Since linebacker K.J. Britt joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Auburn in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the former Oxford High School standout has had to make his game-day contributions on special teams – until Sunday’s 29-25 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Britt has been on the field for 815 special-teams plays since coming aboard with the Buccaneers – 148 more than any other Tampa Bay player during that time.

Meanwhile, Lavonte David and Devin White are in their fifth season together as the Buccaneers’ starting linebackers. But injuries this month for the long-running duo have given Britt the opportunity to show what he can do on defense, even though he got hurt himself.

In Tampa Bay’s 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 3, Britt played only seven defensive snaps in his first NFL start. He was taken by cart from the sideline medical tent to the locker room because of a back injury.

But Britt was back in the lineup a week later against Atlanta, and this time, he played a career-high 65 defensive snaps and contributed a career-high eight tackles, including one where he ran all the way across the field to stop running back Bijan Robinson at the Tampa Bay 2-yard line as the Buccaneers defense stiffened for a Falcons field goal at the end of a 73-yard drive. Britt also almost came up with his first interception as he got his hands on a third-down pass.

“For K.J. to come back – I was hoping he’d be able to play more than six or seven plays this week,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said after the game. “… But he’s a natural-born leader. He’s learned a lot from Devin and Lavonte when he’s been sitting out. He didn’t miss a beat. His communication skills are excellent, and he played a heck of a ballgame.”

Before Sunday’s game, Britt had played 17 defensive snaps this season, and he had played more than 13 in a game once in his career – the regular-season finale in 2022, when the Bucs rested many of their regulars to prepare for the playoffs.

“I think the mental part of the game slowed down for him,” Bowles said about Britt on Monday. “Getting live reps and the mental part slowing down, become more of a vocal leader other than training camp. He has a lot of confidence, and I think that exudes to other guys. But I think his leadership and the mental part of his aspect as far as communication has come along. We know he’s a downhill hitter. We know he can run side-to-side and take on linemen and do all those things. But his leadership and understanding the game has really came on.”

As Tampa Bay prepares to play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, White did not practice on Wednesday because of a foot injury.

Although the Bucs have a 6-7 record, they’re tied for the lead in the NFC South with Atlanta and the New Orleans Saints. Because of tiebreakers, Tampa Bay holds the division’s No. 1 spot and accompanying home postseason game with four weeks remaining in the regular season, while the Falcons and Saints are 10th and 11th, respectively, in the pecking order for the NFC playoffs.

The Packers also have a 6-7 record, but because the NFC has only five teams with winning ledgers, Green Bay is slotted into the conference’s final playoff position right now.

After playing the Packers, Tampa Bay has home games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans before closing its regular-season schedule with a road game against Carolina.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.