Gerald McCoy: Bucs can't cry over injuries

Gerald McCoy's injured left hand was heavily wrapped, from his thumb to his forearm, and while he didn't share any details about the injury or how long it would sideline him, he reiterated the team's mantra for surviving shorthanded.

"I'm not going to cry about it. It's a next-man-up mentality," the defensive tackle and team captain said after Sunday's 19-17 loss to the Rams. "If you're injured, you work to get back."

McCoy is one of five defensive starters out with injury — defensive end Adrian Clayborn and cornerback Mike Jenkins were placed on injured reserve this week, ending their seasons, and defensive end Michael Johnson missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury. McCoy was injured on the opening drive, and middle linebacker Mason Foster was lost in the second quarter to a shoulder injury.

"It's real frustrating. You always want to go into it with a full team, but it's not what's happening," said McCoy, who said he heard a pop in his hand as he worked his way through a double team. "We can't really think about it too long. We have a game on Thursday."

The Bucs have a quick turnaround to Thursday's game at Atlanta, with road games at Pittsburgh and New Orleans in the following weeks. Losing McCoy would be a huge setback. The team has only two other defensive tackles on the roster in starter Clinton McDonald and second-year pro Akeem Spence, though end Da'Quan Bowers saw considerable action inside filling in for McCoy. With Foster out, Dane Fletcher stepped in at middle linebacker and had two tackles.

The Bucs played Sunday without starting running back Doug Martin, who was limited this week by a knee injury. Bobby Rainey stepped up in a big way, rushing for 144 yards and catching another 30, including a grab on the final drive that fell seconds short for the Bucs. Martin, like Johnson, was held out with the hopes that he would be more likely to play Thursday in Atlanta.