The exact nature of the injury was not revealed by the team, but Graham was believed to have suffered a severe ankle sprain in last weekend's 19-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings , ending the 2008 season for the team's rushing leader (563 yards, 4 touchdowns).

Now that load will have to be toted by veteran Warrick Dunn (476 yards, 1 TD) and rookie Clifton Smith. And while Carnell "Cadillac" Williams is back from his devastating knee injury of '07 and available, Coach Jon Gruden could not say for certain Wednesday if the 2005 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year would see action when the Bucs (7-3) play the Detroit Lions (0-10 on the road Sunday at Ford Field.

"I don't know that he'll play a major role in the game, or if he'll be active," Gruden said. "It's not just about Cadillac, it's about our team."

More specifically, special teams.

The run of injuries have depleted personnel for the kicking-game units, including the loss of rookie LB Geno Hayes to IR with a knee injury suffered against the Vikings. To activate Williams, who does not play special teams, might be a luxury the Bucs can't afford right now.

Instead, don't be surprised to see RB Noah Herron and LB Matt McCoy, both signed to the active roster Wednesday, to fill the injury voids, on the field at Detroit.

Trouble in the red zone

Here are more statistics that illustrate how badly the Bucs have performed in the red zone this season. Only three teams -- the New York Giants (49), Arizona (47) and New York Jets (45) -- have ventured inside their opponents' 20-yard line more than the 42 times Tampa Bay has been there during this season.

But only one team -- Oakland -- has scored a lower percentage of touchdowns than the Bucs, with their miserable 33-percent efficiency in the red zone. The Raiders check in at 26.1 percent.