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Tampa Bay Buccaneers News & Rumors

Bucs’ Luke Goedeke Expected To Miss Time; Latest On Tristan Wirfs

September 16th, 2025 at 2:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers managed to defeat the two-time reigning AFC South champion Texans without either of their starting tackles. Their backups helped Baker Mayfield withstand a strong pass rush, headlined by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, in a last-second win.

Tristan Wirfs is on his way back from offseason knee surgery, but the team appears unlikely to have right tackle Luke Goedeke available when Wirfs returns. Goedeke left Monday night’s win with a foot injury, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who adds the recently extended tackle is expected to miss time.

Though, it is believed Goedeke avoided a serious injury. While he is still expected to miss time — potentially multiple games — Fowler describes this setback as an aggravation of a previous malady. With it not known if even multiple absences will be required, Goedeke may be a good bet to avoid IR.

Tampa Bay did not use the reserve/PUP list for Wirfs, who would have been sidelined for at least four games in that scenario. The team may also be comfortable carrying Goedeke on its 53-man roster in the event he will be ready to return over the next month. A Goedeke IR placement would sideline him until Week 7. The Bucs have home games against the Jets and Eagles over the next two weeks; they then face the Seahawks and 49ers in Weeks 6 and 7.

Goedeke signed a four-year, $90MM extension just before the season. The 2022 second-round pick made a promising transition from guard to tackle earlier in his career and secured a spot in Tampa Bay’s long-term plans in doing so. The Bucs now have Goedeke and Wirfs signed long term. The latter remains the NFL’s second-highest-paid offensive lineman. Pro Football Focus ranked Goedeke as a top-30 tackle in his first two seasons manning the Bucs’ right tackle spot.

The Bucs turned to Charlie Heck at RT once Goedeke went down. The team had previously passed on using Heck in place of Wirfs, having seen Graham Barton — a center prospect who finished his Duke career at left tackle — play well on the blind side early in training camp. While the Bucs’ first instinct was to use Heck as the Wirfs replacement, ESPN’s Dan Graziano indicates the team pivoted after setting its initial 53-man roster and decided the Barton-at-LT plan would be the Week 1 path. This moved Ben Bredeson to center and Michael Jordan to left guard. That alignment remained in place Monday night.

Wirfs began practicing last week, and while the Bucs kept him on their 53-man roster to open the season, it is possible he does not suit up until Week 5 anyway. Wirfs said (via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman) the goal is a Week 5 reemergence. The standout tackle said he could return sooner — a scenario GM Jason Licht alluded to previously — but it appears Week 5 represents the tentative plan.

More to come.

Buccaneers DL Calijah Kancey Suffers Pectoral Tear

September 16th, 2025 at 11:44am CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers managed to win on Monday night, but their defense suffered a serious blow in the process. Calijah Kancey appears to be in line to miss the remainder of the season.

Kancey exited last night’s game with a pectoral injury. Head coach Todd Bowles indicated after the contest the ailment could be serious, pending further testing. On that note, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Bucs fear Kancey tore his pec, something which would require season-ending surgery. Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the injury will indeed sideline him for the rest of the campaign (although that report does not specifically mention a pectoral tear).

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, today’s MRI has in fact confirmed a tear took place. As a result, Kancey’s attention will now turn to the rehab process. A chance existed prior to testing that a strain had occurred, something which would have set up a much short recovery timeline. Instead, Tampa Bay’s defensive front will be notably shorthanded for the rest of the campaign.

Kancey has served as a full-time starter since entering the league in 2023. The former first-rounder flashed potential right away with four sacks and 13 QB pressures during his rookie season. Last year, those respective figures jumped to 7.5 and 19. Another step forward looked to be in store for 2025, but that will no longer be the case.

A decision will need to be made on Kancey’s fifth-year option next spring. The 24-year-old was limited to 14 games as a rookie and 12 the following year, so injuries were already something of a concern in his case. That will now be true to a much larger extent given today’s news. If Kancey’s option is declined, he will enter the 2026 season as a pending free agent.

