The Bucs will hold wide receiver tryouts at One Buccaneer Place on Wednesday after losing their top two weapons in Monday night’s 41-13 loss to the Ravens. Mike Evans reinjured his hamstring while attempting a touchdown catch in the second quarter and will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the severity of the injury. He is expected to miss several weeks of games, possibly until a Week 11 bye.
But more Chris Godwin suffered fatal injuries. He is the team’s primary receiver and one of the top receivers in the NFL. With 43 seconds left and a 10-point lead without a timeout, Godwin dislocated his ankle and will be out for the rest of the year. This is the most disappointing news possible for a 28-year-old receiver who is in his contract year and having his best season since 2019.
Godwin will go on injured reserve by the end of the season, and Evans could go on short-term IR with a chance to return in four weeks. Tampa Bay could use some help along the way. Rakim Jarrett is on his way back from IR assignment. But he’s even more of an unknown player than rookie receiver Jalen McMillan, who struggled mightily at times. In addition to McMillan and Jarrett, the Bucks also have veteran Sterling Shepard and second-year player Trey Palmer.
Certainly not the ideal group for Baker Mayfield to work with when the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons visit on Sunday.
The Bucs need to add at least two more receivers to the roster, especially since undrafted free agent rookie Cameron Johnson will also be placed on injured reserve before Monday’s game due to an ankle injury. There will be. The Pewter Report reported that one of the players trying out is Byron Pringle, a Tampa native who signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State in 2018.
Former Chiefs WR Byron Pringle – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Pringle won Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs and played in KC through the 2021 season before signing with Chicago in 2022. He was placed on injured reserve at the beginning of that season, but has since flourished on the second team. The rest will be in November. Pringle played in Washington in 2023, re-signed with the Commanders in 2024, and was released on September 6th in final roster cuts.
Pringle, 30, has caught 91 passes for 1,194 yards (13.1 average) and nine touchdowns in his career. His best season was 2021, when he caught a career-high 42 passes for 568 yards (13.5 avg.) and five touchdowns. Pringle is a capable kick returner, averaging 26.9 yards per return and scoring 102 yards and a touchdown in the 2020 season.
Whether it’s Pringle or another receiver who signs with the Bucs after Wednesday’s practice, the new recruit will likely join the practice squad to give him time to learn Liam Cohen’s offense. Ryan Miller, who was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster in Week 6 against New Orleans, will likely be promoted again during that time. Tampa Bay also has options on the practice squad, Marquez Callaway and Tanner Counou.
Will the Bucks trade Cooper Kupp from the Rams?
Rams WR Cooper Kupp – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Rams receiver Cooper Kupp is reportedly on the trade block, but would Tampa Bay be interested in acquiring him? The reported asking price for the 31-year-old Kupp is a second-round pick. And because Cohen’s offense is modeled after the Rams’ offense from his time in the organization, he will come to the Bucks with a strong understanding of Liam Cohen’s offense.
Kupp is ready to return after missing the first two weeks of the season due to a hamstring injury. He has 18 catches for 147 yards and one touchdown this year, including 14 receptions for 110 yards and a TD in Week 1 against Detroit.
Kupp played in the Pro Bowl and was named All-Pro in 2021, leading the NFL with 145 catches, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns, leading Tampa Bay in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs en route to winning the Super Bowl. contributed to breaking the Kupp’s production has slumped since then, missing 18 games over the past three seasons as Puka Nacua emerged as the Rams’ top target.
Pewter Report has learned that the Bucs are not ready to pull the trigger on a trade for a wide receiver that includes Kupp at this time. No receiver will come on Wednesday and learn the offense well enough for the team to beat the Falcons on Sunday.
If Tampa Bay beats Atlanta to move to 2-1 in the NFC South, the team may be more inclined to make a trade or two to improve its chances of winning a fourth straight division title. However, if the Bucks lose and are swept by the Falcons, catching Atlanta may be too difficult a feat and the front office may just wait and see how the season unfolds. General manager Jason Richt places great value on the team’s draft picks and won’t let them go easily or often.
