The Buccaneers walked out of Cincinnati with a 33-27 loss, and Baker Mayfield’s three turnovers were the headline. But Tampa Bay’s passing game had more than one problem in Week 1, and tight end Cade Otton did little to help.
Mayfield’s first game as one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL was rough from start to finish. He turned it over three times and struggled to generate the kind of big plays Tampa Bay usually leans on.
The offensive line didn’t hold up well either, even against a Bengals defense that was missing Tampa native Trey Hendrickson off the edge. And while Emeka Egbuka looked solid and showed no rust after a preseason toe injury, he was the only Buccaneers receiver to top 50 yards.
Veteran Chris Godwin Jr. was the only other pass catcher to even reach 40.
Otton, though, was the lowest point in the group. Against a Bengals secondary that watched Mike Gesicki pile up 78 receiving yards and a touchdown, Tampa Bay’s tight end was a liability.
He missed open catches and finished with just three receptions for 26 yards. For Otton, that kind of output has become too familiar; he routinely averages fewer than 10 yards per catch with Mayfield throwing him the ball.
That performance matters because rookie Bauer Sharp is sitting behind him. Sharp entered the league as a sixth round sleeper, fought his way onto the roster, and is now the backup at a spot where Tampa Bay may need more.
He may not be viewed as the better athlete on paper, but he’s described as an underrated athlete and a much better blocker than Otton. After what happened against Cincinnati, it’s fair to wonder whether Sharp could be a better pass catcher too.
Otton’s rough opener at least opens the door for Sharp to get some starts.
In Other News...
Tristan Wirfs Rare Bucs Feat Looks Even More Remarkable Now
When the Detroit Lions shifted All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell to the left side this season, it brought fresh attention to a move the Buccaneers already know can be tricky. Tristan Wirfs made the same switch in 2023, and he did it while still looking like one of the leagues best linemen, which only adds to how unusual that transition really is.
Sewell has had a tougher opening to the change, and the early contrast underscores how rare it is for a tackle to flip sides without a noticeable dip. For Tampa Bay, Wirfs first year on the left now looks even more impressive, a reminder that what seemed like a smooth adjustment was actually a remarkable feat. [Read more 🡒]
Ja'Marr Chase Had A Revealing Reaction To Buccaneers' Defensive Showing
JaMarr Chases quiet opener was notable not just for the numbers, but for the way he framed them afterward. After catching only two passes in Cincinnatis season-opening win, the receiver said an earlier version of himself might have let that kind of outing get to him, but hes now more focused on staying mentally locked in and ready for whatever the game script brings. He also made it clear he did not ask Joe Burrow for more targets, a small but telling sign of where his head is as the Bengals move on.
Chases comments land with added weight for the Buccaneers, who know how quickly a receiver of his caliber can change a game once hes fully engaged. He also gave Houstons defense its due ahead of the next matchup, which only adds to the sense that opposing coordinators are still trying to figure out how to keep him from taking over. For Tampa Bay, it is another reminder that even when a star has a quiet day, the threat level never really goes away. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Need A Fast Bounce Back From These Key Players
The Buccaneers Week 1 loss to the Bengals left enough to unpack, but the bigger concern was how a few of the teams most important pieces looked in the opener. Baker Mayfield, Alex Anzalone and Yaya Diaby were all flagged in the analysis as players who did not deliver at the level Tampa Bay needs, and that matters even more with Cleveland up next.
A fast rebound from that group could go a long way toward settling things down for a team that came up short in a 33-27 defeat. The schedule does not leave much room for lingering disappointment, and the Browns present another chance for Tampa Bay to show that the opener was a blip rather than a sign of deeper problems. [Read more 🡒]