PAYNE DURHAM NEWS

Tristan Wirfs' TD catch and late defensive stop help Buccaneers beat Cardinals 20-17

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have snapped a three-game skid with a 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals

NOVEMBER 30 • Associated Press

Sees first target since Week 2 Durham failed to catch his only target, his first since Week 2, in Sunday's 28-23 loss to the Patriots.

Impact Durham saw a drop in snaps to 19 (28 percent) after having on at least 30 percent of plays in each of the previous four contests. The third-year tight end has surprisingly been a complete non-factor in the air attack through nine contests after posting a 16-173-2 career line on 21 targets over his first pair of seasons, and even the Buccaneers' perpetually injury-hampered receiving corps has done nothing to expand Durham's involvement beyond his role as a blocker.

NOVEMBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

No catches through eight games Durham went without a target while playing 32 of the Buccaneers' 58 snaps on offense in Sunday's 23-3 win over the Saints.

Impact Durham logged 101 receptions over his final two collegiate seasons at Purdue, but he's seen sparse involvement in the passing game since entering the NFL as a fifth-round pick of Tampa Bay in 2023. Though he's played at least 20 percent of the snaps in every game this season while working as the No. 2 tight end behind Cade Otton, Durham has run just 19 routes while drawing one uncaught target.

OCTOBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

No involvement in Week 1 win Durham didn't draw a target across 15 snaps from scrimmage in the Buccaneers' 23-20 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

Impact The Buccaneers' No. 2 tight end was 35 snaps behind Cade Otton, who'd cleared his injury designation by Thursday and filled his usual robust role. Durham is likely to find targets sparse while Otton remains healthy, considering Baker Mayfield has plenty of other pass catchers to focus on even with Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (IR-neck) currently unavailable.

SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Early-season opportunity likely Durham could see more pass-catching opportunities than usual to open the 2025 season due to Cade Otton potentially being sidelined with a leg injury, Brianna Dix of the team's offi...

Impact While more clarity on a potential return timeline for Otton is expected during the official Week 1 practice week next week, Dix reports the Buccaneers are planning on taking a committee approach at the position if he is indeed forced to miss any regular-season action. That would afford Durham more targets, a scenario that also played out in Weeks 16-18 last season when Otton was sidelined due to a knee injury. Durham secured nine receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns on 12 targets in that span while sharing pass-catching responsibilities at the position with then-rookie Devin Culp, and that arrangement could well be replicated in the event of any Otton absences early this season.

AUGUST 29 • ROTOWIRE

Bucs to Take Committee TE Approach With Cade Otton dealing with a hamstring and leg injury, the Buccaneers will take a committee approach in his absence with Payne Durham, Dev...

AUGUST 28 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Payne Durham Camp Diary: Coverage Is 100% Tighter From Our LBs, DBs Bucs TE Payne Durham has his third Camp Diary installment in this PewterReport.com exclusive and talks about the coverage of the defense.

AUGUST 13 • PEWTERREPORT.COM

Teddy Bridgewater, Payne Durham & More on Mindset | Press Conferences Hear from Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Payne Durham, QB Teddy Bridgewater & CB Bryce Hall after Wednesday's Training Camp Practice.

AUGUST 6 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Payne Durham Camp Diary: I Want To Become A Dominating Blocker Bucs TE Payne Durham has his first Camp Diary installment in this PewterReport.com exclusive and is focused on becoming a dominant blocker.

JULY 23 • PEWTERREPORT.COM

Bucs Mailbag: Battle For TE2, Desmond Watson's Progress Who will win the TE2 battle this year – Devin Culp or Payne Durham? How is Desmond Watson progressing? The answers are in Bucs Mailbag.

JUNE 9 • PEWTERREPORT.COM

Slight production uptick in '24 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...

Impact 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.

JANUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Gets into end zone Sunday Durham brought in both targets for 16 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday.

Impact Durham drew another start for Cade Otton (knee) and played on a robust 54 snaps (81 percent) in the close, playoff-clinching win. The second-year pro also recorded his second career touchdown on a six-yard pass early in the third quarter, which narrowed what had been a 16-6 halftime deficit. Durham has done a solid job over the last three games in Otton's stead, but the latter's ability to practice in limited fashion on two occasions during Week 18 prep could be a sign he'll be ready to return for Sunday night's wild-card matchup against the Commanders.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Baker Fires TD to Payne Durham | Saints vs. Bucs Highlights TE Payne Durham catches a QB Baker Mayfield touchdown pass against the New Orleans Saints in Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season.

JANUARY 5 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Cleared while Otton's doubtful Durham (quadriceps) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Saints.

