Bengals DE Sam Hubbard declared out after suffering calf injury vs. Bucs

© Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports Notice a theme? The Bengals made a ton of mistakes, both in execution and self control. Flags, bad redzone showing, just little things that kept this close. They overcame it and won, obviously. But it shouldn’t have been as close as it was, which is actually a really, really good thing for the team’s outlook if they can clean up the small stuff.

The Cincinnati Bengals lost defensive end Sam Hubbard to injury during the team’s Week 15 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Hubbard suffered the injury in the first half and was finally declared out during the first drive of the second half after not initially coming back out with the team.

It’s a brutal blow for a Bengals defense that had been struggling to pressure Tom Brady and the Buccaneers offense all day.

That defense had already entered the game without star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson. With both guys out, the job now turns to the likes of Joseph Ossai and Cam Sample.

It also places additional stress on defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who already entered this game down starting cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton.

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