Early Bucs Injuries, Illness
July 22nd, 2025
Rookie Desmond “Big Gator” Watson
Seven Bucs won’t be practicing tomorrow when 2025 training camp kicks off.
The Bucs announced today that newcomer veteran free agent inside linebacker Anthony Walker, Lavonte David’s good friend from their old neighborhood, will start training camp on the non-football injury list. That could mean Walker got hurt excercising on his own time, got in a minor car accident, etc.
That’s something to monitor, for sure, as the Bucs are counting on Walker for depth.
Also out is undrafted rookie defensive tackle Desmond Watson. The 400-pound Florida Gator is on the illness list.
On the active physically unable to perform list are Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin (no surprises there), along with guard Sua Opeta, No. 3 QB Michael Pratt and offensive tackle Silas Dzansi.
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:51 pm
Sua’s still injured ?
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:53 pm
That is NOT Hardy Nickerson.
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:56 pm
So with Watson – Was it something he ate?
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:00 pm
I personally think Shiloh Sanders will be the surprise of this camp
He’s a bonafide SS, with the speed, physicality, coverage skills, football intelligence, and he’s mature. I personally think he can beat Tykee Smith out for the SS position…….or at least make it interesting
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:43 pm
LakelandBuc, not a chance, sorry. I hope the best for the kid too. He’s not the player Tykee is, but Parrish and Tykee and Izien are good enough to play anywhere in the secondary. I’d be shocked if Sanders is anywhere but the practice squad this year. And that’s a stretch.
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:54 pm
Irishmist, you’re killing me!
July 22nd, 2025 at 6:02 pm
Lakeland, sorry thats not happening.
I’m a huge Sanders fan, but Bowles likes his safeties to be interchangeable. Shilo is strictly a SS, for now at least until he gets better footwork. He’s got decent straightline speed, but he needs work. He’s not going to get it all, probably, to make the team in one off-season. Practice Squad at best.
July 22nd, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Hardee’s Nickerson.
July 22nd, 2025 at 6:17 pm
Kwame Richardson Says:
Sua’s still injured?
^^^^^
Why is he on the team? Dude got injured last training camp.
July 22nd, 2025 at 6:47 pm
If same injury for Sua, see ya!
July 22nd, 2025 at 6:48 pm
Desmond must have gone thru the KFC drive thru too many times with Shilo serving him free food. Wonder if it is on Youtube. lol.
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:22 pm
what is wrong with sua opeta…?…he was sort of penciled in initially as a potential starter last season…
and with lavonte’s pal walker injured already…i’m still thinking we are one backer short of a full deck…
hello jason
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:23 pm
If Watson couldn’t make the target weight they set for him he won’t make it past the first cutdown. Honestly I don’t want him on the team, period. His risk of dying in practice or a game from a heart attack or stroke is too high at 450+.
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:29 pm
I was really hoping A-Walk and Voss could sub for each other and that’s what Bowles was likely referring to in his interview.
I was expecting Opeta could challenge Breds for the LG spot, but with Sua unable to get on the field, his days may be numbered. Last preseason, I thought Luke (Dukes of) Haggard looked good at LG. Something to watch in camp….
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Irishmist Says:
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:56 pm
So with Watson – Was it something he ate?
_________
I’m gonna go with quantity over quantity on this one.
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:52 pm
Quality!
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:59 pm
I’m guesing the heat got to Watson.
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:22 pm
I like Shiloh game, he brings the pain, lower the boom on you
This defense is way too soft, everyone avoiding contact
We need more physical players, way too many softies on this defense
.
The softness of this defense is a embarrassment to our defensive history. Receivers coming across the middle with no fear. They’re running around free untouched.
I want hitters on my defense
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:26 pm
Sua Opeta –did he ever come off the list?
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:38 pm
Opera started two games at tackle for Eagles at one point, according to Google..
No more OL injuries, please.
I wonder if they can help Big Desmond shed pounds more quickly away from the field, or on the field?
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:48 pm
Stanglassman Says:
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:53 pm
That is NOT Hardy Nickerson.
———–
That looks like Hardy if he got stung by about 1-billion bees.
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Has Carl Nicks’ toe healed yet….we could use him…
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:40 pm
What about Dean? Is he injured yet????
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:46 pm
@Irish mist, it very well could have been something Watson ate. Nobody has seen Tez all day.
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:52 pm
That said, there’s no telling what the injuries are. I just hope Watson isn’t constipated. Firetruck enemas are very dangerous…to the EMTs. The blast radius could make tsar Bomba look lite a queef.
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Great.
July 23rd, 2025 at 12:01 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Has Carl Nicks’ toe healed yet….we could use him…
———–
Could use him at guard and move Cody to his college position of LT. Great thinking!
July 23rd, 2025 at 6:37 am
You know this team. Every day you’ll see another name at minimum on the injury report.
July 23rd, 2025 at 8:37 am
I think most of our guards and centers played tackle in school. Licht prefers their athleticism. So far it’s quite a success.
July 23rd, 2025 at 8:49 am
Well, except for Goedeke, but he seems to be a fine tackle. We indubitably have a top 2 or 3 offensive line. Maybe the best. Hard to measure exactly.
July 23rd, 2025 at 8:49 am
Watson fell and he couldn’t get up.
July 23rd, 2025 at 10:15 am
BucU —- that is every NFL team in training camp. There will be multiple adds to the injury report every week. No NFL team is going to ask a player to “play” thru minor injuries at this point. They are going to sit them all.