Impact Durham and Devin Culp (ribs) both avoided injury designations and should continue to play larger roles in the regular-season finale since Cade Otton (knee) is listed as doubtful. Over the previous two games Otton missed, Durham caught seven of 10 targets for 65 yards and one touchdown. Durham upgraded to full practice participation Friday to gain clearance for Sunday's win-and-in game after missing practice Wednesday and being limited Thursday.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Limited in practice Thursday Durham (quadricep) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Impact Durham and fellow tight end Cade Otton (knee) have followed the same pattern of practice activity to begin Week 18, with both following up absences Wednesday with limited sessions Thursday. Otton has missed the Buccaneers' past two games, but if he can maintain limited activity or upgrade to full participation Friday, he could have a good chance at making it back for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Saints. If both Otton and Durham are cleared to play, Durham would likely fade back into a secondary role at tight end after playing more than three quarters of the offensive snaps in both of the past two contests while producing a 7-65-1 receiving line on 10 targets.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Bothered by quad injury Durham missed Wednesday's practice with a quadriceps injury.

Impact Durham filled in the past two weeks for Cade Otton, who also missed practice Wednesday and thus appears in danger of missing a third straight game with a knee injury. Devin Culp (ribs) took some of the snaps from Durham in Sunday's blowout of the Panthers, catching three passes for 51 yards but apparently suffering a rib injury along the way. Practice reports Thursday and Friday should provide more clarity on Tampa Bay's TE room for a crucial Week 18 matchup with the Saints.

JANUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Payne Durham, Devin Culp Keep Bucs' Production Steady at Tight End In the absence of starter Cade Otton, young tight ends Payne Durham and Devin Culp stepped up with a combined 88 yards and a touchdown in Su...

DECEMBER 30, 2024 • BUCCANEERS.COM

First career TD in win Durham brought in two of three targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 48-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

Impact The second-year tight end once again filled a lead role with Cade Otton (knee) sidelined and got in on the fun of Baker Mayfield's five-touchdown day. Durham secured a five-yard scoring grab with just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter for his first NFL touchdown, and his yardage total served as a new career high. Durham will reprise his role in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Saints if Otton remains sidelined.

DECEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Baker Throws TD to Payne Durham | Panthers vs. Bucs Highlights TE Payne Durham catches a 5-yard touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season.

DECEMBER 29, 2024 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Again set for expanded role With Cade Otton (knee) ruled out for the second straight game, Durham is once again set for an expanded role Sunday against the Panthers, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Impact With Otton out last Sunday against Dallas, Durham dominated the playing time at tight end for Tampa Bay, logging 93 percent of the offensive snaps. He turned in a useful 5-29-0 receiving line on seven targets and now catches a Carolina defense that has struggled badly against tight ends in fantasy this season.

DECEMBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Bucs' Release Week 17 Depth Chart: Payne Durham Takes on Major Role With Cade Otton sidelined, second-year tight end Payne Durham took on Otton's usual every-down role…On defense, Calijah Kancey played a care...

DECEMBER 24, 2024 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Five catches in expanded role Durham brought in five of seven targets for 29 yards in the Buccaneers' 26-24 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday night.

Impact With Cade Otton (knee) sidelined, Durham worked as the sole pass-catching option at tight end and finished the night tied for second in both receptions and targets. Both numbers also matched Durham's output in those categories over the 13 regular-season games he played as a rookie in 2023 and served as new single-game career highs. Durham's massive role expansion -- he logged 67 snaps (93 percent) overall, the most of any non-QB skill-position player -- will naturally be a one-game outlier if Otton is able to recover in time for a Week 17 home matchup against the Panthers on Sunday.

DECEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

May have bigger role Sunday Durham could have an expanded role Sunday in Dallas with Cade Otton (knee) listed as doubtful for that contest, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Impact More snaps for Durham may not result in an expanded role in the passing game, as he's earned just two targets in 13 games this season. Position mates Ko Kieft and Devin Culp, a rookie seventh-round pick, haven't been targeted at all, though, so Durham at least should be an option for QB Baker Mayfield considering the workload he likely will be taking on. In 26 appearances as a pro to date, Durham has a 7-92-0 line on nine targets, which is good for a 77.8 percent catch rate and 10.2 YPT.

DECEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Blanked again in Week 15 win Durham did not draw a target across 30 snaps in the Buccaneers' 40-17 win over the Chargers on Sunday.

Impact Durham's snap count was his second highest of the season, but he went without a single pass from Baker Mayfield for the third straight game. The second-year tight end remains a complete non-factor on offense despite serving as Cade Otton's direct backup.

DECEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Remains non-factor in win Durham did not draw a target across 25 snaps in the Buccaneers' 28-13 win over the Raiders on Sunday.

Impact Durham flashed with a 26-yard reception on his only target in Week 12 against the Giants, but his only other catch on the season was an eight-yard grab against the Broncos way back in Week 3. The second-year tight end hasn't been able to make any inroads as a pass catcher despite injuries to other members of the Buccaneers' air attack, as Cade Otton is essentially the only offensive threat at tight end for Tampa Bay.

DECEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE