INDIANAPOLIS — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without starting left guard and arguably one of their best offensive linemen, Ali Marpet, when they face the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, the team announced.
Marpet, who sustained an abdominal injury in the second quarter of Monday night’s game against the New York Giants, was downgraded to out Saturday prior to the team’s departure for Indianapolis.
He was initially going to be a game-time decision, but was listed on Friday’s injury report as doubtful.
Marpet was replaced in the game by Aaron Stinnie, who filled in for Alex Cappa last year during the playoffs when Cappa suffered a broken leg in the wild-card game at Washington.
In 51 snaps against the Giants, Stinnie surrendered one sack, and last year, he surrendered only one sack in the postseason — in the NFC Championship game against Kenny Clark.
Marpet’s 74.6% run-block win rate is the highest of any offensive lineman on the team, as is his 92.5% pass blocking win rate.
The Colts, meanwhile, have given up 19.5 points per game over the last six games — eighth-best in the league.