Josiah Trotter is back in the mix for Tampa Bay, and the Buccaneers could use the lift.
The rookie linebacker was a full participant in practice late in the week and is set to play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers after sitting out Week 3. For a Tampa team that has been hammered by injuries and is still searching for its first win at 0-3, that matters.
The Bucs are already set to be without Baker Mayfield, Rueben Bain Jr., and Jalen McMillan for Sunday’s game, leaving the roster thin in key spots. With starters sidelined, Tampa will need contributions across the board just to keep pace.
Trotter has been one of the early bright spots anyway. His 81.9 grade ranks fourth in the NFL, and his debut was the kind of entrance that turns heads fast.
He became the first player in league history to post 10 or more tackles, a sack, and a pick-six in his first game. He followed that up in Week 2 with another huge performance against the Cleveland Browns, leading all players with 13 tackles and standing as the only Tampa defender to reach double digits.
Even without him against the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa’s defense held its own. But getting Trotter back gives the unit a real boost, especially with Green Bay bringing an offense that has struggled badly and sits last in the league in rushing.
During training camp, inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell made it clear how much he believed in the rookie.
"When you understand the talent that he has, the ceiling is high," Caldwell said. "There is no ceiling for him right now."
That kind of praise carries weight, especially coming from a coach who spent four seasons with franchise legend Lavonte David.
Veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone has also underperformed so far after arriving to provide veteran stability in the room. Meanwhile, Trotter’s production has pushed him into the conversation for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Bain entered the season as one of the favorites for that award, but Trotter has grabbed the spotlight instead.
If he piles up another big tackle total in Week 4 and helps Tampa finally get in the win column, that award chatter is only going to get louder.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Suddenly Face A Bigger Baker Mayfield Problem Than Expected
Baker Mayfields thumb injury has turned into a much bigger issue for the Buccaneers than a short-term scare. The veteran quarterback suffered a dislocated thumb and is expected to miss multiple games, with his return hinging on how quickly he regains grip strength. For Tampa Bay, the timing is especially tricky because Mayfield had been in the middle of another season as the teams starter after appearing in three games so far.
The immediate answer is rookie Jalon Daniels, who has been named the backup and will start while Mayfield is out. It puts an abrupt spotlight on Tampa Bays quarterback depth and raises the stakes around how the offense functions without the player the Buccaneers signed to a multi-year deal. The bigger question now is not just who starts next, but how long the team has to live without Mayfield and what kind of shape he is in when he finally returns. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fan Goes Viral For A Gameday Moment Bucs Fans Pounced On
A gameday photo from the Packers-Buccaneers matchup quickly took on a life of its own, with a Green Bay fan in a cheese-themed outfit drawing plenty of attention on social media. Buccaneers fans, already tuned into a rough start for their own team, jumped on the image and helped turn a random moment from the stands into one of the evenings louder online talking points.
It fit the mood around Tampa Bay, where the Bucs came in at 0-3 and were turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback because of Baker Mayfields injury. Green Bay arrived at 1-2, but the game was about more than the records for Tampa Bay supporters, who had little patience to spare and plenty of time to notice, and react to, anything that stood out. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Became The Center Of Tampa Bay's Biggest Debate
The Buccaneers slow start has pushed Todd Bowles into the middle of a conversation nobody in Tampa Bay wanted to have this early. At 0-4, with a 3-12 record stretching back to last season, the losses are piling up fast enough to turn every miscue into a referendum on direction, execution and leadership. Bowles stepped to the podium after the latest setback and owned the mess, taking responsibility while insisting he still believes he can guide the team out of it.
Bowles has handled the public side of the slump the way a veteran coach usually does, but the frustration around the team is only growing because so many of the defeats have stayed within reach. Close games tend to sharpen the focus on the head coach, and if the Buccaneers keep coming up short in those spots, the accountability debate will only get louder. For now, Bowles is asking for patience, even as the results make that a harder sell by the week. [Read more 🡒]