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Cade Otton Cade Otton Held out of rookie minicamp
Wed, May 11, 2022, 3:55 PM
Otton (ankle) won't participate in on-field work at rookie minicamp, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The rookie fourth-round pick received medical clearance in April following season-ending surgery, but the Bucs will play it safe and keep him off the practice field for now. Otton currently falls somewhere behind Cameron Brate on the depth chart, with both moving down a slot if Rob Gronkowski decides to play another season. |
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Kyle Trask Kyle Trask Likely No. 3 QB to start season
Tue, May 10, 2022, 11:28 AM
Buccaneers quarterback coach Clyde Christensen said Tuesday that he doesn't expect Trask to compete with Blaine Gabbert for the No. 2 spot this season, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: With the return of Tom Brady, both quarterbacks aren't expected to see the field, but it sounds like the veteran Gabbert has the primary backup spot locked down heading into training camp. There was speculation that Trask could compete with Gabbert after being selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but the second-year quarterback is apparently headed for another developmental year. |
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Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson Outlook muddled by signings
Sun, Apr 3, 2022, 11:07 PM
Johnson (ribs) will have to compete with free-agent signee Russell Gage and the returning Breshad Perriman (abdomen) for snaps behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (knee) in 2022, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Johnson posted seven tallies of at least three receptions during the 2021 season and added another five grabs during the Buccaneers' two-game playoff run. The second-year wideout undoubtedly made strides while logging 38 more targets and 328 more snaps than in his rookie 2020 campaign, but the signing of Gage gives him some accomplished and more experienced competition. The former Falcons wideout produced a 138-1,556-8 line across the last two seasons alone, and in addition to Gage, Johnson will also have to deal with the presence of Perriman, who has experience in the offense and brings some coveted deep speed. Godwin's likely absence early in the season will give Johnson a clearer path to meaningful snaps no matter where he ends up in the pecking order, but he'll have to make a notable impact to ensure that remains the norm once his teammate is healthy. |
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Leonard Fournette Leonard Fournette No more major obstacles to touches
Tue, Mar 29, 2022, 7:35 PM
Fournette no longer has to share the Buccaneers' backfield with Ronald Jones, who recently departed to the Chiefs in free agency, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Although Fournette generally drew the headlines when it came to the Buccaneers' backfield last season, the split in workload between him and Jones wasn't as drastic as might be assumed. Fournette did log 79 more regular-season carries than Jones in two fewer games in 2021, but the former only logged at least 20 rushes in a game twice all season and postseason. Third-year back Ke'Shawn Vaughn currently slots in as Fournette's primary backup for the 2022 season, and although the Vanderbilt product has shown flashes over his first two campaigns, he only has 62 career carries. That lack of experience gives him considerably less pedigree than Jones, who'd amassed 364 carries and 59 receptions during the 2019 and 2020 seasons alone before morphing into a clear complementary back back over the course of 2021. |
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Ke'Shawn Vaughn Ke'Shawn Vaughn Uptick in opportunity
Tue, Mar 29, 2022, 7:06 PM
Vaughn currently slots in as the Buccaneers' No. 2 running back with the recent departure of Ronald Jones in free agency, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Vaughn saw a slight uptick in involvement over that of his rookie 2020 campaign last season, rushing for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries and adding four receptions for 26 yards. The Vanderbilt product then played a sizable role in the wild-card win over the Eagles, carrying 17 times for 53 yards and a touchdown while also recording a pair of receptions. Looking ahead to 2022, it appears we're on the verge of finding out if Vaughn's two-season, low-volume apprenticeship has laid the proper groundwork for what should be a clear-cut No. 2 role behind Leonard Fournette, barring an unforeseen draft pick or free-agent signing disrupting that plan. |
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Leonard Fournette Leonard Fournette Gets three-year deal from Tampa
Tue, Mar 22, 2022, 8:12 AM
Fournette is signing a three-year, $21 million contract with Tampa Bay, including $9 million guaranteed, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: It sounds similar to James Conner's new contract with the Cardinals, though Fournette won't get as much guaranteed money. The 2017 first-round pick turned 27 in January, a few days before the Bucs were eliminated from the playoffs. Fournette had 107 total yards and two TDs in the loss to Los Angeles, returning to the lineup after missing four games with a hamstring injury. He otherwise enjoyed a healthy season, with a 180-812-8 rushing line and 69-454-2 receiving line in 14 games. Fournette was a fantasy RB1 for much of the year, averaging 68.6 rushing yards, 34.4 receiving yards and a touchdown per week in a 10-game stretch Weeks 4-14 before injuring his hamstring. Similar production in 2022 is certainly conceivable with QB Tom Brady back for another year, though it'll partially depend on Tampa's other moves this offseason. Ronald Jones and Giovani Bernard remained free agents at the time of Fournette's signing, while Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Kenjon Barner have spots on the Bucs' offseason roster. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Reaches $60 million deal with Bucs
Wed, Mar 16, 2022, 8:48 PM
Godwin agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Buccaneers on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Tampa Bay applied the franchise tag on Godwin last week for the second consecutive year, and the two sides were quickly able to come to a new agreement. The 2017 third-round pick will receive $40 million guaranteed and is set to return to the open market in 2025 when still only 29 years old. Godwin is recovering from the torn ACL and sprained MCL he sustained during Week 15, so it remains to be seen if he'll be ready to catch passes from Tom Brady for the start of the 2022 campaign. |
