Tampa Bay BuccaneersKeep informed with our daily updates: news, notes and more throughout the Bucs offseason
August 2 Updates
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers encountered their steamiest day of practice in training camp so far on Tuesday, with the humidity level sitting around 75% and the feels-like temperature approaching triple digits. Head Coach Todd Bowles responded to the rising heat index by making the built-in water breaks longer, but he may make some further adjustments over the next two weeks of training camp. The Buccaneers have a state-of-the-art indoor facility next to their practice fields, which is a perfect fallback for stormy days but also potentially a place to escape from the heat on occasion.
"We'll probably have some inside," said Bowles. "We have some [practices] that we talked about wanting to go inside on some. But just getting them out here early, getting used to the pads and getting used to the heat, and getting some extra conditioning was important."
CLICK HERE to hear all of Coach Bowles' post-practice thoughts.
Tristan Wirfs
#78 T
Height: 6-5Weight: 320 lbsCollege: Iowa
Sigh of relief.
All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs left practice before the conclusion of the final drill on the schedule, which was an unwelcome sight, particularly in light of last week's loss of Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen to a practice-field knee injury. Wirfs was escorted into the training room on a cart driven by former Head Coach Bruce Arians. Fortunately, as Head Coach Todd Bowles reported after practice, Wirfs was merely dealing with cramps on what was the hottest day of training camp so far.
CLICK HERE for more thoughts from Todd Bowles on training camp so far.
Don Gardner
#36 CB
Height: 6-1Weight: 180 lbsCollege: South Dakota State
August 1 Updates
Buccaneers players had the day off on Sunday but rookie cornerback Don Gardner got some good news when he was activated from the active/physically unable to perform list. That meant Gardner could immediately return to practice, which he did on Monday morning. The Buccaneers now have no players on their 90-man camp roster on a reserve list of any kind, though the team is still awaiting the final word on center Ryan Jensen's knee injury.
CLICK HERE for more on Gardner and his activation.
Ryan Jensen
#66 C
Height: 6-4Weight: 319 lbsCollege: Colorado State-Pueblo
July 29 Updates
The Buccaneers still do not have a complete prognosis for Ryan Jensen following the knee injury he suffered in practice on Thursday, but they do it is severe enough to keep him out for at least a major portion of the season.
"Don't know the severity of it, per se, but I do know he'll miss some significant time, up to a couple of months," said Head Coach Todd Bowles after Friday's practice. "Whether he'll be back later in the season, November or December, that depends on what they find in the knee, but he won't be available anytime soon."
CLICK HERE to hear more of Bowles' thoughts on Jensen and the Bucs' center position.
Brandon Walton
#73 T
Height: 6-5Weight: 300 lbsCollege: Florida Atlantic
Aaron Stinnie and Luke Goedeke are widely considered the frontrunners in the competition to replace Ali Marpet at left guard, particularly since Ryan Jensen's significant knee injury has pulled some of other competitors over to the pivot. It may indeed come down to Stinnie and Goedeke, but in the meantime the Bucs are going to cast a wide net to see who might fit well at the position. On Friday, first-year man Brandon Walton, listed on the Bucs' roster as an offensive tackle, got a shot to take some first-team reps at right guard. Said Head Coach Todd Bowles on the former Florida Atlantic standout:
"Well, we're mixing it up right now. He's tough and it's a wide-open spot. We've just got to pick and choose our spots, who to put in there and get a significant amount of time so we can see everybody and make an educated decision. But he's tough, he comes to work every day, he's in early. He has good technique, he has a lot of strength, so it's going to be a fight."
CLICK HERE to hear more of Bowles' thoughts on Friday's practice and recent developments.
Sadarius Hutcherson
#61 G
Height: 6-3Weight: 321 lbsCollege: South Carolina
For the first time since he suffered a season-ending knee injury in a preseason game against the Bengals last August 14, guard Sadarius Hutcherson participated in a practice on Friday morning. Hutcherson began the Buccaneers' 2022 training camp on the active/PUP list but was taken off that list just three days into camp practices. Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen suffered a knee injury in practice on Thursday and will be very difficult to replace for whatever amount of time he is unavailable. From the basic standpoint of snap shares, however, the Buccaneers do maintain the same number of interior linemen for practices moving forward with Hutcherson back in the mix.
CLICK HERE for more on Hutcherson's status and other Friday moves.
