The Bucs will probably be with out one other key starter for Sunday evening’s primetime matchup towards the Cowboys, because the group introduced Saturday afternoon that it has dominated tight finish Cade Otton out because of a knee damage.
The Buccaneers have elevated P Jack Browning from the apply squad for Sunday’s recreation in Dallas. As well as, TE Cade Otton (knee) has been downgraded to out on the damage report and didn’t make the journey to Dallas.
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) December 21, 2024
Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photograph by: USA At present
It’s a troublesome blow for the Tampa Bay offense, particularly contemplating Otton’s involvement within the offense since midseason. Even together with his manufacturing dipping again down after Mike Evans’ return after the bye, the third-year tight finish has 59 catches for 600 yards (10.2 avg.) and 4 touchdowns this yr — all profession highs.
Otton’s enchancment as a blocker has been an enormous a part of the resurgence of the Bucs’ run recreation this season, as Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo outlined earlier Saturday. Right here’s a few of what Queipo needed to say about Otton’s contributions in Tampa Bay’s speeding assault:
“In brief, Otton’s enchancment this yr has been in nearly each aspect of the sport, each apparent and non-obvious,” Queipo wrote. “And if he’s absent on Sunday it may have an actual impression on how the Bucs run the ball.”
So, what occurs with Tampa Bay’s run recreation, which is about to face a Dallas protection that ranks among the many league’s worst towards the run regardless of making some enchancment in current weeks? Queipo went on to elucidate what offensive coordinator Liam Coen might do with tight finish Payne Durham, who will step into Otton’s beginning spot.
Bucs TEs Payne Durham and Cade Otton – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“That is all to say there’s a good probability that if Cade Otton can’t go on Sunday evening in Dallas the Bucs might make some tweaks to how they run the soccer. That’s to not say they are going to be much less profitable, thoughts you,” Queipo wrote. “However in pondering by way of the professionals and cons of Payne Durham’s skillset as a blocker, if Coen had been to stay true to his “gamers over performs” mantra then he might follow the group’s profitable hole system, however regulate what kind of hole performs they run.
“To maximise Durham’s skillset the Bucs will probably movement him in break up circulation or as a wrapper much less, and ask him to base block, seal the robust facet edge or double group extra. That probably means extra duo blocks. It additionally means the group can nonetheless run counter trey that labored so properly towards the Chargers final week.”
You possibly can learn Josh Queipo’s full deep dive right here, with evaluation on Otton’s enhancements as a blocker, in addition to Durham’s strengths and what Tampa Bay might look to do with its floor recreation on Sunday evening.
Bucs Elevate Punter For A Third Time
Bucs P Jack Browning – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Along with downgrading Cade Otton for Sunday’s recreation, the Bucs additionally introduced that they’ve elevated punter Jack Browning from the apply squad for a 3rd week in a row.
Browning wasn’t all that busy in final Sunday’s win over the Chargers, because the Bucs didn’t punt as soon as. He does deal with the kickoff duties for Tampa Bay, although, so it’s not as if he had the entire afternoon and night off in Los Angeles.
In his Buccaneer debut the earlier week, Browning punted thrice for a gross common of 42.7 yards.
Browning is the Bucs’ third punter this season, following Jake Camarda and Trenton Gill. With this being his third elevation from the apply squad, he has reached the restrict. If Tampa Bay desires to maintain him round for Week 17 and past, it should signal him to the energetic roster.
Whether or not Sunday evening will probably be Browning’s final audition to make his case to stay round or the group has already seen sufficient stays to be seen.
