The Buccaneers’ 324-yard rushing day against the Atlanta Falcons wasn’t just about Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell breaking tackles and finding space. Tampa Bay’s ground game got a major lift from the players doing the dirty work at the edges and in the middle, and that’s where the story really gets interesting.
The tight ends were central to the plan. The Buccaneers leaned on 12 and 13 personnel, using extra bodies to help set a physical tone at the line of scrimmage.
Cade Otton was on the field for 95% of the offensive snaps, while Payne Durham logged 70%. That wasn’t just about formation variety.
Tampa Bay wanted blockers, and the tight ends delivered them.
The wideouts got in on it, too. Chris Godwin, Ted Hurst, Tez Johnson, and David Sills were asked to do more than run routes.
With the weather cutting into the passing game, their blocking became a real part of the offense. Every seal, every shove, every extra second helped open another lane for Irving and Gainwell.
Among all those contributors, rookie Bauer Sharp stood out. Tampa Bay used him as an in-line tight end and even shifted him into the backfield as a lead blocker.
His best moment may have come on Gainwell’s 28-yard run, when Sharp pulled across the formation and laid a crushing block that sent an Atlanta defender to the turf. It was the kind of play that never shows up in a stat line, but it absolutely shows up on the field.
That kind of usage helps explain why the Buccaneers traded up 10 spots in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, sending their seventh-round pick to Las Vegas to take Sharp at No. 185.
He has only one reception this season, but his role is growing in ways that matter. Todd Bowles has praised Sharp’s athleticism, his willingness to block, and how quickly he’s learning the run scheme.
Irving and Gainwell finished the job, but the blocking around them made the whole thing possible. Sharp is becoming a key piece of that setup, and his work against Atlanta showed he can influence a game long after the ball is snapped.
In Other News...
Calijah Kancey Just Reminded Bucs Fans What This Defense Needs
Calijah Kancey gave the Buccaneers another reminder of why his presence matters in the middle of the defense, even when the box score does not tell the whole story. Against Atlanta, he was part of a front that helped Tampa Bay stay organized at the point of attack, with Kancey chipping in three solo tackles and one assist while doing the dirty work that often gets overlooked on a stat sheet.
What stood out was the way he helped the Bucs hold their shape against the run, taking on blockers and helping close off lanes before they could develop. Tampa Bay has plenty of reasons to value disruptive plays from its front, but Kanceys value goes beyond splash moments, and games like this are a good example of why the defense looks different when he is involved. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Rookie Ted Hurst Is Running Out Of Time To Earn Trust
Ted Hurst arrived in Tampa Bay with the kind of rookie buzz that usually comes from a strong college rsum and a promising camp, but the regular season has been a tougher proving ground. Through eight games, the Buccaneers wide receiver has flashed just enough to keep the conversation going, yet his production has been modest as he tries to carve out a bigger role in an offense that has leaned heavily on the run and sputtered at times through the air.
For a player whose calling card was supposed to be reliability on the boundary and the ability to finish contested throws, the margin for error is getting thinner. The Bucs still need answers in the passing game, and Hurst still has time to make himself part of them, but he is also running out of opportunities to show that his college promise can translate when the games count the most. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Face A Vita Vea Decision That Could Shift Fast
The Buccaneers are in a familiar spot for this time of year, still hanging around the playoff race and not acting like a team ready to strip things down at the trade deadline. Even so, defensive tackle Vita Vea has emerged as a name worth watching, with ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reporting that New York is keeping tabs on him while Tampa Bay weighs its own path forward.
Veas recent extension makes any move feel unlikely, and the Buccaneers are not planning to deal him right now. But his recent dip in performance has added a layer of intrigue to a decision that could move quickly if the next stretch of games changes the teams outlook, leaving Tampa Bay to balance present contention against the kind of long-term roster call that can reshape a defense. [Read more 🡒]