Sterling Hofrichter
#6 P
Height: 5-10Weight: 196 lbsCollege: Syracuse
The Buccaneers signed tight end Kyle Rudolph two days before training camp and had a deal in place with wide receiver Julio Jones before the practice, but the first real in-camp roster moves took place on Friday. The team added a tight end to the mix in former North Carolina wide receiver Bug Howard, making the depth chart seven men strong at that position. Howard has been in a number of NFL camps previously and made the switch from receiver to tight end while playing in the short-lived AAF in 2019. To make room for Howard on the roster, the Buccaneers waived their second-string punter, Sterling Hofrichter.
CLICK HERE for more on Friday's roster moves.
Ryan Jensen
#66 C
Height: 6-4Weight: 319 lbsCollege: Colorado State-Pueblo
July 28 Updates
Ryan Jensen, the Buccaneers' Pro Bowl center, was carted off the field during the final period of Thursday's training camp practice after sustaining what Head Coach Todd Bowles later revealed to be a knee injury. The team does not expect to have a clear idea of how much time Jensen will miss for a couple days, as it will take time to administer and receive the results of tests on his knee. Second-year man Robert Hainsey stepped in with the starting line after Jensen left the field.
CLICK HERE for more on Jensen's injury.
Lavonte David
#54 ILB
Height: 6-1Weight: 233 lbsCollege: Nebraska
July 27 Updates
Inside linebacker Lavonte David, who finished the 2021 season on an injured knee that had him playing at - by his estimation - about 60% capacity, was full-go when the Buccaneers held their first 2022 training camp practice on Wednesday. Afterward, he declared that he was back to 100% healthy and completely unlimited on the practice field. Others who had come to camp with potential injury concerns but were able to practice without issue on Wednesday include safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., kicker Ryan Succop, inside linebacker Grant Stuard and wide receiver Russell Gage.
CLICK HERE for more on the Buccaneers' nearly clean bill of health at the start of camp.
The Buccaneers officially signed veteran wide receiver Julio Jones on Wednesday morning, with pen put to paper at the same time his new teammates were on the practice field for the first workout of training camp. Jones came out to the field as a spectator and later talked about his desire to join Tom Brady and the Buccaneers and chase a championship.
CLICK HERE for more on Jones' first day with the Buccaneers.
Codey McElroy
#86 TE
Height: 6-6Weight: 258 lbsCollege: Southeastern Oklahoma State
July 26 Updates
A day after adding a seventh tight end to the training camp roster, the Buccaneers trimmed that position back down to six by waiving first-year man Codey McElroy with an injury designation. McElroy has spent much of the past two-and-a-half seasons on Tampa Bay's practice squad but also appeared in three regular-season games over that span, recording one catch.
CLICK HERE for more on Tuesday's roster move.
July 25 Updates
The Buccaneers added some much-needed experience and pass-catching prowess to their tight end room on Monday, signing 12th-year veteran Kyle Rudolph. A former second-round pick out of Notre Dame, Rudolph spent 11 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before signing with the New York Jets last year. His career totals include 479 catches for 4,745 yards and 49 touchdowns. Rudolph joins holdover Cam Brate as the veteran leaders of an otherwise very young tight end group.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at the Bucs' new addition at tight end.
Cade Otton
#88 TE
Height: 6-5Weight: 247 lbsCollege: Washington
July 24 Updates
The Buccaneers completed the necessary contract work on their 2022 draft class on Sunday when they inked fourth-round tight end Cade Otton to a four-year deal. All eight of the Buccaneers draft selections now have their deals in place and will be able to start training camp on time. Otton, who sat out spring practices while completing his recovery from ankle surgery, is expected to be cleared for action when camp begins on Wednesday.
CLICK HERE for more on the Cade Otton signing.
Logan Hall
#90 DL
Height: 6-6Weight: 283 lbsCollege: Houston
July 23 Updates
Defensive lineman Logan Hall, the Buccaneers' top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, signed his first NFL contract on Saturday shortly after reporting for the pre-camp 'QB School.' Hall received the standard four-year deal that all players selected after the first round of the draft get. Tampa Bay nabbed the former Houston standout with the first pick of the second round (33rd overall) after trading down from their original spot at number 27 in the first round.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at Hall and his new contract.
Sadarius Hutcherson
#61 G
Height: 6-3Weight: 321 lbsCollege: South Carolina
Prior to the start of the Bucs' pre-training camp 'QB School,' which also involved rookies and some first-year players, the Buccaneers placed two players - first-year guard Sadarius Hutcherson and undrafted rookie cornerback Don Gardner - the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Neither player is ready to begin practicing yet due to pre-existing injuries. While on the active/PUP list, players do count against the 90-man camp limit, and they can come off that list and return to practice at any time. Using the active/PUP designation preserves the team's option to put those players on reserve/PUP before the start of the regular season, if necessary.
CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs' pre-camp roster moves.
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