Bucs Release Jaydon Mickens

October 18th, 2021

Changing of the guard?

This doesn’t sound good.

So the Bucs released their top return man who has done a decent job, Jaydon Mickens, the team announced this afternoon.

The Bucs did this to make room for guard John Molchon, who was promoted from the practice squad.

Generally, guys do not get promoted unless there is an injury or, given current events, someone has The Sickness. Of course, this is just Joe’s educated speculation.

For those practice squad junkies out there, all three of you, the Bucs signed former Dixie Chicks and Raiders corner Blidi Wreh-Wilson to the practice squad. The eight-year NFL vet played three years for Tennessee and five seasons in Atlanta, including 15 games last season.

Rookie Jaelon Darden, you best be ready, assuming the Bucs don’t sign Mickens back off the street. This Bucs team has no time to develop guys. They need production from you now as the playoffs are in focus.

51 Responses to “Bucs Release Jaydon Mickens”

  1. Chuckstutz Says:

    I worry about mickens. He fumbled again when he got hit last Thursday. Not a good look. Has shown me nothing in the return game. Other than a 40 yard horizontal sprint to out of bounds. A glaring weakness that needs corrected.

  2. Lets Roll Says:

    Should be fun, dude has legit start stop cutting abilities. Looks a lot like Kadarius Toney

  3. teacherman777 Says:

    I’ve been calling for Cordarelle Patterson for years. Hes the ideal kickoff return man. Long Stride. Power. Vision. Huge.

    And Patterson is a great #6 WR/ #4 RB.

    I’ve always wanted him here in Tampa Bay.

    Too bad.

  4. The Beer Whisperer Says:

    Imagine being the kick returner. Like being a Kamikaze.
    Special Teams pay, high impact collisions.

    It’s gotta be, the “Low Man on the Totem Pole Job”

    I’d run out of bounds too.

  5. The Beer Whisperer Says:

    Life expectancy of a kick returner, can’t be too high, lol

  6. Mike Says:

    Bring on Darden! Give him a chance to make an impact.

  7. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Well, there goes our ELECTRIFYING return game.
    😂😂😂

  8. Rick Says:

    Doesn’t feel like COVID… you would just put that player on the reserve list and get an exemption… maybe someone was about to try and sign Molchon

  9. Robert Says:

    meh, he wasn’t special. surprised he made the tea,. He’s been OK.

  10. Swampbuc Says:

    Did anyone see Mickens’ block on Mike’s last TD grab against the Fish? Positively Claytonian.

    He performed well in the SB, no one can take that from him. His fumbles are his undoing. BA probably figures if there’s a fumble risk might as well develop Darden.

  11. DBS Says:

    And Darden has shown exactly what when they have put him back there?

  12. Bob Says:

    He seems to always run towards the exits.

  13. JimmyJack Says:

    Very suprized. He wasnt electrifing but he was trustworthy and productive. And yeah, I saw his fumble last week, doubt that had antyhing to do with it.

    Do we need to worry about our OLine now?

  14. RCS Says:

    “This Bucs team has no time to develop guys.” – A SB team that returned all their starters and don’t need Rookies to carry so much of the production is exactly the type of team that has time to develop players. Like letting a 4th rd pick get grow and work 6 weeks into the season.

  15. ocala Says:

    A little surprising, but Mickens does not offer a ton to the Bucs roster.
    Don’t forget the Bucs have possibly the best punt returner in the NFL on their roster(A.B.)

  16. The Beer Whisperer Says:

    My favorite kick returners are anyone other than myself.

  17. Casual Observer Says:

    Feel sad for Mickens.

  18. SlyPirate Says:

    There’s something the staff doesn’t like about Mickens. They were just waiting for Darden to develop enough to replace Mickens.

  19. Eckwood Says:

    You have to run upfield in the nfl ,,, sideways looks great but isn’t effective..

  20. DaBux Says:

    There could be something else we don’t know about. Time will get the info out. But man oh man, this season is just getting uglier.

  21. firethecannons Says:

    would hate seeing AB get blown up on a return from a punt or kick! Not acceptable!

  22. Listnfrmafar Says:

    It’s about time, he scares me everytime he touches the ball. He has one great game this season and sucked all last season. He goes east & west not north & south. Good riddens.

  23. Kentucky Buc Says:

    Stop with the AB as punt returner. Have u lost your Goddam mind. Best receiver on the team and some of u want to play Russian Roulette with him. Sheesh people. Already lost Carlton Davis from playing special teams. That’s enough.

  24. Jim Barbieri Says:

    He coughed up the ball in Philly, luckily we recovered it. Darden offers more explosiveness should he need to sub in @ WR for a few snaps.

  25. Marine Buc Says:

    Mickens may be back later. I wonder if this has to do with his gun charge in L.A. from his early summer run in with law enforcement?