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Russell Gage Russell Gage Moving south to Tampa
Tue, Mar 15, 2022, 1:13 PM
The Buccaneers and Gage agreed to terms of a contract Tuesday on a three-year, $30 million contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Gage is coming off back-to-back productive seasons in Atlanta in which he totaled at least 66 catches and 770 yards and exactly four touchdowns per year. He'll kick off the upcoming campaign as the No. 2 wide receiver in Tampa Bay behind Mike Evans due to Chris Godwin's ongoing recovery from a Week 15 ACL tear. Considering Godwin may not be healthy for a good portion of the season, Gage should be on the receiving end of numerous passes per game from Tom Brady. |
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Kyle Trask Kyle Trask '22 role now in flux
Mon, Mar 14, 2022, 10:06 PM
Trask, who was expected to compete for the starting quarterback job in 2022 before Tom Brady's decision to unretire, still could have a chance at the No. 2 role in the coming season, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The soon-to-be second-year pro was, by all accounts, going to get a legitimate shot at competing for the starting job in training camp, likely against trusted veteran Blaine Gabbert. Naturally, Brady's return completely nixes those plans, but it could still benefit Trask. Not only will the Florida product avoid potentially being thrust into the top job before he's ready, but Brady's presence for perhaps only one more season could create a sense of urgency to ensure Trask gets to work directly behind the future Hall of Famer, as opposed to utilizing that spot on the currently unsigned Gabbert for the third consecutive campaign. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Second consecutive franchise tag
Tue, Mar 8, 2022, 2:30 PM
The Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on Godwin on Tuesday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: For the second year in a row, Tampa Bay has done as much with Godwin, meaning he'll be due $19.2 million in 2022 if the two sides are unable to come to terms on a long-term deal. Currently, he's in recovery mode from the torn ACL and sprained MCL that he sustained in his right knee back in Week 15. Due to the timing of the injury, Godwin's availability for Week 1 of next season is in question, as is who will be under center for the Bucs once he gets healthy following the retirement of Tom Brady this offseason. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Franchise tag anticipated
Mon, Mar 7, 2022, 10:33 AM
The Buccaneers are expected to use their franchise tag on Godwin (knee) prior to Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline, Tyler Dragon of USA Today reports.
Analysis: Godwin, who is recovering from ACL and MCL tears in his right knee, looks like he will stick with Tampa Bay for the 2022 campaign under the team's franchise tag. That would mark the second consecutive year that Godwin has received the tag, so his salary would count $19.2 million against the cap. Through 14 appearances in the 2021 season, Godwin compiled career-high marks with 98 catches on 127 targets, which he translated into 1,103 yards and five touchdowns. While it's unclear whether Godwin will be at full strength to kick off the upcoming campaign, his ability to move the chains would doubtless prove a notable boon for whoever lines up under center for the Bucs in Week 1, with Tom Brady having retired. |
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Kyle Trask Kyle Trask Could get his shot in 2022?
Tue, Feb 1, 2022, 2:53 PM
It isn't yet clear if Trask will replace Tom Brady, who announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Despite being a relatively early draft pick last spring, 64th overall, Trask was a healthy scratch each week of his rookie season. Laine notes that the Bucs drafted Trask with the thought he'd replace Brady in 2023, not 2022, but the franchise is on a new timeline after the future Hall of Famer announced his retirement Tuesday. While the Bucs figure to look at the market for veteran signal-callers, Trask should at least have the inside track for the No. 2 role entering his second season, and if things break in his favor he could even get his shot to compete for the starting job. Brady's backup from this past season, 32-year-old Blaine Gabbert, is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in the offseason. |
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Ke'Shawn Vaughn Ke'Shawn Vaughn Season ends quietly
Tue, Jan 25, 2022, 2:10 PM
Vaughn logged only two special-teams snaps during the Buccaneers' 30-27 divisional-round loss to the Rams on Sunday. He finished the 2021 regular season with 36 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns along with four catches (eight targets) for 26 yards. He also amassed 15 yards in kickoff returns, all across 12 games.
Analysis: The second-year back finished up his season the same way he began it back in September, as a complete non-factor on offense. Vaughn didn't see his first carries until Week 7 against the Bears, and he only logged another three after that point until Week 15, when multiple injuries struck the Buccaneers backfield. Vaughn did give a solid accounting of himself from that point forward, averaging 5.3 yards per rush on his 28 carries over the final four games of the regular season while adding a pair of rushing touchdowns and his aforementioned four catches. The Vanderbilt product then played a significant role in the wild-card win over the Eagles, pacing the backfield with 17 carries and also recording a pair of grabs with Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette both unavailable. Neither of his backfield mates is guaranteed to be back in 2022, meaning that Vaughn's late-season taste of extended action could essentially prove to have been an on-field audition for a much larger role next season. |
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Jaelon Darden Jaelon Darden Posts 67 return yards before exit
Mon, Jan 24, 2022, 4:43 PM
Darden, who exited Sunday's divisional-round loss to the Rams in the fourth quarter with a concussion, returned four kickoffs for 62 yards and one punt for five yards prior to his injury. He completed his rookie season with six receptions for 43 yards on 12 targets, one carry for 11 yards and 501 combined return yards across nine games.
