Todd Bowles: Julio Jones Could Have Played

September 25th, 2022

Bucs wouldn’t let him play.

This is a bit of a head-scratcher, though it makes sense at the same time.

After today’s loss without stud receivers Mike Evans, Julio Jones and Chris Godwin active, head coach Todd Bowles revealed that Julio was ready to play but the Bucs chose to keep him on the bench as a precaution.

“I just know he could have played. We held him out,” Bowles said when asked about Julio’s knee injury. Bowles added it was a decision about the long term.

Joe gets it, but damn, this was a huge game for playoff seeding against the Packers. Maybe the Bucs didn’t want Julio getting double-teamed on every snap?

It’s not every day a team sits a top player from a key conference game.

The Bucs sure could have used Mr. Jones. Joe hopes this pays off in January.

46 Responses to “Todd Bowles: Julio Jones Could Have Played”

  1. ElioT Says:

    Byron is a bum.

  2. HC Grover Says:

    Bowles Prevent Offense strikes again. Fire him.

  3. ClwJB Says:

    On the way to 13 wins are 4 losses – there will be 3 more

  4. Soonerbuc Says:

    Time to cut Scotty. He showed today he is not NFL caliber

  5. David Says:

    Not concerned. They will have Jones and Evans back next week. Possibly Godwin. That was the difference in the game, the Buccaneers did not have receivers.
    Every play you could see Brady directing people all over the place and even where to line up. Why that has to happen with Perriman and Miller is beyond me.
    Good to see Gage show up after his hammy issue, he’s looking like a real good third and fourth option.

  6. Bucfan1988 Says:

    Grover, BL calls plays for the offense, not Bowles…
    Then TB12 can audible from the original play call…

    Soooooo, who’s fault is it again 🤦🏻‍♂️???

    Bro, it’s a TEAM loss…..

    We just lack talent right now on offense with all the main WR’s out….

  7. LOL Says:

    Should have played Julio. He’s only going to play like 2 more games the rest of the year anyways

  8. Yucs2Bucs Says:

    Wasn’t a fan when they signed him ( coming from a Bama alum) because I knew his best days were behind him and is doing the same thing he did to the Titans. Collect checks and don’t produce .. Hopefully Russell Gage can come away with some confidence ( minus the fumble ) because Perriman isn’t the guy and why are they still incorporating Miller when I would take a 3 day Beasley any day. On the two point Tommy looks for a doubled covered Russ, but when you have no TEs and Lefty as the coordinator that’s what happens . I’m out, but 3-0 to possibly 2-2 makes me sick .. Go Bucs

  9. firethecannons Says:

    hope Bowles is happy now

  10. adam from ny Says:

    tom went to the school yard to look for julio and once again he was nowhere to be found…

    #JulioHidingBehindAyePortopottyInTheSchoolyard

  11. OrlandoBucFan Says:

    WTF!!!! We just lost a potential tie breaker game and we thought it was prudent to not start a stud receiver who could have impacted the game. That is coaching negligence!

  12. Hodad Says:

    Held him out? What are you saving him for? Get what little you can from Jones, Capt. Obvious can tell you he won’t last the season no matter how much time off he gets.

  13. David Says:

    Eliot?? Really? Brady had no one to throw too. The O will be fine. I don’t understand some of you people, every single time there’s a play that doesn’t work you immediately blame the OC and second guess what could have been called better. It’s kind of pathetic

    HC Grover ?? Your comment makes absolutely no sense. Bowles Has absolutely nothing to do with the offensive play calls. None

  14. ElioT Says:

    Byron is a total moron. Everyone knows it

  15. JimmyJack Says:

    I counted 7 times thinking “if Julio aint hurt we make that play”

  16. Francisco Guzman Says:

    This coaching staff blows. Why does this team always come out flat at times? That cost them today. Also lack of creativity.

  17. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Its a long season…probably the right decision…

    Scotty looks like a boy among men out there.

    For the exception of the fumble…..Gage showed up…..12 of 13 targets.

  18. Ryan Says:

    Safe to safe Arians was in charge of the offense last couple of years, not Leftwich.

  19. Bucamania Says:

    What?! This was EXACTLY why they signed Julio, for days like this.

  20. james west Says:

    another bowles blunder

  21. Francisco Guzman Says:

    Better bounce back next week . I tell you 3-1 is better then 2-2 especially when in the end you’re playing for seeding against teams like the iggles and rams and even the rams. I don’t think the packers are real contenders which makes it disappointing that we lost to them.

  22. Francisco Guzman Says:

    David how about the penalties? The flatness of this team to start games.

  23. Kody Says:

    ANOTHER KEY EXAMPLE OF WTF COACHING

  24. Listnfrmafar Says:

    What??? For the long term? Any player can get hurt at any time. Why didn’t they sit Brady? He had a balloon for a ring finger on his throwing hand. Jets he sucked, Miami interim he sucks and now he’s going to take down Tampa. Ya think Julio could of helped out on the two point play?

