Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Page 34 - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Dealing with high-ankle sprain Diaby sustained a high-ankle sprain during practice Thursday and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Impact It looked like Diaby had sustained a serious injury Thursday after he was unable to put any weight on his leg and was carted off the field. Luckily, X-rays came back negative, though it appears that the 2023 third-round pick is in jeopardy of missing the regular-season opener against the Commanders on Sept. 9. Diaby is coming off a strong rookie campaign in which he registered 38 tackles (25 solo), including 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries across 17 regular-season games. With Randy Gregory yet to report to training camp, Chris Braswell, Anthony Nelson and Markees Watts will have increased reps in practice and preseason games, and they could be competing for the second starting outside linebacker job opposite Joe Tryon-Shoyinka if Diaby were to be sidelined for the start of the regular season.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Bucs complete offseason goal to lock up their core with Tristan Wirfs deal

The Bucs added Tristan Wirfs to their list of core players to receive new deals that includes QB Baker Mayfield and WR Mike Evans.

AUGUST 1

Bucs complete offseason goal to lock up their core with Tristan Wirfs deal

Misses time with injury Whitehead is nursing a quadriceps injury Thursday, but should be back to practice in a couple of days, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact The injury doesn't sound serious for Whitehead, who returned to Tampa Bay this offseason after a two-year stop with the Jets. The 27-year-old is expected to start next to Antoine Winfield at safety this season.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Injured during practice Diaby suffered an ankle injury during practice Thursday and was carted off the field, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Impact Diaby was unable to put weight on his leg, according to Auman, but fortunately, his X-rays came back normal, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The second-year-pro will still have to undergo an MRI later Thursday, so he's not fully out of the woods yet. If the injury is of any significance it'll be a fairly tough blow to the Bucs defense, with Diaby expected to have a starting role in the team's linebacker unit coming off a strong rookie campaign.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Tampa Bay's Wirfs agrees to $140.63 million extension, becoming highest-paid OL in NFL history

Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history after agreeing Thursday to a five-year, $140.63 million contract extension

AUGUST 1 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Inks lavish long-term deal Wirfs and the Buccaneers agreed Thursday on a five-year, $140.63 million contract extension, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Wirfs' extension includes $88.24 million guaranteed, the most for an offensive tackle in NFL history. The 25-year-old has certainly proven to be one of the league's top left tackles over his first four NFL seasons, earning three Pro Bowl nods as well as first- and second-team All-Pro selections in 2021 and 2022. Wirfs had been set to play the 2024 season under the $18.24 million fifth-year option on his rookie deal, but the long-term deal now keeps him on Tampa Bay's books through the 2029 campaign.

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Tristan Wirfs, Bucs agree to deal making him highest-paid OL in NFL history

Tristan Wirfs' reported five-year, $140.63 million extension from Tampa Bay makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.

AUGUST 1

Tristan Wirfs, Bucs agree to deal making him highest-paid OL in NFL history

Bucs' Tristan Wirfs signs 5-year, $140 million extension | The Carton Show

AUGUST 1 • FOX SPORTS

2024 NFL Power Rankings: Where every team stands entering the preseason

With the 2024 preseason kicking off, David Helman sorts out the NFL's hierarchy coming out of the offseason.

AUGUST 1

2024 NFL Power Rankings: Where every team stands entering the preseason

Continues thriving in second week McMillan has been thriving throughout training camp and has drawn attention for his work ethic and attention to detail, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Impact The rookie third-round pick has drawn praise from head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield, with the former singling out McMillan's intelligence and hunger for improvement while adding that "the receiving group loves him." The Washington product, who missed four games for the Huskies in 2023 due to a knee injury but was a 1,000-yard receiver the season prior, is capable of stretching the field and gaining separation but has also proven adept on choice and option routes. For his part, Mayfield has stated he's already learning that McMillan is also proficient in contested-catch situations, noting "he's going to make plays when the ball is in the air, and that's one thing I'm continuing to learn -- really, just give him a chance."

AUGUST 1 • ROTOWIRE

Participating in practice Greene (calf) was seen participating in Sunday's practice session, Christopher O'Meara of the Citizen Tribune reports.

