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Devin Culp Devin Culp Limited with illness
Wed, Dec 24, 2025, 2:07 PM
Culp (illness) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Analysis: Culp seems to have come down with an illness, but his ability to practice even in a limited capacity implies that the tight end should be good to go for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. The 25-year-old will likely upgrade his practice participation later in the week and be cleared ahead of Sunday's game. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Limited Wednesday
Wed, Dec 24, 2025, 1:48 PM
Godwin (fibula) was limited at Wednesday's practice.
Analysis: Godwin has been dealing with the residual effects of a fibula injury since Week 5, but since his return to action Week 12, he's been able to suit up for each of the Buccaneers' last five games, accumulating a 19-192-1 line on 28 targets during that stretch. His limitations Wednesday likely are related to maintenance, and he'll have two more chances to get back to full before Sunday's contest at Miami. |
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Tez Johnson Tez Johnson One catch in Week 16 loss
Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 9:53 AM
Johnson secured his only target for minus-1 yard in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: The rookie's minimal role persisted in Sunday's loss, with Johnson seeing the field on just 25 percent (16 snaps) of the Buccaneers' offensive plays. The recent return of Mike Evans and season debut of Jalen McMillan has predictably pushed Johnson down the depth chart, where he projects to remain for the final two games of the regular season and in the postseason, if Tampa Bay advances. |
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Jalen McMillan Jalen McMillan Little with three touches in loss
Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 9:51 AM
McMillan brought in two of three targets for 15 yards and rushed once for one yard in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: Playing in just his second game of the season, McMillan had a modest role, albeit within the context of a day in which Baker Mayfield threw for just 145 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per attempt. McMillan did enjoy a solid snap share relative to the rest of the team's front-line receivers, as his 34 snaps (53 percent) were just two behind Emeka Egbuka and six and eight fewer than Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, respectively. McMillan should continue essentially splitting the No. 3 role with Egbuka during a favorable Week 17 road matchup against the Dolphins. |
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Cade Otton Cade Otton Just two short grabs in Week 16
Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 9:50 AM
Otton recorded two catches for 15 yards on two targets in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Panthers.
Analysis: With the Tampa Bay pass-catching corps recently getting healthier with the returns of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan from injured reserve, Otton appears set to occupy a more muted role in the aerial attack moving forward. Otton has drawn four targets or fewer in each of the Buccaneers' last three games, producing seven catches for 43 yards during that stretch. The lack of reliable target volume makes Otton tough to rely upon in fantasy lineups heading into Tampa Bay's Week 17 matchup with the Dolphins. |
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Sean Tucker Sean Tucker Vultures another TD opportunity
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 7:17 PM
Tucker rushed four times for three yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: Tucker logged four carries and netted single-digit rushing yardage for the second straight game, but he got into the end zone for a third consecutive contest via a one-yard run with under seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. Tucker's compact 5-foot-10, 210-pound frame appears to have carved him out his current red-zone role, but he'll likely remain a TD-dependent fantasy option in a Week 17 road matchup against the Dolphins. |
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Rachaad White Rachaad White Accrues 60 total yards in loss
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 7:12 PM
White rushed five times for 45 yards and brought in both targets for 15 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: White finished with 9.0 yards per carry thanks almost exclusively to a 39-yard run he rattled off early in the second quarter. The versatile veteran back has averaged 4.8 yards per carry or more in five of the last six games, but he has logged double-digit totes just twice in that span while Bucky Irving continues to serve as the clear leader of the ground attack. White should continue in a similar change-of-pace role in a Week 17 road matchup against the Dolphins next Sunday. |
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Emeka Egbuka Emeka Egbuka Big gain on one catch Sunday
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:47 PM
Egbuka brought in one of two targets for 40 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: Egbuka needed just his one catch to secure the team lead in receiving yards on a day when Baker Mayfield was under the 200-yard mark for the third time in four games. Despite the splash play, fantasy managers have to be disappointed with Egbuka's stretch-run swoon, considering he's been at 42 receiving yards or fewer in five of the last six contests. Egbuka will be a relatively risky option on championship week for many fantasy leagues despite his favorable matchup against the Dolphins on the road next Sunday. |
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Chris Godwin Chris Godwin Does little with five catches
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:41 PM
Godwin brought in five of six targets for 30 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: Godwin was able to draw even with Mike Evans for the team lead in receptions and was second to his teammate in targets, but he once again was contained to a very modest yardage total. Godwin has eclipsed 55 receiving yards just once in seven games, making him a risky fantasy proposition in a Week 17 road matchup against the Dolphins despite the favorable matchup. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Gets into end zone Sunday
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 6:04 PM
Evans secured five of nine targets for 31 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: Evans appeared to be on his way to a big day when he hauled in a one-yard scoring grab with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter, but he was relatively contained the rest of the afternoon. His day also closed out on a sour note, as Scott Smith of the team's official site reports Evans misread Baker Mayfield's intentions on a fourth-quarter pass that resulted in a game-sealing interception for Carolina. The Buccaneers still have a chance to win the NFC South by prevailing in their final two contests, however, so Evans will be locked in during a Week 17 road matchup against a beatable Dolphins secondary. |
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Bucky Irving Bucky Irving Eclipses 70-yard mark in loss
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 4:42 PM
