CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Jorvorskie Lane suffered what appeared to be a brutal ankle injury early in a 38-10 loss to Carolina on Sunday, leading players from both teams to gather around as medical crews attended to him.
The injury occurred as Lane was blocking Carolina's Thomas Davis, and teammate Joe Hawley fell onto the fullback's leg.
Lane writhed in pain on the ground and players were visibly shaken by the injury. Medical crews spent more than five minutes attending to Lane, eventually removing him from the field on a cart.
While the long-term prognosis for Lane wasn't immediately clear, the four-year veteran offered encouragement via Twitter after the game ended.
If you know me this injury is small. Heart and Determination is something you can't coach . I will be just fine .
— Jorvorskie Lane (@JorvorskieLane) January 4, 2016Bucs linebacker Danny Lansanah also left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury and did not return.