Impact Greene sat out for the Bucs' final nine games of the 2023 season -- including two playoff contests -- due to a calf injury he sustained during practice leading up to Week 12 against the Colts. It appears he's fully recovered from the injury, and he is battling for a depth spot at defensive end behind starters Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall. Across his 10 outings last season, Greene recorded six tackles (two solo) while playing 162 snaps on defense and 38 snaps on special teams.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Tears ACL Opeta tore his ACL during Tuesday's camp session, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Opeta came to Tampa Bay earlier in the offseason with hopes of winning the Buccaneers' starting left guard spot, but he won't get the opportunity after tearing his ACL on Tuesday. With Opeta expected to miss the entirety of the Buccaneers' 2024 campaign, Ben Bredeson will likely get the starting nod.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

Sustains injury Tuesday Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said that Opeta sustained a knee injury during practice Tuesday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Impact Bowles did not disclose the severity of Opeta's injury, so it's unclear how long he'll be sidelined moving forward. When healthy, the 28-year-old is expected to compete for a starting role, or at least a primary reserve spot, on Tampa Bay's offensive line.

JULY 31 • ROTOWIRE

No padded drills Monday Wirfs, who is seeking a contract extension, did not participate in padded 11-on-11 drills during Monday's training camp practice so as not to risk injury, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com r...

Impact The star tackle and head coach Todd Bowles had discussed the matter before the start of practice and mutually agreed it was in Wirfs' best interest to not participate in the session with a deal reportedly close. In Bowles' view, Wirfs' presence in individual drills demonstrates good faith and keeps him mentally involved, and the 2020 first-round pick also fully participated in each of Tampa Bay's first four (non-padded) practices of camp prior to Monday.

JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Successful reunion with Whitehead Winfield and fellow safety Jordan Whitehead have had no trouble reigniting the chemistry they'd developed earlier in their careers during the early days of training camp, Scott Smi...

Impact Winfield, who signed a four-year, $84.1 million extension this offseason, is already a bona fide star, but it would be fair to say Whitehead played a significant role in the star safety's NFL foundation when they played together during Winfield's first two seasons. Whitehead is now back in Tampa Bay after two impressive seasons with the Jets, and Winfield is already thriving with his old teammate back by his side. "They're both playing off each other, talking to each other, figuring out what they want to do disguise-wise," safeties coach Nick Rapone said. "Yeah, it's exactly what we thought it would be."

JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Back in groove with Winfield Whitehead, who signed with the Buccaneers this offseason after spending the last two seasons with the Jets, is already working seamlessly with fellow safety Antoine Winfield in tra...

Impact Whitehead spent the first four seasons of his career with the Buccaneers before departing for his two-year sojourn in the Big Apple. The veteran safety is coming off a 2023 campaign where he picked off a career-high four passes, and head coach Todd Bowles notes Whitehead returned with improved footwork, deep coverage ability and football IQ. Whitehead is also now reunited with Winfield, who he played alongside during the latter's first two seasons, and the duo has had no trouble reestablishing chemistry. "They're both playing off each other, talking to each other, figuring out what they want to do disguise-wise," safeties coach Nick Rapone said. "Yeah, it's exactly what we thought it would be."

JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Three Bucs who could be the difference between a good and great defense

Sure, the Bucs brought back Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans. But they lost key defenders, so they’re counting on these three guys to step up.

JULY 29

Three Bucs who could be the difference between a good and great defense

Tailor-made for new run scheme Irving, who the Buccaneers selected in the fourth round out of Oregon in the 2024 NFL Draft, has looked like an ideal fit for the versatile run scheme within new offensive coordina...

Impact The rookie surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground in each of his last two seasons with the Ducks, making him quite the potential value pick in the fourth round. Irving is expected to fill a solid complementary role alongside Rachaad White, who he boasts a very similar skill set to, albeit at a slighter frame of 5-foot-10, 195 pounds. Irving is also very familiar with many of the run concepts in Coen's scheme from his college days, and Dix notes the rookie has already showcased his pass-catching acumen on screen passes over the first few practices while flashing strong suddenness, change-of-direction ability and above-average contact balance.

