The Bucks received some good news regarding the team’s injury situation Sunday morning.
Saturday’s starting tight end Cade Otton is out, joining safety Antwon Winfield Jr. as another player listed as “out” for the Sunday Night Football game in Dallas. , the Pewter Report reported that safety Mike Edwards will play.
Edwards was placed on waivers and returned to the team in November to strengthen the team’s strength, but he was forced to start at strong safety because Jordan Whitehead suffered a chest injury in the team’s 30-7 win over the Giants against New York. I was forced to play the role of
Edwards was listed as questionable on Friday and practiced at full capacity for the first time since injuring his hamstring in Week 13 against Carolina. Edwards has missed the last two games against the Bucks and had limited practice participation last Wednesday and Thursday. .
Bucs KB Britt and Chiefs TE Travis Kelce – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Edwards is expected to start at strong safety, with Christian Isian starting at free safety in Winfield’s place. Kayvon Meriweather will be the primary backup at safety, with backup Tavierre Thomas, a special teams ace, also available.
The only player who will dictate playing time will be starting inside linebacker KJ Britt, who has missed the last few games with a knee injury. Britt returned to practice Thursday, but was limited in practice that day and again Friday.
He plans to test his knee in pregame warm-ups to see if he can play. Otherwise, the Bucks will likely start reserve JJ Russell next to Lavonte David in Britt’s place, with Vi Jones as the primary backup.
What will happen to Cade Otton in the Bucks lineup?
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.
– Cade Otton News written by Bailey Adams