Analysis: The Bucs have high hopes for Darden as an eventual downfield threat, but given the depth the team enjoyed at receiver most of the season, 2021 was more about acclimating the North Texas product to the speed of the NFL. That was primarily accomplished through getting Darden consistent work on returns as the season unfolded, and his solid efforts in that capacity helped lead to the eventual cut of fellow wideout/returner Jaydon Mickens. Darden should have more opportunities than the 87 total snaps he logged from scrimmage during his rookie campaign come 2022, particularly if Chris Godwin (knee) and Breshad Perriman (hip) depart via free agency. |
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Scotty Miller Scott Miller Four grabs in season-ending loss
Sun, Jan 23, 2022, 6:29 PM
Miller brought in four of six targets for 38 yards during the Buccaneers' 30-27 loss to the Rams in their NFC divisional-round matchup Sunday.
Analysis: Kept in proverbial mothballs for most of the regular season, Miller was due for a bump in volume Sunday with fellow downfield threats Cyril Grayson (hamstring) and Breshad Perriman (hip) out of action. The extra opportunity did come his way in the form of a season-high target tally, and the in-game ribs injury suffered by Tyler Johnson also played a part in Miller's enhanced involvement. With a mostly forgettable 2021 now behind him, the Bowling Green product will look to carve out a more consistent role in 2022. |
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Leonard Fournette Leonard Fournette Scores twice in IR return
Sun, Jan 23, 2022, 6:17 PM
Fournette (hamstring) rushed 13 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns and secured all nine targets for 56 yards during the Buccaneers' 30-27 loss to the Rams in their NFC divisional-round matchup Sunday.
Analysis: The Buccaneers were particularly cautious about bringing Fournette back from his hamstring injury too soon, and their decision appeared to be validated with the versatile back's impressive performance. Fournette finished with the team lead in receptions on an afternoon during which the Rams often played very effective coverage and also frequently made Tom Brady uncomfortable in the pocket. Additionally, although his rushing opportunities were capped to a degree by game script, the 27-year-old also was reasonably effective when asked to carry the ball. Fournette is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year, but given the positive impact he's had over his two seasons in Tampa Bay, he should be a strong candidate to re-sign. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Spectacular TD in close loss
Sun, Jan 23, 2022, 6:04 PM
Evans secured eight of 16 targets for 119 yards and a touchdown during the Buccaneers' 30-27 loss to the Rams in their NFC divisional-round matchup Sunday.
Analysis: With Tom Brady clearly bothered by an aggressive Rams front for most of the afternoon, Evans' efficiency became a victim of some hurried throws and tight coverage for a good chunk of the contest. However, he delivered what would have been remembered as the igniter of one of the most memorable comebacks in NFL postseason history when he cleanly beat Jalen Ramsey in one-on-one coverage down the right side for a 55-yard touchdown grab with 3:20 remaining to bring the Buccaneers within seven. Evans' 100-yard effort puts a bow on another spectacular season for the eight-year veteran, during which he racked up a career-high 14 touchdowns alongside tallies of 74 receptions and 1,035 yards across 16 games before posting a 17-236-2 line on 26 targets in two playoff contests. |
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Jaelon Darden Jaelon Darden Ruled out with concussion
Sun, Jan 23, 2022, 5:07 PM
Darden (concussion) won't return to Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Rams, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Darden was hurt after taking a hit on a punt return during the fourth quarter, and he'll be unable to return for the final few minutes of the game. If the Buccaneers advance in the playoffs, Darden will have several steps to clear if he hopes to play in the NFC Championship Game. |
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Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson Picks up rib injury
Sun, Jan 23, 2022, 5:07 PM
Johnson sustained a rib injury during Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams, Carmen Vitali of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Analysis: Before he exited in the second half, Johnson gathered in three of six targets for 15 yards. With the second-year wide receiver sidelined, Cyril Grayson (hamstring) and Breshad Perriman (hip) inactive and Chris Godwin (knee) on injured reserve, the Buccaneers are down to Mike Evans, Scotty Miller and John Brown at the position. |
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Jaelon Darden Jaelon Darden Being evaluated for a concussion
Sun, Jan 23, 2022, 4:57 PM
Darden (head) left Sunday's divisional contest against the Rams and is being evaluated for a concussion, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Darden suffered the injury after being struck by Ben Skowronek on a punt return. If Darden is unable to return, Tyler Johnson will likely take over kick return duties while Scotty Miller handles punts. His absence shouldn't impact Tampa Bay's offensive plan. |
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