  25. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    Tough loss. I don’t understand sitting Julio if he could have played. Important loss against an NFC team.

  26. Posey99 Says:

    Hurry up offense to start games early in the season. Wear them down quickly.

    Joe you have to do a story on vita dropping into coverage and forcing the fumble. That’s was great.

  27. Scooter Says:

    KC is in the AFC, Give Julio off this game. Packers are in the NFC, game more important.

  28. Goatfarmer Says:

    Means he Evans and Gage will be together for the Chefs. Good news.

  29. unbelievable Says:

    “ That was the difference in the game, the Buccaneers did not have receivers.”

    Neither did the Packers, yet they found a way.

    Defense played lights out in the 2nd half. Offense literally chit all over itself.

    Delay of game on a 2 point conversion?!?!? PATHETIC.

  30. Francisco Guzman Says:

    Looking at the schedule this team needs to get on a roll. I wouldn’t bring back godwin until he’s healthy but these wideouts have to step up with evans in the fold.

  31. SKBucsFan Says:

    I’ll pass making a judgement call until we have all of our receivers and O-line again. If we can go to 3-1 next week we will be in good shape.

  32. Maniac Buc Says:

    Somewhere Goatfarmer is crafting excuses for Scotty and figuring out how to blame “DardOn”(What ever TF that means) for this lost. We could have won this game today simply by not playing Scotty, even without Julio.

  33. C2 asante Says:

    For all the Byron is a moron crowd, I have two simple questions. Where have you ever coached, and at what level have you ever played? It’s easy to sit on your couch and criticize people who on their worst day can perform their job better than you. Grow up and use some common sense. He is the same Offensive Coordinator who has led one of the top offenses in the league. Amazing what happens when only 1 offensive lineman is left from prior years and no starting receivers. Vince Lombardi would struggle to score with an offense of 3rd stringers, newly signed players, practice squad players and a 45 year old QB. The fact they are 2-1 given their schedule bodes well when the offense gets healthy and fully returns

  34. Elita Vita Says:

    What does Mike Evans think of todays loss? Let him remember this the next time we play the Saints. I feel we might have won if he were not suspended for this week.

  35. gotbbucs Says:

    We were a Perriman fumble away from a win. Should have been 14- at the half. Whine about little Scotty Miller all you want, and no, he is not an NFL caliber player, but Perriman is a bum too. I don’t want to watch the same guys let me down week after week, year after year.
    As for Jones, they might as well have played him today. No matter when they decide to take the bubble wrap off he’s going to get re-injured at the next opportunity. His knee ligaments must look like a twenty year old weather checked rubber band.
    Oh, and let Brady call the offense from the field. Leftwich has no feel for the flow of the game.

  36. Hunter's Crack Pipe Says:

    “Maybe the Bucs didn’t want Julio getting double-teamed on every snap?”
    .
    .

    Having ANYONE getting double-teamed would have been a tremendous help for the rest of the receiver corps today. To be fair, though, I’d rather have him for the rest of the season (if the extra week allows him to heal) than have him return too early and hobble around all year.

  37. BigZ Says:

    Julio has a strained pcl. Probably smart move long term.
    Could have used ME today, obviously.
    Most of our errors have been self inflicted. They are playing casual, no real urgency. Didn’t like the TB12 vacation, sets the wrong tone..
    Also, not getting much from last couple of drafts, JTS, Hall, Trask and Vaughn. We really haven’t played a complete again. Might be weeks away.

  38. richbucsfan Says:

    Ok, what starters will be on the injury list for the Chiefs game? Oh, and be game time decisions only to not play and have a scrub to play?

  39. BucsFan81 Says:

    Just shows how important Bruce Arians was. I am getting sick of this offense it’s stale and it sucks and the injuries are piling on. I mean it looks like Tony Dungy is running this offense in the late 90s

  40. I’m not tired anymore we just won the Super Bowl!! Says:

    If so then why not? I took the same approach at the game. The game just felt fake. I already knew the outcome.

  41. Everton Says:

    Trade Scotty for Tyler!!

  42. Daryl Green Says:

    He is a FN Moron. There’s thousands of coaches in America can call
    a better game then Arnold Jackson.

  43. Pcollins2 Says:

    What a disappointment!! I knew going in we had a tough row to hoe with no receivers in but Brady seemed curfuffuled thru out the whole game! Better get it together guys or this season could slip thru your fingers, I hope not!

  44. James Says:

    Okay, first of all….Tom is the GOAT and certainly doesn’t need crackpot advice from you losers. It’s hard to win a game all by yourself when you have no receivers and your running back sucks! Please, respect TB….I know he’s earned it.

  45. A. Bryant Says:

    To many penalties and turnovers
    Get this corrected immediately!

  46. A. Bryant Says:

    Practice protecting the football
    please!