Irving rushed 19 times for 71 yards and wasn't targeted in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: Irving easily led the Buccaneers' ground attack in rush attempts and rushing yardage, but he had a long run of just 12 yards and didn't draw a single target for the first time all season. While Irving's rushing yardage tally did match his season high, he also saw Sean Tucker vulture another goal-line opportunity that the latter successfully converted into a touchdown. Irving will aim to exploit a vulnerable Dolphins run defense in a Week 17 road matchup next Sunday. |
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Baker Mayfield Baker Mayfield Comes up short in low-volume day
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 4:31 PM
Mayfield completed 18 of 26 passes for 145 yards with a touchdown and an interception while rushing four times for 49 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: The Buccaneers went with an extremely run-heavy approach in the first half, and although Mayfield was a lot busier in the second half thanks to game script, he still finished with his third sub-200-yard tally in the last four games. Mayfield also tossed a pick for the third consecutive contest, with Sunday's interception -- an apparent miscommunication with Mike Evans -- coming at the Panthers' 30 with 49 seconds remaining and Tampa Bay driving for a game-tying field-goal attempt, at minimum. Despite the stumble, Mayfield can still lead the Bucs to another NFC South title with a win over the Dolphins in Week 17 and a victory against Carolina at home in the regular-season finale a week later. |
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Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Healthy scratch Week 16
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 10:53 AM
Shepard (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Carolina, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Analysis: Shepard had a big role in Tampa Bay's passing game early in the campaign while the team dealt with multiple injuries among its wide-receiver corps. However, the veteran wideout didn't log any offensive snaps last week against Atlanta, which coincided with both Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan returning to action after long absences. Now that the Bucs' wideout room is almost fully healthy, Shepard may not have a role for most contests. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Good to go
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 1:28 PM
Evans (collarbone/rest) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Analysis: Evans returned from a long-term absence last week, catching six of 12 targets for 132 yards in a 29-28 loss to the Falcons. He finished out this week with a full practice, so it won't come as any surprise if he gets a boost in playing time relative to last week's 54 percent snap share. |
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Cade Otton Cade Otton Completes full practice Thursday
Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 2:56 PM
Otton (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Analysis: Otton missed his first game of the season in last week's loss to the Falcons while he battled the knee injury, but after following up a limited practice Wednesday with a full session Thursday, the fourth-year tight end should be in the clear to play Sunday at Carolina. With the Buccaneers recently getting receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan back from long-term absences due to injury, Otton will likely find himself further down in the passing-game hierarchy now that he's healthy again. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Receives Thursday off
Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 2:50 PM
Evans (collarbone/rest) was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice.
Analysis: Evans had previously been listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice while he continued to get extra maintenance for his fractured collarbone, which kept him out for six games before he returned to action in last Thursday's 29-28 loss to the Falcons. Though a mid-week downgrade in practice activity is normally worrisome, the fact that the Buccaneers are also attributing Evans' absence to rest suggests that Thursday may have been a pre-planned off day for the veteran wideout. Assuming Evans is able to practice Friday in some fashion, he should be ready to play a full complement of snaps in Sunday's game at Carolina. |
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Cade Otton Cade Otton Limited in practice
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 3:53 PM
Otton (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Analysis: Otton was unable to suit up for last Thursday's loss to the Falcons, but he could have a more realistic shot at taking the field for Sunday's key divisional matchup against the Panthers. However, with Mike Evans (collarbone) and Jalen McMillan both having returned to the lineup Week 15, joining wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, there may not be enough targets left up for grabs for Otton to make much of an impact in the receiving game, even if healthy. |
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Mike Evans Mike Evans Logs limited practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 3:23 PM
Evans (collarbone) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Analysis: Evans returned to action last Thursday against the Falcons for the first time since breaking his collarbone during Week 7 action at Detroit, and he managed to log a 54 percent snap share en route to six catches (on 12 targets) for 132 yards. His practice limitations this week likely are related to maintenance, but his status still bears watching as the weekend draws closer to ensure he'll be available Sunday in Carolina. |
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Sterling Shepard Sterling Shepard Doesn't see field in loss
Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 11:29 PM
Shepard didn't log any snaps during the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.
Analysis: Shepard was active for the contest, but with Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan active and the rest of the Buccaneers' receiving corps also healthy, the veteran wideout failed to see the field for the first time all season. With both Tez Johnson and even Kameron Johnson running ahead of Shepard at the moment, the latter is a fantasy non-factor. |
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Tez Johnson Tez Johnson No stats for second straight game
Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 11:21 PM
Johnson failed to bring in his only target in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.
Analysis: Johnson saw both Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan return to the field Thursday, making it wholly unsurprising the rookie was limited to just one target and logged his lowest snap count (15) since his Week 1 NFL debut. Johnson was unable to convert that single look into a catch, making it two straight games without a reception. Provided the Buccaneers' receiving corps remains at full strength for the team's remaining three regular-season games, Johnson figures to remain a fantasy afterthought. |
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