Bucs LT Smith leaves practice with knee injury

Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting left tackle Donovan Smith left practice early with a knee injury on Tuesday, but it appears he won't miss significant time.

Smith had his legs rolled up on from the backside of a running play during team drills. He tossed his helmet off and remained on the ground for a few minutes before being helped off by trainers.

Head coach Dirk Koetter offered few details after practice, saying, "We'll have to see," but the Tampa Bay Times reported Tuesday evening that the Bucs are optimistic Smith can return in time for the team's Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints.

Smith, 25, has started all 48 games at left tackle since he was taken 34th overall by the Bucs in the 2015 draft. He had not missed a snap in his career until the second half of a Week 9 game against the Saints last season.

"That's probably one of Donovan's best characteristics," Koetter said. "He's very reliable and has been very durable over the course of his career. So we just have to see."

Michael Liedtke, a former undrafted free agent on his fifth NFL team, replaced Smith on the left side to finish practice. Offensive tackles Leonard Wester, Cole Boozer and Cole Gardner have all been out due to injury.

Smith didn't allow a sack in 2016 but committed 13 penalties. He trimmed the latter figure to eight penalties last season but allowed five sacks.

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