Report: Bucs Sniffing Veteran Tackle George Fant
July 22nd, 2025
GM Jason Licht has been busy.
UPDATED: 4:25 p.m. Joe posted this about 90 minutes ago but deleted a subsequent report that said Fant was signed.
It’s workout season around the NFL. Teams often scurry this time of year to work out potential signings just before training camp kicks off.
Bucs players reported for work following their summer siesta today and the first training camp session is tomorrow morning.
Former FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz was on social media this morning reporting that the Bucs are “trying out” former Seahawks, Jets and Texans starter George Fant. The 33-year-old was with Seattle last year, the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Considering Seattle has had the same general manager since 2016, Joe considers that a strong sign that Fant is a character guy.
But can he play? Well, the Bucs are about to find out.
Head coach Todd Bowles was very optimistic about Tristan Wirfs’ recovery from knee surgery yesterday during his exclusive chat with JoeBucsFan.com.
Newcomer Charlie Heck is Wirfs’ backup, but that could change and the Bucs have no players with NFL experience currently backing up Heck.
July 22nd, 2025 at 3:49 pm
Make it happen Let’s Go Bucs
July 22nd, 2025 at 3:55 pm
This is an indictment on Heck’s ability.
Bucs are confident Wirfs won’t miss too much time and aren’t confident enough in Heck getting the job done.
Perhaps I am missing an angle but that’s what this development is telling me.
July 22nd, 2025 at 3:59 pm
His age is a little off-putting. He seems to be pretty close to average at least. Certainly experienced at both sides. Good size. 34 7/8″ arms. See what happens.
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:03 pm
This tells me that we don’t have anyone to back up Heck.
That does not mean, of course, that Heck has the job.
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:04 pm
Saskbucs: maybe it’s just to back up Heck. With Heck I’m a little concerned about his height. 6’8″ is kinda tall.
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:04 pm
I don’t know much about him except from what I just read. Agree with Fred McNeil and Saskbucs too. He has played on three teams, is older, and experienced. Yes, give him a try.
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:07 pm
If Heck gets hurt? Fant would be a great replacement who better than a guy who’s been in th league and has 75 starts
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:09 pm
And has started at left and right tackle
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:27 pm
Great move. Right now, while Wirfs is out, if Heck or Goedeke gets hurt, we’re working with guys with zero snaps.
Go Bucs!!
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Heck No!
July 22nd, 2025 at 4:56 pm
Those of us who listen to PR podcasts knew this last week.
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:07 pm
I think George Fant is a serviceable swing tackle
With the ability to step in and play at both OT positions
I’m not sure about Charlie Heck
But l think we keep them both for the duration of the season
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:38 pm
@Fred… certainly could be.
I didn’t realize Dsanzi was out, hoped Chukwama (sorry for spelling, highly paid UDFA they signed) had a good summer, assumed he would be 3rd string but maybe they have him behind Goedeke.
And then with the UDFA Cs that were signed… if they really got into a depth bind… Barton is there.
Can always use more depth, I just have serious concerns about Heck and this doesn’t lessen those concerns at all. Hopefully Wirfs is back fast and this is all meaningless!
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:43 pm
PR is kinda screwy. They’ve switched to mostly podcasts, but I rarely ever do podcasts. Not even here. But the screwy part is that they start off every written article with a lengthy biography of whoever wrote the piece. I have to scroll through their life history, favorite foods and personal lifestyle choices to get to the story. Big deal? Not really. Annoying? Definitely. If you must choke on your own manhood do it at the end. Not the beginning. Get yourself a room for God’s sakes.
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:47 pm
I would say ‘Heck’ but let’s not ‘Fant’ over any other prospect until we are sure Wirf is out of the picture more an a game or two.
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:51 pm
Fred McNeil couldn’t have said it any better about PR
July 22nd, 2025 at 5:59 pm
@saskbucs, Heck has experience at both sides too. They seem to be equally capable from what I’ve read. Not bad. Dsanzi had been on the PS a long time now. I didn’t know he was gone. I don’t know anything about Chuckwumba either. I can’t spell half these guy’s names either. Can I buy a vowel? Probably wouldn’t help anyway.
July 22nd, 2025 at 6:14 pm
MF Bucs, don’t know whether Fred could have said it any better about PR or not. But it’s funny.
July 22nd, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Go sniff Trey Hendrickson. Sniff really really hard.
July 22nd, 2025 at 6:21 pm
Gawd could you imagine Trey Hendrickson on that D-line? Yikes! Of course it’s also a big yikes in the salary cap…
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:13 pm
they’re just bringing in a washed vet with experience…
just in case the fan is covered in doo
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:15 pm
it’s prolly an indictment on wirfs being out the 4+ weeks and hitting the pup…………as well as not so confident in heck…
so it’s a double whammy
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:17 pm
@SlyPirate:
you go sniff hendrickson, and report back if he smells swampy
🙂 🙂 🙂
July 22nd, 2025 at 7:35 pm
At this point we gotta trade for trey hendrickson. Guaranteed money. Dude is willing to take less for more guarantees and hes from Florida
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:42 pm
Give Donovan Smith a call, see if he’s in shape or could get in shape and still wants to play. Then, since you’re on the phone anyways, give Donald Penn a call just for the hell of it – maybe offer a 1-day contract to retire as a Bucs, and while he’s in the building you see what shape he’s in.
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:47 pm
You know Cody was a LT in college… so was Barton… You know if the Bucs could have afforded to keep Hainsey, a RT in college, you could possibly have temporarily moved one of them and started Hainsey and probably been OK. Wouldn’t do that for a short term injury, but man, stinks Hainsey is gone, he was such a valuable chess piece (which is why the Jags gave him a good sized contract).
July 22nd, 2025 at 8:48 pm
Ufcguy32 …wth does needing a LT have to do with Hendrickson.
Is he a left tackle? No…again WTH?
July 22nd, 2025 at 9:54 pm
Git r dun Jason. Between him and porn stache, maybe they equal one decent LT.
July 23rd, 2025 at 1:29 am
Fant has 75 starts under his belt – and a somewhat even distribution of playing time at both Left and Right Tackle over the years. Those are good qualities for a back up swing tackle…..
This was a good pick up if Fant still has gas left in the tank having just turned 33.
I assume we’ll get to see how he looks in preseason games.
July 23rd, 2025 at 8:03 am
Joe’s: Is Donavan Smith an option at all?