Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea was designated for return from injured reserve and will practice with the team on Wednesday.
Vea suffered a broken lower leg October 8 against the Chicago Bears and was thought to be out for the season.
“It’s a big, big loss,” head coach Bruce Arians said at the time of the injury.
The imposing nose tackle could be activated for a limited role at Green Bay on Sunday in the NFC Championship game.
Vea, 25, was taken off the field on a stretcher with an air cast around his lower leg and ankle with what was originally thought to be a fractured ankle in a Thursday night loss to the Bears.
But the Buccaneers updated the injury to a broken leg.
In five games before he was injured, the 330-pound Vea had 10 tackles and 2.0 sacks in 2020.
Pairing Vea with Ndamukong Suh could be a major boost for a Tampa Bay defense that had been stellar against the run before Alvin Kamara had 18 carries for 85 yards on Sunday.