| News |
|---|
|
Michael Pratt Michael Pratt Signs with Tampa Bay
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 5:59 PM
Pratt signed a reserve/future contract with Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
Analysis: Pratt was a seventh-round pick by the Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he didn't make the team out of the preseason and spent the majority of the campaign bouncing between the Bucs' practice squad and active roster as the team's emergency QB3. Pratt never got into a regular-season game but will get another shot to try and impress the coaching staff this offseason. |
|
Dennis Houston Dennis Houston Inks deal with Tampa Bay
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 5:54 PM
The Bucs signed Houston to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Houston spent last summer with the Giants but was cut with an injury settlement in August. He latched on with Tampa Bay's practice squad in October and spent the remainder of the season there. Houston will get a chance to earn a longer look this upcoming offseason. He hasn't appeared in a regular-season contest since 2022 with Dallas. |
|
Marquez Callaway Marquez Callaway Signs with Tampa Bay
Tue, Jan 14, 2025, 5:52 PM
Callaway signed a reserve/future contract with the Bucs on Tuesday.
Analysis: Let go by New Orleans in August, Callaway signed with Tampa Bay's practice squad in October and appeared in a pair of regular-season contests, though he played a total of five offensive snaps. Turning 27 years old in March, Callaway will compete for a roster spot this coming offseason. |
|
Payne Durham Payne Durham Slight production uptick in '24
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 10:31 PM
Durham, who did not log any targets across 15 snaps in Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders, finished the 2024 regular season with 11 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns across 16 games.
Analysis: Durham saw a significant increase in opportunity on offense during his second season, logging 417 plays from scrimmage after playing only 125 as a rookie in 2023. However, the Purdue product was likely on his way to potentially falling short of his meager 5-58 receiving line of a season prior before top tight end Cade Otton suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss the final three games of the regular season. That opened the door for Durham to serve as the No. 1 tight end from Weeks 16-18, during which he generated a 9-81-2 line on 12 targets despite position mate Devin Culp also showing some promise during that span and absorbing some targets in his own right. Nevertheless, Durham garnered active status over Culp for Sunday night's postseason game, although with Otton back in action, that didn't lead to any production. Durham will be heading into the penultimate year of his rookie deal in 2025 and profiles as the likely No. 2 option at the position again. |
|
Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Solid as reserve option in '24
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 10:21 PM
Shepard, who was active for Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders but did not log any stats over 27 snaps, finished the 2024 regular season with 32 receptions for 334 yards and a touchdown on 51 targets along with eight rushes for 69 yards across 14 games.
Analysis: The veteran wideout was signed partly due to his college connection with Baker Mayfield, and Shepard ended up proving he still had something left in the tank after three injury-hampered and mostly ineffective seasons to cap off his long tenure with the Giants. Shepard ended up playing a bigger role than first envisioned due to Chris Godwin's season-ending ankle injury, recording at least four catches in four games and exceeding 40 receiving yards on four occasions as well. Shepard's season-long reception and receiving yardage totals outpaced the combined 23 catches and 211 yards he'd mustered in his final two Giants campaigns in 2022 and 2023, while his eight rush attempts represented a new career high. Shepard will once again be an unrestricted free agent come the new league year in March, and it's possible the Buccaneers opt to move on considering Godwin's expected return and Jalen McMillan's emergence over the course of his rookie year. |
|
Sean Tucker Sean Tucker Finishes season quietly
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 10:12 PM
Tucker, who was active but did not log any snaps in Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders, finished the 2024 regular season with 50 carries for 308 yards and two touchdowns, a 9-109-1 receiving line on 12 targets, 410 kickoff-return yards and one fumble, which remained with Tampa Bay, across 17 games.
Analysis: The second-year running back established new career-high figures across the board, with the highlight of his season coming in a Week 6 win over the Saints where he posted 14 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown while adding three receptions for 56 yards and another score. Tucker continued to see sporadic opportunities throughout the season and flashed plenty of his trademark explosiveness, and he could be set to see another increase in opportunity in his 2025 contract year, perhaps at the occasional expense of Rachaad White. |
|
Rachaad White Rachaad White Finishes season on downturn
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 9:41 PM
White, who rushed once for one yard and secured both targets for 14 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night, finished the 2024 regular season with 144 carries for 613 yards and three touchdowns and a 51-393-6 receiving line on 57 targets across 16 games. He also committed three fumbles, losing them all.