Before that decision will need to be made, Tampa Bay will move forward without a key figure on the D-line. The Buccaneers have an edge rush group headlined by YaYa Diaby and free agent addition Haason Reddick; veteran Anthony Nelson and a number of younger contributors round out the depth chart. The team’s plan in terms of pass rush production counted on a strong interior presence from Kancey in particular.

Now, the team will proceed with two-time Pro Bowler Vita Vea continuing to lead the way in terms of D-tackle workload. Greg Gaines (who is known more as a run-stopping presence) and Logan Hall (who has posted 8.5 sacks in 51 career games) are also in the fold. Those two could be in line for an increased role in Kancey’s absence. Tampa Bay also has three DL options to choose from on the practice squad in terms of promotions and/or gameday elevations.

With nearly $21MM in cap space, the Buccaneers could afford a modest in-season addition to help compensate for today’s injury news. Failing that, internal options will be counted on the rest of the way for the 2-0 outfit.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans Could Retire Following 2025 Season

September 16th, 2025 at 9:52am CST by Adam La Rose

Mike Evans has had a relatively quiet start to the 2025 season, his 12th in the NFL. Plenty of time remains for him to continue his streak of 1,000-yard campaigns, though.

If Evans is able to reach that threshold this year, he will break a tie with Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more receiving yards in NFL history. Doing so would add further to his legacy and no doubt help Tampa Bay enjoy another successful campaign. Given his age, however, questions continue to be asked about how much longer Evans will continue playing.

“I plan on having one of my best seasons,” the 32-year-old said about the current campaign during an interview with The Athletic’s Zak Keefer (subscription required). “And if I retire after this year, I don’t think it’ll be a shock to people. I’m close to the end, that’s all I’ll say.”

Last spring, a free agent departure loomed as a possibility. Evans said Kansas City and Houston represented attractive landing spots, but in the end he remained in place on a two-year, $41MM pact. He is thus a pending free agent, and an extension would ensure the six-time Pro Bowler’s career finishes in Tampa Bay. Another new pact may not wind up being possible, depending on how Evans views his future following the 2025 season.

The Texas A&M product is on the verge of reaching the top 20 in all-time receiving yardage, and he has amassed roughly $134MM (and counting) in career earnings. With a Super Bowl title to his name, Evans is certainly not lacking in accomplishments at the NFL level. As a result, a retirement call after the 2025 season has finished would be feasible.

The Bucs have Chris Godwin in the fold through 2027 after he re-signed this offseason. Tampa Bay’s receiving corps also contains 2024 third-rounder Jalen McMillan and first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka, who has enjoyed an impressive start to his career. Those three will be counted on as key figures in the passing game for the 2026 campaign, but it is unclear if Evans will join them.

NFL Minor Transactions: 9/15/25

September 15th, 2025 at 7:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

As expected, Cowboys center Cooper Beebe landed on injured reserve today after suffering an ankle and foot injury during yesterday’s win over the Giants. The lineman suffered a lateral sprain in his ankle along with a bone fracture in his foot, an injury that’s expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks. During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones expressed optimism that the injury timeline is “on the shorter end of that” (per Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com).

Jamel Dean Addresses Buccaneers Pay Cut

September 12th, 2025 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Earlier this week, it was learned Jamel Dean and the Buccaneers worked out a restructure. The veteran corner accepted a substantial pay cut for 2025 while the final year of his pact was removed. Jamel Dean (vertical)

Dean’s scheduled compensation for 2026 was not guaranteed, meaning a release could have been highly likely anyway. The 28-year-old is nevertheless a pending free agent, and Tampa Bay’s other cornerback moves strongly point to a parting of ways next spring. Instead of being cut (or at least benched) this year, Dean is now on course to collect $4.25MM in base pay as a result of his pay cut agreement, something he recently spoke about.

“It was just more like I’m comfortable here,” Dean said about remaining in place with the Buccaneers (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “So it’s just really not about the money anymore. I’m not in the mood to try to figure out a whole new team and city and go through all I went through my rookie year. So just to save me a headache.”

The seven-year veteran logged 74 defensive snaps in Week 1, working alongside Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish as a starter in the secondary. Parrish was selected in the third round of this year’s draft, while McCollum recently signed a big-ticket extension. Both of their futures are assured for years to come, and the same is also true of second-round rookie Benjamin Morrison.

Morrison did not play in Week 1, but head coach Todd Bowles said (via Stroud) he is expected to suit up on Monday night. A special teams role will await him, although Bowles added Morrison could also see part-time usage on defense. Dean can be expected to remain a first-team presence for at least the time being, but he could be in danger of being surpassed on the depth chart over time.

The Auburn product has been a mainstay throughout his Tampa Bay tenure, totaling 64 starts to date. Dean has totaled just one interception since the start of the 2023 season, however, and his coverage statistics over recent years have marked a downturn from the beginning of his career. Especially given the recent adjustments to his contract, a trip to free agency after the current campaign would thus come as no surprise. For now, though, Dean is content to remain with the only NFL team he has played for.

Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin, Tristan Wirfs Return To Practice

September 11th, 2025 at 11:57am CST by Adam La Rose

During cutdowns at the end of training camp, the Buccaneers elected to keep both Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs on the active roster. That decision was made despite the fact both are expected to miss multiple games in September.

Moving either or both players to the reserve/PUP list would have ensured a four-game absence but also prevented them from being able to practice. Instead, remaining on the 53-man roster has opened the door for Godwin and Wirfs to take part in practice in September while rehabbing their respective injuries. That process has taken a notable step forward beginning today.

Godwin is taking part in Thursday’s practice on a limited basis, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That has since been confirmed by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, who adds Wirfs is participating as well. In both cases, practicing twice this week is the team’s goal as the next stage of a lengthy recovery path.

A fractured ankle ended Godwin’s 2024 season and ensured he would miss time early this year. Week 2 had been targeted as the point at which he would return to practice, though, so today’s update comes as little surprise. The 29-year-old turned down more lucrative offers to remain in Tampa Bay this offseason. Godwin will take on a key role in the passing game upon return, joining a group led by Mike Evans and first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka.

Wirfs is believed to have a strong chance of returning to game action earlier than Godwin, and suiting up at some point in September is a possibility following his offseason meniscus surgery. That would be a welcomed development for the Bucs’ offensive line, a unit which underwent a number of changes ahead of Week 1 to compensate for Wirfs’ absence. The four-time Pro Bowler is under contract through 2029, so a cautious approach will of course be taken with his recovery process.

Tampa Bay will look for a 2-0 start to the season on Monday against Houston. That effort will not include Godwin or Wirfs, but their respective rehab processes have reached an important final phase.

Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean Accepts Pay Cut

September 8th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jamel Dean‘s Buccaneers future was a talking point this offseason, although the veteran corner remained in place once roster cuts were finished. Dean has worked out a restructure which could make this season his final one in Tampa Bay, though.

Team and player agreed to a pay cut on Monday, as first reported by PewterReport’s Joshua Queipo. The move has since been confirmed by Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, who notes Dean’s base pay for this season has been reduced from $12.5MM to $4.25MM. $750K could be earned back through playtime incentives.

Critically, the restructure also removed the final year of Dean’s contract. The former third-rounder was on the books through 2026 (although his scheduled compensation for that year was not guaranteed). Instead, Dean is now on track for free agency next spring. Given today’s news, it could certainly come as no surprise if a departure were to take place on the open market in this case.

Dean emerged as a starter for the Super Bowl winning Buccaneers in 2020, and he’s maintained his starting spot over the past four years. Thanks to his production, the defensive back earned a four-year, $52MM contract ($21.5MM guaranteed) from Tampa Bay ahead of the 2023 campaign. He’s continued to produce under his active contract, with Pro Football Focus grading him as a top-3o cornerback over each of the past two seasons.

While the Buccaneers may be signaling that they don’t have future plans for the cornerback, the team is clearly relying on him for the time being. Once a candidate to get benched, Dean earned a 97 percent snap share yesterday. The 28-year-old finished the season opener with six tackles and three passes defended.

The organization clearly started preparing for a post-Dean secondary during this year’s draft. The team selected Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison in the second round before selecting Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish in the third round. With Zyon McCollum and Josh Hayes also still attached to their rookie contracts, the Buccaneers are clearly pivoting to youth in their cornerbacks room.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

2025 Offseason In Review Series

September 7th, 2025 at 10:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here are PFR’s breakdowns of each NFL team’s 2025 offseason.

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

Buccaneers Move Graham Barton To LT

September 7th, 2025 at 1:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers are without left tackle Tristan Wirfs to begin the season. It has long been known their All-Pro blindside protector will miss time in September, with veteran Charlie Heck viewed as the top option to replace him on a temporary basis.

For at least Week 1, however, that is not the case. General manager Jason Licht revealed shortly before Sunday’s game (via team reporter Scott Smith) that Heck would not be used as a starter. Instead, center Graham Barton was shifted to left tackle for Sunday’s contest. Ben Bredeson moved from guard to center as a result, with Michael Jordan taking on guard duties.

Barton primarily played as a left tackle in college, but the Duke product was viewed as an interior blocker upon entering the NFL. Indeed, Barton handled center responsibilities during his rookie season, finding immediate success in that role. The 2024 first-rounder will no doubt return to the middle of the O-line when Wirfs recovers from meniscus surgery.

That could take place at some point in September, although there is no firm timeline in place. If Barton manages to provide Tampa Bay with adequate play on the blindside, he could help stabilize the offensive line until Wirfs is back in the fold. The play of that unit will depend as well on Bredeson successfully moving to center. The sixth-year veteran has spent the majority of his career as a guard, including exclusively working there with Tampa Bay last season. Bredeson has spent limited time at center in the NFL, though.

Jordan, meanwhile, was among the Buccaneers’ roster cuts but was quickly retained on their practice squad after clearing waivers. The 27-year-old was elevated to the gameday roster for Week 1, and he will serve not as depth up front but rather as a starting presence. Based on how the first few games play out, Jordan could find himself on the active roster by the time Wirfs is healthy and Tampa Bay’s preferred offensive line setup comes into focus.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/25

September 6th, 2025 at 7:28pm CST by Ely Allen

With our first slate of Sunday games tomorrow, we’ll see our first slew of standard gameday practice squad elevations. Here are today’s minor transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Each NFL team is granted up to two standard gameday practice squad elevations each game, allowing them to call up two members of their practice squad who are able to play in that weekend’s game. After the game is played, the elevated players revert back to the practice squad with no transaction required. This differs from the situation with somebody like Crumedy in Carolina. With Mathis’ placement on injured reserve opening a spot on the 53-man roster, Crumedy has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, where he will remain until he is cut or his contract expires.

Practice squad players can be called up a maximum of three times under a single practice squad contract. If a team wants to call up a player who’s been called up three times already, the team will usually sign the player to their active roster for a game, cut them after, and then sign them to a new practice squad contract. Under the new contract, the player would be eligible to be elevated for three more games.

As the Dolphins await Jason Sanders‘ return from IR, Patterson was named the winner of a kicking audition with three other veteran kickers. Miami will be able to elevate him three times but will have to promote him to the active roster for any games between that and Sanders’ activation. Similarly, Prater will likely be on the same plan in Buffalo.

Haener’s stint on the Saints’ active roster was short-lived as the team decides to move forward with only two quarterbacks. Spencer Rattler will handle starting duties to begin the campaign with second-round rookie Tyler Shough serving as his backup.

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