The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into a pivotal Week 15 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons with a key piece of their offense in doubt. Tight end Cade Otton is officially listed as doubtful for the game, and while that tag doesn't guarantee he's out, history tells us it rarely swings the other way.
Otton missed practice on both Monday and Tuesday before getting in a limited session on Friday. That limited work is a small step in the right direction, but it’s not usually enough to flip the script. Players tagged as doubtful almost never suit up, and there’s no indication Tampa Bay is preparing for a surprise activation.
One telling sign? The Buccaneers didn’t elevate a tight end from the practice squad ahead of this game.
That leaves the door open-just barely-for Otton to be active. But even if he dresses, his role could be extremely limited.
We’ll know for sure 90 minutes before kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET, when teams release their official inactives.
But if Otton is indeed ruled out, rookie Payne Durham steps into the starting role, with Devin Culp backing him up. That duo would be the only tight ends active for Tampa Bay.
From a production standpoint, Otton hasn’t exactly been lighting it up lately. He’s currently ranked as the TE23 on the season and has fallen to TE30 since Week 11. And with the Bucs’ wide receiver corps finally healthy, targets are going to be even harder to come by for tight ends.
So whether you're a fantasy manager weighing lineup decisions or just watching how the Bucs adjust their offensive game plan, the takeaway is clear: Otton’s status is trending in the wrong direction, and even if he suits up, expectations should be tempered.