Dotson (knee) was placed on injured reserved/ designated to return on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Dotson suffered a left knee sprain in the first preseason game of the year against the Vikings. The earliest Dotson will be able to return is a Week Nine match-up against the Cowboys. The Buccaneers currently have only three tackles on their active roster. Veteran and former Colts tackle Gosder Cherilus will start in Dotson's place for the first half of the season.

Dotson (knee) will not undergo surgery, as the injury he suffered in preseason action against the Vikings is not as serious as expected, the Tampa Tribune reports.

Dotson suffered a left knee sprain in the Buccaneers' Saturday night preseason game, and is expected to miss the first week or two of the regular season. Coach Lovie Smith gave some insight Monday, "Demar's on crutches right now. He's going to be out for a period of time. Hopefully it's not a long period of time, but he will be out for a while." Tampa Bay signed 31-year-old veteran Gosder Cherilus to a two-year contract, and he could step in immediately as Dotson's replacement.

GM Jason Licht says the Bucs are considering giving RT Demar Dotson reps at left tackle in an effort to increase his "versatility."

Licht believes Dotson was the team's best offensive lineman last season. Licht's comments are an obvious indication that he's not overly enamored with current blindside protector Donald Penn. Penn has been solid, but far from spectacular, since signing his six-year, $41.7 million extension in July 2010. That being said, there's no real reason to believe the Bucs are considering a shake up for 2014. Licht is likely looking further ahead. Penn turns 31 in April. Dotson is 28.

Coach Greg Schiano confirmed Demar Dotson has won the Bucs' right tackle job.

The athletic former basketball player beat out Gabe Carimi, unsurprisingly. Carimi has been tossed around in preseason games and was recently demoted to the third-string offense. Dotson was quietly a strong pass protector as a 2012 starter and earned a new four-year, $7.5 million deal in the offseason.

The Bucs plan to let Gabe Carimi battle for a job "on the right side of the line."

Right guard Davin Joseph is coming back from a severe knee injury. While his job isn't likely in danger, RT Demar Dotson's quite possibly may be. A former basketball player, Dotson signed a four-year, $7.5 million contract in March, which hardly locks him into a starting job. We still expect Carimi to be a backup.

Bucs signed RT Demar Dotson to a new four-year contract.

Dotson, 27, replaced turnstile RT Jeremy Trueblood in the starting lineup in Week 2, and he never looked back as he started the final 15 games of the season. Dotson graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 13 right tackle in the league in 2012. He's solid in pass protection, but he has a bit of a penalty problem. 6-foot-9, 315-pound Dotson had one year left on his deal at $2 million. Details of the new contract aren't yet known.

Bucs RT Demar Dotson triggered an escalator in his contract, raising his 2013 salary from $1.5 million to $2 million.

Dotson started just two games in his first two seasons in the league, but in 2012, he supplanted Jeremy Trueblood as Tampa's starting right tackle. At 6-foot-9 and 315 pounds, Dotson has proven to be an above-average pass blocker. He's entering the final year of his two-year pact.

Demar Dotson has supplanted Jeremy Trueblood as the Bucs' starting right tackle.

Trueblood missed Sunday's loss with an ankle injury, but has apparently been permanently benched. Trueblood agreed to a pay-cut in camp, and graded out as one of the worst right tackles in the league by Pro Football Focus last season. It's the second time in three seasons he's been benched. A fourth-year pro, Dotson had made only two career starts before Sunday.

Bucs re-signed OT Demar Dotson to a one-year, $1.26 million deal.

A restricted free agent, Dotson signed his original-round tender. A former college basketball player who stands in at a towering 6-foot-9, 315 pounds, Dotson appeared in 13 games last season, making two starts. LT Donald Penn and RT Jeremy Trueblood have the Bucs' starting tackle jobs locked down, but the 26-year-old Dotson should serve as their top reserve.

Buccaneers extended an original pick tender to restricted free agent OT Demar Dotson.

Bucs coaches have been high on Dotson's athletic ability as a former Southern Miss basketball player who stands 6-foot-9, 315. The 26-year-old held his own in 13 appearances with two starts last year, one as a jumbo tight end and another at right tackle. Pro Football Focus credited Dotson with zero sacks allowed and graded him positively as a run blocker. He may be the Bucs' top swing tackle this year behind LT Donald Penn and RT Jeremy Trueblood.

Bucs placed OT Demar Dotson (knee) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Dotson sustained a knee injury in the preseason finale. The former Southern Miss basketball player is considered a developmental project for the Bucs.

With Donald Penn sitting out OTA/minicamp season, Demar Dotson has taken reps as the Bucs' first-string left tackle.

An undrafted, 6-foot-9, 315-pound former Southern Miss basketball player, Dotson is extremely raw. And he knows it. "I'm not saying I'm a good left tackle," Dotson said. "I don't even know if I'm a starting left tackle or not at this moment. If you ask me, I'm not." Obviously more comfortable on the bench, Dotson conceded that he hopes Penn resumes practicing soon.