TAMPA, Fla. -- As Vita Vea's training camp contract hold-in moves into Week 3 (that's counting just camp -- he also was a minicamp hold-in), Vea still isn't practicing, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles acknowledged the realities of not having the Pro Bowl nose tackle on the field.
"I'm never comfortable playing without him," Bowles said Tuesday. "But we've had injuries before, and I've played without him before. We've got guys up there that have played a bunch of games in this league. They might not have the same impact, but they have their own impact in a way. I'd be comfortable playing with them."
Bowles said all starters will play this week when the Bucs host the Kansas City Chiefs, so Vea's absence will be felt. For years now, offensive players and coaches around the league have frequently pointed to the 347-pound, two-time Pro Bowler as the one to watch out for when lining up against Tampa.
Since Bowles' arrival in 2019, in the 4,287 regular and postseason snaps with Vea on the field, the Bucs have had a 45.8% pass rush win rate. In the 3,783 snaps without Vea, that number drops to 39%. In plays when Vea has participated, the sack percentage is 7.1%. When Vea hasn't participated, it drops to 5.6%. When Vea plays, the pressure percentage has been 31.9%. When he hasn't played, it's been 29.9%.
In Super Bowl LV against the Chiefs, Vea was a key reason Bowles -- then the Bucs' defensive coordinator -- had to rush only four against future Pro Football Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes. Throughout the game, Mahomes struggled to step into his throws.
Bowles, known for being one of the most blitz-heavy defensive playcallers in the league, blitzed just 8.2% of the time in that game -- the fewest of any game in his career. That doesn't mean Bowles hasn't used Vea's presence to blitz the interior more -- as he loves blitzing the A-gap, but his presence creates more options.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles talks to defensive tackle Vita Vea during practice last month. Vea remains a training camp hold-in. AP Photo/Chris O'Meara "It changes what we do, probably not the way I call a game," Bowles said of Vea's presence. "It may change some fronts here and there so we can take advantage of what those guys do well. That would probably be the only difference."
Even at age 31, the differences are noticeable. In the 2024 and 2025 seasons, when Vea was on the field, the Bucs had a pass rush win rate of 42.9%. When he wasn't -- 35.7%. When he has been on the field, their sacks per dropback -- 6.7%. When he hasn't been -- 4.7%.