The first padded practice of Buccaneers camp gave Tampa Bay exactly the kind of jolt it wanted from its rookie class, and Josiah Trotter was right at the center of it.
On Monday, with the pads finally on, the rookie inside linebacker made his presence felt in a big way. According to Pewter Report’s Adam Slivon, Trotter stacked up three tackles for loss while helping shut down the Bucs’ rushing game, including two straight plays that put him squarely in the spotlight.
Bucs rookie ILB Josiah Trotter just jolted Justin Skule with a punch, rocked him backwards and made a tackle for loss. Then Trotter shoots the A gap and makes another tackle for loss on the next play.
- PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) August 3, 2026
Todd Bowles said the showing matched what the team expected from him once the contact started.
“We knew he’d show up in pads. I mean, he’s a physical ball player… he made a couple plays,” Bowles said.
Alex Anzalone, the veteran linebacker expected to line up next to Trotter, liked what he saw as well. His praise pointed to more than just effort - it was the rookie’s processing speed and feel for the game that stood out.
“[He had] some good plays too. Not just some typical zone plays. He had some gap scheme plays where he had to read the pulling guard and you know, he’s a good, heady player so it’s not shocking to me… he has a really good trigger and as an inside linebacker, that’s what you want,”
Anzalone said.
That kind of praise fits the profile Trotter brought into Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have made run defense a priority under Bowles, and Trotter’s downhill, physical style looks tailor-made for the way they want to play. He attacks the line of scrimmage, and on Monday he showed he can disrupt a play before it ever gets rolling.
His production at Missouri backed that up. Last season, Trotter posted 84 combined tackles, with 13 tackles for loss and two sacks. That knack for blowing things up in the backfield is a big part of why Tampa Bay targeted him in the draft process.
The linebacker room has been an issue for the Buccaneers for a while, and Lavonte David’s retirement only made the need more urgent. If Trotter keeps building on what he showed in pads, Tampa Bay may have found a rookie who can help right away.
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