JULY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to practice Merriweather (ankle) is practicing Sunday, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact An ankle injury kept Merriweather off the field during OTAs and the beginning of training camp, but he now appears to be fully recovered from the issue. The second-year safety is expected to take on a rotational role in the Bucs' secondary while also working on special teams during the 2024 campaign.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

More diverse run scheme awaits White stands to be the beneficiary of the revamped running scheme in new offensive coordinator Liam Coen's offense, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Impact White already had a fine season in 2023 -- his first as the No. 1 back -- exceeding 1,500 yards from scrimmage and recording nine total touchdowns across 17 regular-season games. He added another 166 total yards and a receiving score in two postseason contests, but this coming season, he'll be deployed in a system that will include a healthy mix of mid-zone, wide-zone, tight-zone, duo and gap runs. The mid-zone concept is one White particularly has familiarity with, having operated within it successfully during his college days at Arizona State. "Mid-zone, outside zone - all that - it creates a bigger palette, and it forces the defense to guard not just a certain perimeter, but it makes them guard the whole field because the defense doesn't know what we are going to do," White said.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Reignites connection with Mayfield Evans' chemistry with Baker Mayfield has been evident early in Buccaneers training camp, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Evans displayed plenty of rapport with Mayfield right out of the gate in their first year playing together in 2023, posting a 17-297 line while also recording a touchdown apiece in the Buccaneers' first three regular-season games. The veteran wideout, who re-signed with Tampa Bay this offseason, wasted no time flashing the same chemistry with Mayfield early in training camp with several impressive catches over the first trio of practices, and he's in line to once again serve as no less than a co-No. 1 receiver alongside Chris Godwin in 2024.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Primed for big second season Kancey, who recorded four sacks across 14 regular-season games as a rookie in 2023, could be primed for a big step forward in his second campaign, Scott Smith of the team's officia...

Impact Kancey's NFL career got off to a slow start a year ago due to a training camp calf injury that also ended up costing him three regular-season games. The Pittsburgh product went on to play under 50 snaps in all but two of his 14 contests, but he was a consistent rotational contributor that led all rookies with 12 tackles for loss before adding six stops (four solo), including 1.5 sacks, and a pass defensed in two postseason contests. Kancey now stands to benefit from not only the valuable experience he garnered as a rookie, but from the presence of a more svelte Vita Vea next to him on the defensive line.

JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE

Standing out early in camp Godwin has impressed over the first few practices of training camp and has caught the eye of fellow star wideout Mike Evans, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports. "He's...

Impact Godwin has battled injuries and underutilization in the red zone over the last few seasons, but he's still turned three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. However, the 2017 third-round pick has just 10 touchdowns on 285 receptions in that span, the fewest scoring grabs of any player with at least 200 catches during that period. Evans himself has called for the Buccaneers to give Godwin more red-zone and downfield opportunities, and with new offensive coordinator Liam Coen now at the helm, there may be a change in how the veteran wideout is deployed.

JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Cross-training at multiple spots Thomas is seeing reps at nickelback, strong safety and free safety early in training camp, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Impact Thomas signed with the Buccaneers this offseason after spending the last three seasons with the Texans, and he arrives with extensive experience playing the slot and 22 career starts overall. Thomas has already recorded two interceptions in the first three days of camp, and head coach Todd Bowles is taking advantage of the seven-year veteran's versatility by having him cross-train at three positions in order to maximize his value to the secondary.

JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE

Slated to sign with Bucs Cannella will be signing with Tampa Bay, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cannella has yet to play an NFL snap since ending his college career in 2019, but he's had some success in the XFL/UFL, most notably leading the UFL with six receiving touchdowns while racking up 496 receiving yards (fifth-most in the league) on 53 receptions (third-most) with Arlington this spring. Cannella will look to earn a roster spot among a Tampa Bay TE corps that is headed by Cade Otton, who played on over 90 percent of the team's offensive snaps last season.

JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE

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Bucs complete offseason goal to lock up their core with Tristan Wirfs deal

Tampa Bay's Wirfs agrees to $140.63 million extension, becoming highest-paid OL in NFL history

Tristan Wirfs, Bucs agree to deal making him highest-paid OL in NFL history

Bucs' Tristan Wirfs signs 5-year, $140 million extension | The Carton Show

2024 NFL Power Rankings: Where every team stands entering the preseason

Three Bucs who could be the difference between a good and great defense