The Bucs announced Saturday afternoon that tight end Cade Otton will be out with a knee injury, leaving them without another key starter for Sunday night’s primetime game against the Cowboys.
The Buccaneers have elevated P. Jack Browning from their practice squad for Sunday’s game in Dallas. In addition, TE Cade Otton (knee) was placed on the injury report and did not participate in the trip to Dallas.
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) December 21, 2024
Bucks TE Cade Otton – Photo courtesy of USA Today
This is a tough blow to Tampa Bay’s offense, especially considering Otto has been involved in the offense since midseason. The third-year tight end has 59 catches for 600 yards (10.2 avg.) and four touchdowns this year, despite a dip in production after Mike Evans returned from a walkout. There is. All career highs.
Otton’s growth as a blocker has been a big part of the Bucs’ resurgence in the run game this season. As Pewter Report’s Josh Quaipo outlined earlier Saturday:. Here’s some of what Quapo had to say about Otton’s contribution to Tampa Bay’s onslaught.
“In short, Otton’s progress this year has been evident in almost every aspect of his game, both obvious and not-so-obvious,” Quaipo wrote. “And if he is absent on Sunday, it could have a big impact on the game.” how The Bucks run the ball. ”
So what will happen to Tampa Bay’s run game against a Dallas defense that has shown some improvement in recent weeks but ranks among the worst in the league against the run? Quapo went on to explain how offensive coordinator Liam Cohen will handle tight end Payne Durham taking Otto’s starting role.
Bucks TEs Payne Durham and Cade Otton – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
“This indicates that if Cade Otton is unavailable for Sunday night’s game against Dallas, there’s a good chance the Bucks will make some adjustments to how they run the football, just to be clear. , that does not make them any less successful,” Quaipo wrote. “But considering the strengths and weaknesses of Payne-Durham’s skill set as a blocker, if Cohen remains true to his ‘player over play’ mantra, he will be a key player in the team’s successful gap system.” They may stick to the run, but may adjust what type of gap plays they make.
“To get the most out of Durham’s skill set, the Bucks will likely not use him as a split flow or wrapper and will require more base blocks, strong side edges, or double teams. That means more duo blocks. It also means the team can still run the counter tree that worked so well against the Chargers last week.”
You can read complete details on Josh Queipo hereincludes analysis of Otton’s improvements as a blocker, Durham’s strengths, and what Tampa Bay will do with its ground game Sunday night.
Bucks promote punter for third time
Bucks P Jack Browning – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
In addition to demoting Cade Otton for Sunday’s game, the Bucks also announced that they have elevated punter Jack Browning from the practice squad for the third consecutive week.
Browning wasn’t too busy in last Sunday’s win over the Chargers, as the Bucs didn’t punt once. However, he wasn’t vacationing in Los Angeles all afternoon and evening, as he was handling kickoff duties for Tampa Bay.
In his Buccaneer debut last week, Browning punted three times for a total of 42.7 yards.
Browning is the Bucs’ third punter this season, joining Jake Camarda and Trenton Gill. This was his third promotion from the practice squad, and he had reached his limit. If Tampa Bay wants to keep him after Week 17, they’ll need to add him to the active roster.
It remains to be seen whether Sunday night will be Browning’s final audition to make his case, or if the team has already seen enough leftovers.