Analysis: White went into his third season set to still operate as the lead back while rookie Bucky Irving was eased into the NFL ranks as a complementary option. However, there was eventually a changing of the guard in the backfield once it became clear Irving was the more explosive player and capable of handling a true No. 1 back workload, and White ultimately finished the regular season with zero touches for only the second time in his career during the Week 18 win over the Saints. The 2022 third-round pick is set to play out the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, and considering what Irving put on film once given control of the ground attack, White may not receive a contract extension offer this offseason. |
|
Cade Otton Cade Otton Two catches in return to action
Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:57 PM
Otton secured both targets for 32 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night.
Analysis: Making his return from a three-game absence due to a knee injury, Otton finished tied with multiple teammates for second in receptions and targets while checking in third in receiving yards. Despite the three absences to close out the regular season, Otton still recorded a career-best 59 receptions, 600 receiving yards and 87 targets across 14 games, while also tying a career best with four touchdown grabs. The 2022 fourth-round pick also finished with a career-high 10.2 yards per catch with the help of a new personal best of seven grabs of 20-plus yards. With the final year of his rookie contract on tap in 2025, Otton may be a prime candidate for an extension this offseason. |
|
Jalen McMillan Jalen McMillan Two catches in season-ending loss
Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:50 PM
McMillan brought in two of four targets for 41 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night.
Analysis: McMillan finished a distant second to Mike Evans in receiving yards and was also the runner-up to his teammate in targets on a night when Baker Mayfield threw the ball only 18 times. The rookie wideout's serviceable first career postseason contest also included a team-high 26-yard reception on the first play of a fourth-quarter drive that culminated in a game-tying field goal by Chase McLaughlin. McMillan will head into his first NFL offseason with plenty of momentum after having posted a 37-461-8 line on 58 targets and adding 43 rushing yards on four attempts across 13 regular-season games. |
|
Mike Evans Mike Evans Maximizes opportunities in loss
Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:34 PM
Evans brought in all seven targets for 92 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night.
Analysis: Frequently facing old nemesis Marshon Lattimore, Evans got the better of the veteran cornerback for once, including on his one-yard touchdown grab just before halftime. Evans finished the night with team-high totals in receptions, receiving yards and targets, a fitting follow-up to a regular season in which recorded 74 catches for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns over 14 games, and in which he tied Jerry Rice's record with an 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season. Evans clearly looks like he has plenty left in the tank as he heads into what is slated to be a contract year in 2025, during which he 's slated to earn $21 million in base salary and account for just over $26 million of the Buccaneers' cap. |
|
Bucky Irving Bucky Irving Compiles 83 total yards in loss
Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:29 PM
Irving rushed 17 times for 77 yards and brought in both targets for six yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night.
Analysis: Irving once again comfortably outpaced backfield mate Rachaad White, who logged just three total touches (one carry, two receptions). The rookie put together a solid performance that included his seventh tally of over 70 rushing yards in the last nine games. However, Irving was stuffed for a two-yard loss on a third-and-1 play at the Commanders' 12-yard line with 5:32 remaining, forcing the Buccaneers to settle for a field goal instead of extending the drive and possibly scoring a go-ahead touchdown. Irving's productive day came in the wake of a standout rookie season that exceeded expectations, during which he recorded 207 carries for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns while adding a 47-392 receiving line on 52 targets across 17 games. Irving also turned the ball over just once (two fumbles total) and should head into his second season with a firm grasp on the No. 1 back role. |
|
Baker Mayfield Baker Mayfield Efficient in season-ending loss
Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:21 PM
Mayfield completed 15 of 18 passes for 185 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed seven times for 23 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders on Sunday night. He also lost a fumble.
Analysis: Mayfield was nearly perfect in every sense, even finishing the game with a 146.5 quarterback rating. However, his one error was critical, as his early fourth-quarter fumble on an attempted handoff was recovered by the Commanders' Bobby Wagner at the Buccaneers' 13-yard line and was followed by a go-ahead touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Terry McLaurin four plays later. While Mayfield drove Tampa Bay 61 yards over eight plays to a field goal that knotted the game up at 20-20, the veteran signal-caller never got another opportunity with the ball. The disappointing finish to the season aside, Mayfield counts the 2024 campaign as his best yet as a pro, as he finished with career highs in completions (407), pass attempts (570), completion percentage (71.4), passing yards (4,500), touchdown passes (41) and rushing yards (378) across 17 regular-season games. Mayfield also tied a career high with three rushing scores, and about the only blemish on his season stat line was the second-highest interception tally of his career (16). Mayfield remains under contract with the Buccaneers through the 2026 season. |
|
Cade Otton Cade Otton Active versus Washington
Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 5:53 PM
Otton (knee) is listed as active for Sunday night's wild-card round game against the Commanders.
