According to Greg Auman of Fox Sports, the Buccaneers have signed long snapper Zach Triner, adding him to the 53-man roster. The move comes after starting long snapper Evan Deckers suffered a hamstring injury in Tampa Bay’s 26-7 loss to the Broncos on Sunday, forcing the Buccaneers to sign Triner. Triner is no stranger to the Buccaneers.
With long snapper Evan Deckers out with a hamstring injury, the Buccaneers today signed Zach Triner to the 53-man roster. Triner was Tampa Bay’s snapper from 2019-2023, a position Deckers took this season.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 24, 2024
Buccaneers LS Zach Triner – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
During a press conference on Monday, head coach Todd Bowles-Trinner said the former long snapper for the Buccaneers from 2019-2023 won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay in the 2020 season and has played in 75 career games, recording 10 tackles.
During the 2024 training camp in Tampa, Deckers and Triner competed for the starting spot, with Deckers, 25 and eight years younger than Triner, 33, winning out in part because Deckers’ contract was cheaper. But Triner may get another chance this week.
Buccaneers special teams kicking review
of Kick Game This year’s team, with its long snapper at the helm, is impressive in some ways and iffy in others. Kicker Chase McLaughlin has been great again so far, hitting 5-of-5 field goal attempts, including two from 50+ yards and one long shot of 56 yards. He’s also a natural on extra points, hitting all seven of them.
Punter Jake Camarda was a different story. After struggling in the preseason, he continued to struggle in the regular season, especially in the first two games. In the season opener, Camarda’s only punt of the afternoon was a mediocre 38 yards, but it didn’t matter as the Buccaneers were lucky to win a one-sided game.
Buccaneers K Chase McLaughlin and P Jake Carmada – Photo: Cliff Welch P/R
In Week 2, despite having plenty of space, his first two punts didn’t get within the 20 and his second went just 42 yards. His third punt, which he made it all the way to the 18-yard line, was his best. But his final punt of the game almost ended up being costly at the end.
With 42 seconds left and the Buccaneers leading the Lions 20-16, Camarda punted from right in front of the Tampa Bay end zone. His kick went just 43 yards, barely crossing the middle of the field to the Lions’ 47. The worst part was that it was a low, line-drive-like kick, giving the Buccaneers’ gunners little time to move down the field. This gave Detroit a 9-yard return to start at the Buccaneers’ 44. Luckily the Tampa Bay defense was able to stop it, and the Buccaneers won.
Camarda looked much better in Week 3. He went 67 yards on one attempt, then had another deflected off and punted for 33 yards. But his next two attempts were inside the 10-yard line, landing at the 9 and 6 yards. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come. Punting Game Get back on track.
