gage was drafted out of LSU by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round in 2018. In four seasons with Atlanta, he recorded 193 receptions for 2,065 yards and nine touchdowns.

He signed a three-year deal with Tampa Bay last March and took a pay cut to stay with the team this offseason.