The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to see a couple of old friends on Sunday, and one of them only just left the building.
Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting is back in the mix after starting the season on Tampa Bay’s practice squad. Two weeks ago, Pittsburgh brought him in and added him to the 53-man roster, setting up an immediate return trip for the former Buccaneer.
Then there’s Jamel Dean, whose homecoming carries a little more weight. Dean spent seven seasons with the Buccaneers after winning a Super Bowl with them in 2020, and now he’s back in Tampa Bay wearing Steelers colors. He’ll be lining up against players he was alongside just last year.
This week, Dean opened up about what the trip means to him and what it’s like preparing for the team he knows so well. Speaking with Penn Live reporter Nick Farabaugh, Dean described the return as a "bittersweet moment", and he sounded especially eager for the matchup with former head coach and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
“It kinda feels like it’s going to be student finally going against the teacher. I can’t wait to see how everything unravels," Dean said.
"It’ll be a bittersweet moment for me. When I go into the stadium, hopefully I don’t go on autopilot and walk into their locker room.”
Dean has also been offering the Steelers offense a few pointers on how to attack Bowles’ defense, though he doesn’t expect that to matter much by Sunday. ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor reported that he’s shared some thoughts, and Dean was blunt about the limits of that help.
"I gave [the Steelers offense] little nuggets of what could possibly happen," Dean said. "But knowing [Bowles], he's probably planning for this right now, so won't be much use."
Dean has been productive early this season, with two forced fumbles, 14 combined tackles and no passing touchdowns allowed so far.
The Buccaneers and Steelers meet at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with Tampa Bay hoping Dean’s return ends with Pittsburgh taking a loss as the Bucs look to move to 2-4.
In Other News...
Bucs Inactive List Creates One Big Problem Against Pittsburgh
The Buccaneers arrived for Week 6 already thin in a few key spots, and their inactive list only sharpened the edge of the matchup with Pittsburgh. Baker Mayfield and Antoine Winfield Jr. are both out with multi-week injuries, which keeps Tampa Bay without its starting quarterback and one of its most important defenders as it tries to navigate another difficult week.
Easton Stick is back as the backup quarterback for the third straight game, while the backfield got another shake-up with Sean Tucker inactive and Josh Williams elevated for the game. The Steelers brought their own list of absences into the afternoon as well, including receivers Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson, while cornerback Jamel Dean was active and Sean Murphy-Bunting was not, leaving both sides to work around some familiar lineup uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Face A Brutal Test If Two Problems Don't Improve
Bucky Irving gave Tampa Bay exactly the kind of spark it needed last week, piling up a career-high 165 rushing yards and adding a rushing-plus-receiving touchdown against Dallas. If the Buccaneers are going to keep up that momentum against Pittsburgh, they may need Irving to stay central to the plan while the offense also gets quarterback Jalon Daniels into a cleaner early rhythm.
The matchup gets even trickier if Tampa Bay cannot tighten up two areas that have been lagging. The Bucs have had trouble getting after the quarterback, with only six sacks in five games, and they are still waiting for a first-career sack from Rueben Bain Jr., while also having to deal with Steelers back Jaylen Warren and the usual turnover battle that can swing a close game fast. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Goedeke Is Becoming A Bucs Strength Where Fans Once Worried
Luke Goedeke has gone from an early source of concern to one of the more dependable pieces on Tampa Bays offensive line. After beginning his career with the Buccaneers at left guard and running into real growing pains, he found a better fit at right tackle and has settled in as a steady pass protector beside Tristan Wirfs.
The result has been a far more secure edge for the Bucs than many fans expected when Goedeke first arrived. His consistency has given Tampa Bay a valuable presence on the line and a reminder that development in the NFL is not always linear, especially for linemen who need the right position and the right role to show what they can do. [Read more 🡒]