  26. adam from ny Says:

    he was playing better through the first 4 games or so then he has ever played as a buc…

    reward: “you’re cut holmes”

    he slowed down a bit of late and had that low key fumblerooskee the other night…

    he was just treading water with darden getting groomed like a pomeranian…

    maybe he’ll be back…

    remember that big game he had versus the giants last year…7 catches…he was brady’s go to for one night only

  27. Kentucky Buc Says:

    What I was wondering @Marine Buc

  28. FirstTimePoster Says:

    I volunteer. I’m 6’0 and 335. Good luck bringing me down after a 1 yard gain! Bring it!

  29. mg Says:

    Billy “White Shoes” Johnson.

  30. Listnfrmafar Says:

    ridden., AB, Evan’s, Godwin, Benard off the table. Darden or Johnson best choices. I like Johnson myself.

  31. Mike Johnson Says:

    Deeyham. I was looking forward to Mickens breaking a return wide open. But I guess this will not happen. Good luck to him. Somebody just might pick him up.

  32. Defense Rules Says:

    Gut feel is that Mickens will be back first time that Darden fumbles. I remember seeing him drop the ball twice on punts in preseason and might have been more. Fumbles deep in your own territory can lose you the game fast as anything.

    Still wondering WHY Molchon’s coming up though. He’s good size, but danged, we’ve already got Marpet, Cappa, Stinnie & Leverett ALL at Guard. Molchon makes FIVE. Add to that Jensen (C), Smith (LT), Wells (T), Wirfs (RT) & Hainsey (OL) and we’re now carrying TEN OLinemen. That’s unprecedented best I can remember.

  33. Darin Says:

    Time for a change. Alot of guys can catch the ball. Let’s find out if we have someone who can make plays now.

  34. CyberDilemma Says:

    They did this because they know they could release him without risk of him being claimed on waivers and put him on the practice squad and still elevate him on game day as a practice squad player.

  35. unbelievable Says:

    So who is injured… Jensen or Marpet or Cappa?

  36. SB~LV Says:

    Something went off the rails other than game day performance
    My.02

  37. Swampbuc Says:

    Maybe he complained that he wanted some targets LOL.

  38. SOEbuc Says:

    GOOD! Mickens always sucked in the return game. Give us some good speed and cuts Jalen.

  39. René Says:

    Fair catch all the way

  40. Craig Says:

    I have to admit that he does take the long way to get two yards, but it is a surprise, he is the eighth string receiver or something too.

    The guard getting promoted is more important. Cappa didn’t look right on Thursday, looked like a leg was lame. That will be tough because he is a very good run blocker, maybe our best.

  41. Capt.Tim Says:

    More concerned about why we needed to promote a guard

  42. David Says:

    Not sure how you think Mickens has done a good job. He showed up in game one, since then he has danced around and not done anything besides bobble some balls. Plus, he has no upside in ever being really used in the offense.

    I have been hoping they would give Darden a shot the last few weeks…
    Careful what I wish for.
    Step one – secure the ball rookie!!
    Don’t dance too much -get what you can and go!

  43. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Cappa has been Crappa lately hasn’t he?
    🤔

  44. JedClampett Says:

    Wonder if Mickens getting released has anything to do with his getting arrested on weapons violations in California in the off season?

  45. Joe Says:

    Wonder if Mickens getting released has anything to do with his getting arrested on weapons violations in California in the off season?

    Are you suggesting the Bucs just found out about this Monday? 🙂

  46. bucnole Says:

    I think this is a move to get more playing time for Darden
    He will have to up his ST play for sure.
    Mickens has been ok – but Darden has the speed

  47. LakelandSteve Says:

    Wow, this move makes me a little nervous. Hopefully Darden showed in practice he is now ready to be the full time returner. He didn’t exactly inspire confidence early in the season when he looked like the deer in the headlights Jackson kid out of App State on a kickoff return. Hopefully he can just catch the ball and not put us in bad positions. Someone mentioned Cappa, the only huge pressures given up in the Philly game save one came right through and I mean through Cappa. Hopefully Aaron Stinnie is ready to go. Because if you get Tom Brady hit to many times you will find yourself sitting next to the water boy on the bench.

  48. Yossarian Says:

    In the Eagles and Pats games, he fumbled after slipping, when the intelligent decision was to simply stay on the ground. He was bailed out both times — by a penalty in NE, and by a Bucs recovery in Philly. It is the sort of decision RoJo struggles with, and one in which we have seen RoJo fumble as well — remember the Giants game last year.

    I think the coordinators expect players to control the ball. If they cannot be trusted to do so because they make a dumb decision to gain, at most, 2-3 yards after slipping, then they won’t see much of the field.

  49. USMC-BUC Says:

    don’t rule out legal trouble that hasn’t gone public yet.

  50. The Deflator Says:

    Well, considering Molchon has now been cut and Mickens was signed back to the practice squad, all this speculation was for naught.

  51. Janeygirl Says:

    I have been a true Bucs fan from the late 70s and that was a great move we dont have time for maybes we want the playoffs no time for maybes