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McCoy, David, Hargreaves all out Monday against Falcons

Bucs will have a tough task containing Falcons offense without two of their defensive leaders, out due to injuries.
 
The Bucs will be without LB Lavonte David, left, and DT Gerald McCoy, shown during preseason.
(LOREN ELLIOTT | TIMES)
The Bucs will be without LB Lavonte David, left, and DT Gerald McCoy, shown during preseason. (LOREN ELLIOTT | TIMES)
Published Dec. 16, 2017|Updated Dec. 16, 2017

As if containing Julio Jones and the Falcons offense weren't challenging enough, the Bucs will try to so Monday night without perhaps their top two defensive players in DT Gerald McCoy and LB Lavonte David.

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter on Saturday ruled both out for Monday's game, with McCoy (biceps) and David (hamstring) not practicing all week. CB Vernon Hargreaves will also miss a fifth straight game with his hamstring injury, being held out Saturday after practicing the previous two days.

The Falcons beat the Bucs 34-20 three weeks ago in Atlanta, with Jones going off for 253 receiving yards, the most ever by a Bucs opponent, as well as two touchdowns. Jones has one touchdown catch total in his other 12 games this season.

Atlanta will be without two key parts of their running game, with RB Tevin Coleman (concussion) and G Andy Levitre (triceps) ruled out for Monday. The Falcons will have RB Devonta Freeman, who missed the first Bucs game with his own concussion injury.