The Buccaneers’ second-round pick is already drawing a clear line in the sand. Josiah Trotter says there’s “no doubt” he can grow into a three-down linebacker, and he didn’t exactly leave much room for interpretation when he explained why.
“Oh, yes sir, no doubt. Coming in, I know there’s outside noise, people saying I could or could not, but I knew what I could do.
I knew what God put inside of me. So, I just wanted to come out here and show that I could not only just cover, I could blitz, pass rush and be everything that the Bucs need me to be for this organization, and then try to win football games, ultimately.
So, if I need to be on the field…If there were five downs, I wish I could be on the field for five downs. But yeah, ultimately, I’m just trying to do what I can to show the organization what I can do to be able to stay on the field,” Trotter said, via the team’s official site.
He also believes the rookie group around him has taken real steps forward during camp. Trotter pointed to the way the class has grown together away from the field and then carried that into practice, saying the rookies have been learning, improving and helping the team in their own way.
“Yeah, I think we did a great job kind of just developing, of course, not only just our relationship off the field, but just on the field, just getting better, learning. When you come in as a rookie, you know, but you don’t know everything.
You’ve got a lot of room to grow, a lot of things to continue to work on. So, I think from when we first got here to now, I just think we’ve all grown, from offensive rookies to defensive rookies, where I feel like we’ve been able to help this team and organization in a certain way.”
In Carolina, Darren Waller is already making an impression before the season even gets rolling. The veteran tight end, who joined the Panthers earlier this month and is now in the 12th year of his career, has reportedly shown up in excellent condition during training camp.
“He looks like he’s in phenomenal shape,” Dave Canales said, via Joseph Person of The Athletic. “He was leaking (sweat) out here.
This is a different kind of 117 (heat) index than Vegas is, where he lives. He mentioned that.
He’s soaking wet. But it was a good opportunity to see where he’s at.”
Canales said Waller gives Carolina a lot of flexibility because he can be deployed in more than one way. The Panthers coach described him as someone who can function as both a tight end and a receiver, while also stressing the physical traits that make him such a different kind of weapon.
“You can play him like a tight end, you can play him like a receiver. He’s huge.
Just standing with him out there, he’s all of 6-6 and a half. He’s lean.
He can run. All those things,” Canales said.
“It’s a unique element that he brings to whatever offense he’s been a part of. The goal is just throw him into that room, challenge that room and see which guys want to elevate and create that role for Bryce (Young).”
Waller said he’s still getting up to speed in the offense, but he sounds confident that the learning curve will keep shrinking. For now, he admitted the play sheet still looks foreign.
“The script sheet looks like Mandarin Chinese to me right now,” Waller said. “But soon it’ll be something that I understand a lot more.”
Elsewhere in the NFC South, the Falcons’ quarterback situation remains a talking point. Both Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and ESPN Radio columnist Mark Zinno raised the possibility that Tua Tagovailoa could be cut if he doesn’t win the starting job. Atlanta is only on the hook for the minimum salary, and the team also has veteran Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand on the roster.
Kevin Stefanski said he’ll name a starter “whenever they tell me I have to… I’m honestly not trying to be coy. We will focus on what information is available to us.
Every day you’re just trying to make decisions on who is available to you.” (Josh Kendall)
Michael Penix Jr. said he feels himself getting better each day and believes he’ll be ready for Week 1. “I felt good.
I felt confident… Not playing this week, with only three practices under my belt.” (Tori McElhaney)
Penix also said this latest ACL procedure was different from the one he had before, with the goal of strengthening it further. He added that the change is part of why his return has taken longer than it did after his previous knee injuries. (McElhaney)
In Other News...
Falcons Face A Tempting Trade Decision They May Need To Resist
The Bears have put defensive tackle Gervon Dexter into the trade conversation, and that alone is enough to catch the Falcons attention. Jordan Schultz reported Chicago has had multiple discussions about moving the 24-year-old, who started all 17 games last season and flashed real pass-rushing ability while also showing why some teams remain hesitant about his run defense.
For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious enough to understand, especially with general manager Ian Cunninghams ties to Dexter. But the Falcons already have to weigh their interior depth and the long-term money attached to the position, which is why this feels like the kind of move that can look smart on paper and still be the wrong fit in practice. [Read more 🡒]
Cash Jones Just Made Falcons Final Cuts A Lot Tougher
Cash Jones kept adding reasons for the Falcons to notice him in Week 2 of the preseason, showing the kind of all-around utility that can matter when roster decisions get tight. The undrafted running back not only led Atlanta in catches, but also chipped in as a runner, found the end zone and handled a kick return, a workload that put his name squarely into the conversation as the team starts sorting out the bottom of the roster.
Atlanta is projected to carry three running backs and five wide receivers, which leaves little margin for players fighting to stand out in multiple roles. Jones mix of receiving ability, backfield production and special teams value gives him a real case as the Falcons continue trimming toward the final 53, especially with a few other contenders vying for the same few spots. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons QB Buzz Just Hit A Reality Check At Camp
Jack Strand has been one of the more interesting names in Falcons camp, carving out a role as an undrafted rookie while the quarterback picture has been clouded by absences and uneven play. With Michael Penix Jr. sidelined for stretches and Tua Tagovailoa struggling, Strand has picked up valuable reps and put himself in the conversation as a developmental arm worth watching.
Kevin Stefanski has already made it clear, though, that Strand is not part of the current starting quarterback plan, even if his practice workload will continue. Atlanta still appears to be leaning toward Penix for the Week 1 job, which leaves Strand in a different kind of spotlight: not as the immediate answer, but as a young quarterback trying to turn a strong camp into a longer look. [Read more 🡒]