O.J. HOWARD NEWS

Tending to ankle injury Howard didn't practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury.

Impact Howard wasn't spotted during the portion of Wednesday's session open to the media, and now the reason for his absence is known. He joins Rob Gronkowski (ribs) as a non-participant, which leaves Cameron Brate as the only healthy tight end on the Buccaneers' roster. Howard will look to get back on the field during the team's final two practices of Week 7.

OCTOBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bucs' O.J. Howard hits restart button on his career after repeated injuries O.J. Howard has had difficulty staying healthy for a full season since entering the NFL in 2017, but he's having a rebirth with starting tig...

OCTOBER 19, 2021 • ORLANDOSENTINEL.COM

O.J. Howard Just 'Scratching the Surface' After putting together his most productive outing since last year's Achilles tendon injury, fifth-year TE O.J. Howard is just looking to bui...

OCTOBER 19, 2021 • BUCCANEERS.COM

O.J. Howard on Bucs Increased Rushing Attacked, Facing Chicago Bears ' Press Conference Tight end O.J. Howard spoke to the media on Tuesday ahead of the week seven matchup with the Chicago Bears.

OCTOBER 19, 2021 • BUCCANEERS.COM

A year after Achilles injury, Bucs' O.J. Howard back healthy and catching TDs again With Rob Gronkowski sidelined by an injury to his ribs, Bucs tight end O.J. Howard, now healthy, is making the most of a larger opportunity.

OCTOBER 19, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

RB Fournette adding balance to Buccaneers' potent offense

Tampa Bay’s injury-riddled defense has yet to hit its stride this season

OCTOBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Breaks out with six catches Howard secured six of seven targets for 49 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 28-22 win over the Eagles on Thursday night.

Impact The seldom-used tight end surprisingly broke out for season-best catch and yardage totals in the primetime win, adding his first touchdown of the season on a two-yard scoring grab to cap off a 10-play game-opening drive. Howard's expanded opportunity came due to the ongoing absence of Rob Gronkowski (ribs), but it was still noteworthy when considering he doubled up position mate Cameron Brate in catches while also logging three more targets. Despite the encouraging performance, Howard's fantasy value could quickly take a hit if Gronkowski is able to return for the Week 7 home matchup versus the Bears, as currently expected.

OCTOBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Thursday Night Football Top Plays: Buccaneers, Brady defeat Eagles on Thursday night

Brady and the Bucs went into Philly and took the Jalen Hurts-led Eagles on Thursday night. Here are the top plays!

OCTOBER 15, 2021

Tom Brady throws 2 TD passes, Buccaneers beat Eagles 28-22

Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes, Leonard Fournette ran for two scores and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 28-22 on Thursday night

OCTOBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tom Brady Finds O.J. Howard on Opening Drive for TD ' Bucs vs. Eagles Highlights TE O.J. Howard catches a touchdown from QB Tom Brady against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6.

OCTOBER 15, 2021 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Tom Brady locates O.J. Howard for TE's first TD of 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady locates tight end O.J. Howard for TE's first touchdown of 2021.

OCTOBER 15, 2021 • NFL.COM

Pair of grabs in big win Howard brought in two of three targets for 19 yards in the Buccaneers' 45-17 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.

Impact The athletic tight end logged a solid workload (43 snaps) for a second straight game and did more with the opportunity than he did during a Week 4 win over the Patriots. Howard's two receptions were still only his third and fourth of the season, however, and his modest fantasy value would evaporate if Rob Gronkowski returns from his rib injury for a Thursday matchup against the Eagles in Week 6.

OCTOBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 5

The Carolina Panthers’ defense started the season hot, but were a little less scary last week against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys

OCTOBER 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Disappoints with extra playing time Howard failed to come up with his only target in the Buccaneers' 19-17 win over the Patriots on Sunday night.

Impact Howard appeared primed for a boost in opportunity with Rob Gronkowski (ribs) sidelined, and although he did see his biggest snap share of the season, he still came up empty on the stat sheet. The fifth-year tight end played on 65 percent of the team's plays from scrimmage, which equated to 51 snaps, one more than position mate Cameron Brate. Howard should be set for plenty of time on the field again against the Dolphins with Gronkowski expected to remain out before a possible Week 6 return, but if the 26-year-old fails to make even a minimal impact versus Miami as well, there seems to be little hope he can be of any appreciable, reliable fantasy value as long as he remains on the Buccaneers.

OCTOBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Primed for larger role Howard and Cameron Brate could see added playing time this week, with fellow Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs) doubtful for Sunday's game against the Patriots, Scott Smith of th...

Impact Last week, Brate saw five targets on 45 percent of snaps, while Howard got just one target on 19 percent even though Gronkowski was limited after halftime. However, the Bucs were trailing by multiple scores throughout much of the second half in their eventual loss to the Rams, with the situation likely favoring Brate over Howard. A different game plan or game script could work more in Howard's favor, but he's far from a lock to see steady targets Sunday night. The 2017 first-round pick has caught both of his targets for 32 yards this season, logging a grand total of 31 snaps in three games.

OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

One catch in loss Howard secured his only target for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 34-24 loss to the Rams on Sunday.

Impact Howard's sparse usage persisted Sunday, although he did bump up his snap count to a season-high 14 after logging 11 against the Falcons in Week 2. Even if the incremental increases in Howard's playing time continue, his best chance at providing fantasy value might require the rib injury Rob Gronkowski suffered Sunday to be more serious than it initially appears.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tom Brady on record pace in Tampa Bay Bucs' high-flying offense

With Tom Brady steering a high-flying offense, the Bucs are off to a record start. Bucky Brooks tracks their flight plan.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2021

First catch of season Sunday Howard secured his only target for 21 yards while logging 11 snaps from scrimmage in Sunday's 48-25 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

Impact The oft-injured tight end took some small steps forward from a catchless opener during which he'd also logged just six snaps from scrimmage. It appears the Buccaneers are easing the talented Howard back into action after last season's Achilles tear, and with Rob Gronkowski practically looking like he's back in his prime over the first two games, Howard could find extensive playing time a bit difficult to come by even when he's deemed to be back at full strength.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sparse action in opener Howard did not see a target in the Buccaneers' 31-29 win over the Cowboys on Thursday night, and Greg Auman of The Athletic reports the tight end logged just six snaps from scrimma...

Impact Howard performed well in training camp and appeared to shake off some rust during preseason action while recording a 5-44 line over three exhibitions. Consequently, his significantly limited usage Thursday was somewhat of a head scratcher, although Auman speculates it could have been a byproduct of the 2018 first-round pick not being completely recovered from last season's early-October Achilles tear. Howard's next opportunity to break the ice on the 2021 season will come in a Week 2 battle versus the Falcons a week from Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Brady, Buccaneers begin defense of title against Cowboys

Lofty expectations don’t faze Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

No. 1 Alabama banking heavily on new wide receivers, Metchie

Alabama is hoping its search for receiver help to complement John Metchie III pays immediate dividends

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

One catch in preseason win Howard brought in his only target for five yards in the Buccaneers' 23-16 preseason win over the Texans on Saturday night.

Impact Although Howard only had the one catch, Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times notes it was a key one, with the big tight end bringing in the reception on third down in the red zone to set up the Buccaneers' second touchdown. By all accounts, Howard has looked like he's progressively shed rust this summer, and he should enjoy a solid role in the game plan in the Week 1 showdown against the Cowboys on Thursday, Sept. 9.

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Solid in preseason loss Howard secured three of six targets for 24 yards in the Buccaneers' 34-3 preseason loss to the Titans on Saturday night.

Impact A week after celebrating his return to action following his Achilles tear with a 15-yard grab against the Bengals last Saturday, Howard took matters a step further with a strong effort versus Tennessee. The talented but oft-injured tight end seems to be rounding into shape nicely ahead of Week 1, and with a healthy six targets on the night, it appears the Buccaneers wanted to make sure to get him plenty of reps. Considering he's working back from a long layoff, Howard could potentially be one of the few Bucs' starting skill-position players that logs appreciable time in next Saturday's preseason finale against the Texans.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ranking the biggest concerns for each NFC South team in 2021

From QB issues to what might stop the GOAT from getting another ring, former NFL GM Randy Mueller breaks down the NFC South.

AUGUST 16, 2021

Makes long-awaited return Howard (Achilles) secured his only target for 15 yards in the Buccaneers' 19-14 preseason loss to the Bengals on Saturday night.

Impact Howard's one grab in his first taste of game action since Week 4 of last season was particularly timely, as it came on a third down during the Buccaneers' second drive, one that would ultimately culminate in a Ke'Shawn Vaughn touchdown run. Howard seemed to pass his first in-game test without any setbacks after putting in solid work over the first couple weeks of camp, and he could therefore be due for a boost in workload in the Buccaneers' second preseason game against the Titans on Saturday.

AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE