Jac Smith Begins 2017 On PUP
July 26th, 2017
PUP list.
[UPDATED]
Joe’s fears have been validated.
A lot of Bucs fans hoped Jacquies Smith, who ripped up his knee last year in the season opening game at Atlanta and subsequently had major knee surgery, would be ready to rock and roll this season and (finally) give the Bucs the edge rush the team desperately needs.
Pump the brakes!
The Bucs today placed Smith on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list as training camp is set to begin Friday morning. Smith still counts against the current 90-man roster and the Bucs can remove him from the list at any time.
Still, after missing virtually all of last season and having the full offseason to rehab and return, starting training camp on the PUP list is not very comforting if the team is banking on Smith for any significant amount of sacks.
Joe held his breath banking on a guy who is returning from major knee surgery to be a significant factor for the team. Smith may still be, but starting training camp on the PUP list raises doubts.
[UPDATE:] It seems, from what Joe has been able to gather, the move of Smith to the PUP list is more precautionary than anything. Of course, the goal is to have players ready to go for the regular season, not run around the backyards of One Buc Palace in July.
July 26th, 2017 at 10:49 am
that sux. Do you know if Howard jones is still hurt too. I know he was released but he played as well as Smith in limited snaps.
Would be nice to get a top tier de to fall in our lap somehow. although all the sack leaders (top 5) last yr were lbs so maybe changing to a 3-4 isn’t a bad idea.
July 26th, 2017 at 10:50 am
Anyone who counted on Jac Smith was and is a fool… Huge mistake even wasting time on this guy.
July 26th, 2017 at 10:57 am
Yeah tmax we’re better off signing than keeping a guy around on PUP who has been productive when healthy. Even giving him a chance or letting him in the facility has set this team back for years because
The good news is this is the only player we have on PUP right now; and most teams have more.
July 26th, 2017 at 11:02 am
Another positive to take out of this – both the rookies we drafted with injury concerns are healthy going into TC (Beckwith and McNichols) and offer competition at jobs that are up for grabs. I’m really excited to see how those guys look
July 26th, 2017 at 11:08 am
Gotta be frustrating as hell for Jac.
July 26th, 2017 at 11:09 am
Lord
The point you are missing is the CBA limits practice reps, coach time and overall player development. Coupled with limited roster spots… Teams can no longer gamble. Jac Smith production has never been consistent nor is he reliable… Bring in someone who can get on the damn field consistently and stop wasting VALUABLE reps on injury prone backups
July 26th, 2017 at 11:10 am
Smith is the 4th DE – let him rest, rehab, and be healthy for his 10-15 3rd down snaps a game
July 26th, 2017 at 11:12 am
Joe
Precautionary for what reason, let him heal and use training camp as a time to recover? If so, why the need to put him on PUP list and not just let him wear the Sweezy-floppy-hat?
July 26th, 2017 at 11:14 am
Corn
I thought I read a column yesterday saying mcnichols wasn’t ready yet. Still healing from surgery. Maybe joe can give us an update? Didn’t rookies report to camp yesterday? No news on rookie camp?
July 26th, 2017 at 11:31 am
Tmax
If he is on PUP he is not taking valuable reps from anyone and hasn’t been taking them in OTAs either. There is no “gamble” in having a player on PUP during a period in which we are cutting from 90 players down… please explain the huge risk we are taking at this point lol?
July 26th, 2017 at 11:38 am
Joe thanks for info! Precautionary update is great news. Dude does need live reps to test the knee. Holding my breath he retain that speed!
July 26th, 2017 at 11:41 am
He was not on pup until today the entire offseason bucs wasted a roster spot and valuable reps on a proven unreliable player. They should have brought someone else in simple as that….
July 26th, 2017 at 11:41 am
DB55 – per CBS sports:
“McNichols has recovered from offseason shoulder surgery and will be a full participant at the start of training camp, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.”
and Beckwith:
“Beckwith (knee) passed his physical with the Buccaneers and will be ready for the start of training camp, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.”
Ppl were acting like we’d be red shirting Beckwith but this is probably the biggest positive health news of the off season so far. His knee has to hold up tho
July 26th, 2017 at 11:48 am
Tmax what valuable DE reps are occurring in OTAs when they have no pads? What valuable player did we miss out on because of Jack Smith? You do realize we bring in a sh1t ton of players during OTAs and it’s not the final limited roster and Jack Smith likely was not a motivating factor on which other DEs we brought in or how many? The team knew he was injured lol.
In the end Jack Smith playing 6 games this year would be much more valuable than a Channing Ward type playing 16 games this year. That’s the underlying logic.
July 26th, 2017 at 11:50 am
Man if that knee can hold that LB corp should be scary.
July 26th, 2017 at 11:56 am
@Lord C- Yeah I heard those reports as well and they are encouraging. Beckwith was a heck of a player in college. I think some fans are sleeping on this guy. He could be a bigger surprise than Godwin if he can get up to speed.
It’s a shame about Jac. Hopefully he’ll be ready to ball when season starts.
@tmax- Having him on PUP doesn’t hurt us. I don’t think the Bucs were counting on him being a full-time starter anyway. More of a specialist and depth.
July 26th, 2017 at 11:57 am
^^^”were NOT counting…”
July 26th, 2017 at 11:57 am
I think Jalen Ramsay and Andrew Luck were placed on the PUP too … not a big deal and Jacquies can still be ready to go, game one.
July 26th, 2017 at 11:58 am
I see nothing wrong with placing him on the PUP list. I understand it is a roster spot but it is just one spot. Jac Smith showed his flashes when playing and is on the cheap end of the salary. If he returns mid season ready to go then no harm. He knows the system, Team and Coaches already. We will likely have some sort of injury to a DE halfway through the season and having a spare tire would be beneficial. I trust the Medical team and trainers know what they are looking at.
July 26th, 2017 at 12:02 pm
QUESTION:
So if he is placed on PUP before the season starts can he be eligible for Game 1?
I know PUP list during the season means wait until game 6.
July 26th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Nevermind I googled it.
Preseason PUP
A player who, as a result of football-related injuries, is unable to take part in training camp practices may be assigned to the preseason PUP list. Players can be moved off the PUP list to the active roster at any time, even after one practice. A player cannot be placed on the PUP list, however, once he has taken the field for a practice, even if only for a few minutes.
July 26th, 2017 at 12:34 pm
Fantastic! Exactly the boost our DE group needed!
July 26th, 2017 at 12:52 pm
No need to rush Smith back. Its been less than a year since he messed his knee up pretty bad. We know what Jac Smith can do when he is healthy – dude creates pressure pretty consistently. If Jac is ready to roll by the season opener – that’s all that matters. Let’s keep him off special teams though…
July 26th, 2017 at 1:11 pm
Cancermax says:
“Bring in someone who can get on the damn field consistently and stop wasting VALUABLE reps on injury prone backups”
I think Licht heard you. I believe they’re advertising on Craigslist as we speak. Shouldn’t be too long now before they can find someone to get on the damn field consistently (i.e., virtually everyone). Go Bucs.
July 26th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Definitely sucks but I dont know that anyone was counting on him. Maybe a couple years ago we would have needed him. With better starters now and decent to good depth it will just be a bonus of he gives us any production. I am still rooting for him though, he has certainly shown he can pass rush when healthy.
July 26th, 2017 at 1:17 pm
Pickgrin, I agree Bucs shouldn’t try to rush Jack Smith back, but still have trouble viewing this in a positive light. Smith has missed OTAs, will now probably miss all of preseason, and is coming off a major injury. The odds of him being ready to roll by the season opener … and being effective … seem pretty slim to me. Gut feeling is that this news just guaranteed George Johnson a slot on the 53-man roster IF he performs even reasonably well in preseason.
July 26th, 2017 at 2:52 pm
DR – the PUP designation can be removed at any time. Smith could be cleared to practice by next week for all we know. Lets just see how it plays out. If he hasn’t stepped on the practice field by the 2nd or 3rd per season game – then its time to be concerned that Smith will not be ready for the season opener.
July 26th, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Joe what’s chance we bring in Marcus smith from eagles as completion! Why not kick that bucket could be young talent there with high ceiling with good coaching!
July 26th, 2017 at 5:27 pm
That sucks.
July 27th, 2017 at 12:52 am
fingers crossed for jac… really rooting for him to have a big year
July 27th, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Here comes my typical Bucs fan take… why not bring in Dwight Freeney? His presence may have had something to do with Vic Beasely’s surge last year, maybe he could help with Noah Spence’s development and provide the ocassiomal third down pass rush.