Analysis: Though Otton was deemed a full practice participant Thursday and Friday, he approached the Buccaneers' postseason opener listed as questionable. In his return from a three-game absence, Otton should reclaim his role as a key pass catcher for QB Baker Mayfield alongside WRs Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, with fellow TEs Payne Durham and Ko Kieft also on hand to mix in. Prior to sustaining his knee injury, Otton made his mark from a fantasy perspective by recording a 59/600/4 receiving line (on 87 targets) over the course of 14 games. |
|
Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Cleared to play
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3:14 PM
Shepard (foot/knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Analysis: Shepard was a full practice participant Friday, after limited sessions the previous two days. He figures to fill his usual role as the No. 3 receiver, coming off a quiet Week 18 performance in which he got just two targets despite playing 66 percent of snaps. |
|
Cade Otton Cade Otton Listed as questionable after full practice
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3:13 PM
Otton (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Analysis: Otton is on track to return from a three-game absence following full practice participation Thursday and Friday, although coach Todd Bowles stopped short of promising the tight end will play. Bowles did confirm that Otton is trending in the right direction, per Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site, which means Payne Durham and Devin Culp likely will fall back to minimal roles after making significant contributions to Tampa Bay's passing game over the final few weeks of the regular season. |
|
Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Remains limited at practice
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 3:20 PM
Shepard (foot/knee) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Analysis: Shepard maintained his activity level from Wednesday's walkthrough, giving him one more opportunity to return to full participant this week. Friday's injury report will reveal whether or not he heads into the weekend with a designation for Sunday night's wild-card game versus the Commanders. |
|
Cade Otton Cade Otton Gets back to full Thursday
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 3:17 PM
Otton (knee) practiced fully Thursday.
Analysis: This marks the first time Otton has been listed as anything other than a DNP or limited on Buccaneers practice reports since showing up with a left knee injury during Week 16 prep. He's missed the last three games as a result, but following up Wednesday's capped walkthrough with a full session one day later puts him on a path to return to action for Sunday night's wild-card game against the Commanders. There's a chance he may share TE reps with Payne Durham and even Devin Culp if the Buccaneers opt to ease Otton back into action. |
|
Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Logs limited practice
Wed, Jan 8, 2025, 3:42 PM
Shepard (foot/knee) was limited in practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Shepard returned from a one-game absence due to a hamstring injury in Tampa Bay's regular-season finale, a Week 18 win over the Saints. He played 66 percent of offensive snaps and secured one of two targets for 11 yards. Now dealing with foot and knee issues, Shepard will work to get healthy in time to contribute in a depth capacity during Sunday's wild-card game against the Commanders. |
|
Cade Otton Cade Otton Progressing from knee injury
Wed, Jan 8, 2025, 1:58 PM
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Otton (knee) is "trending in the right direction" and would have been a limited participant Wednesday if the team had held a normal practice, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The Buccaneers held a walk-through session rather than a more strenuous practice, and they'll presumably list Otton as a limited participant on their first official injury report of the week. He missed the final three games of the regular season due to the knee injury, allowing Payne Durham to step in as the starter while Devin Culp took on some of the passing-down snaps. An every-down player when healthy throughout his NFL career, Otton might have a somewhat lesser role if he makes it back for Sunday's wild-card matchup with Washington. |
|
Rakim Jarrett Rakim Jarrett No targets on seven snaps
Wed, Jan 8, 2025, 10:12 AM
Jarrett did not log a target over seven snaps on offense during the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday. He finished the 2024 regular season with nine receptions for 124 yards on 11 targets and 141 kickoff-return yards in 10 games.
Analysis: The speedy wideout had little opportunity for action with Sterling Shepard making his return from a one-game absence prompted by hamstring and foot injuries. Jarrett saw one fewer snap than fellow reserves Ryan Miller and Trey Palmer, and all three players are likely to primarily be limited to special-teams duties during the Buccaneers' upcoming postseason run. |
Connect With Us:
