Rookie DE Noah Spence ready to take on challenge

Buccaneers rookie defensive end Noah Spence doesn’t, anyway.

Spence will go into the Bucs’ rematch with the Saints this weekend tied with Ayers for second on the Bucs in sacks with 5.5 (1.5 fewer than McCoy) and tied for fourth among all NFL rookies in the same category.

The extra work is something the Bucs might have been hesitant to give Spence earlier in the year, but defensive coordinator Mike Smith says he has no hesitations about increasing Spence’s role now.

Spence’s 13 solo tackles are two more than his namesake, Akeem Spence (no relation) has produced, and he’s proved to be quite a big playmaker as well, so far forcing three fumbles, second most on the team.

“I’m not surprised by that at all,” said Akeem Spence, who dresses next to Noah in the Bucs’ locker room.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Noah Spence (57) and Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Austin Howard (77) in action during the NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 30, 2016 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.

Spence had his best game yet against Seattle, recording five tackles, including one for a loss, and 1.5 sacks, including a sack-fumble to lead the Bucs to their surprising 14-5 upset.

And he did it all while playing with a bum right shoulder, one that’s been kept in place for two months now by a harness Spence wears each practice and game day, a sore left ankle and a damaged left pinky toe.

“That’s the thing that’s most amazing about him,” Akeem Spence said, referring to Noah Spence’s shoulder injury.