The March Towards 53
July 27th, 2025
“Dang it, I thought I saved the number for that Wake Forest left tackle.”
So later this morning, Day 4 of Bucs Training Camp 2025 kicks off. Ought to be real training camp weather. Heat advisories are expected. It is not supposed to be partly cloudy or windy, which saved the Bucs and fans on Days 2 and 3 of camp.
Hydrate!
A couple of days before training camp began, Jenna Laine of ESPN took a stab at what the Bucs’ 53-man roster will look like in a little over a month, Aug. 30, when the rosters have to be shaved to 53.
There were some surprises for Joe.
* Laine has the Bucs only keeping five receivers. That would surprise Joe. One Laine thinks will be on the outside looking in is veteran Sterling Shepard. Joe is dubious about this.
When Joe watches practices and takes notes, he focuses on the first team, of course, and the second team. Guys who don’t get snaps or seldom get snaps with the second team, well, there is a reason for that. Either coaches aren’t satisfied with them or they haven’t yet demonstrated an ability (yet) to hang with dudes on the second or first team.
In other words, guys who can’t get many snaps with the second team better be special teams warriors.
That is always a tell for Joe, if guys can get snaps with the second team. And so far in training camp, Shepard has been targeted a bunch of times playing second team offense. Good sign for him.
Throw in the fact that Shepard is a seasoned vet and he is tight with Mayfield, for Shepard not to make the team would tell Joe he’s really fallen off the map. That has yet to be demonstrated in practice.
Joe hasn’t seen Rakim Jarrett get many targets with the second team. Ryan Miller has, some. (This guy Miller just finds a way to hang around, doesn’t he?)
Laine also has receiver Tez Johnson being retained over Palmer and Jarrett. Though it is early, Jarrett is getting scant targets with the second team. Not good.
* Now when it comes to bubble players, special teams is critical. Joe was once told years ago by a general manager that if a player doesn’t start and he doesn’t play special teams, he’s an endangered species.
* The following is somewhat rear-view mirror logic but Laine has “Big Gator” Desmond Watson making the team. Joe does not, and Joe concluded that before Watson was placed on the non-football injury list.
“This Joe” was not among those swallowing the hype over Watson. People think because the Eagles run the tush push, Watson’s job was secure since he’s 6-6, 449. Baloney. The Bucs are one of the very few teams that have (moderate) success against the tush push. So Team Glazer is supposed to pay Watson $840,000 (league minimum) in salary for, what, 12 plays all season, maybe? Really?
So no, “this Joe” was never on the Big Gator hype train. Cool story. Hope the kid reaches his dream. But, nah, Joe doesn’t expect it. Not with the Bucs. Not this year.
Since Laine’s story was published, Watson is struggling to lose the necessary weight just to be able to safely practice.
Watson has access to the best health, training and medical resources around and a strong support system to lose weight and he still can’t? That’s not a football issue, that’s a life issue. Joe honestly feels bad for the guy, forget his football career.
* Laine believes the Bucs keep outside linebacker José Ramirez, one of the Bucs’ weekday warriors who allegedly gives Tristan Wirfs fits in closed practices yet despite this cannot buy his way onto the field on Sundays. Color Joe dubious. The Bucs signed a big-name free agent outside linebacker and drafted one this past spring.
And, at least early on, Chris Braswell is displaying a pulse. That is not good for a guy (Ramirez) who last year was on the bottom of the depth chart at outside linebacker. He’s going to need to ball out on special teams.
* The depth of the offensive line right now is a mess. So figuring out who makes the team there outside of the five starters, Charlie Heck and Elijah Klein, is anyone’s guess. Joe wiill take a stab and say after those seven, the Bucs will have dudes on the offensive line make the 53 who are not currently on the roster.
Joe has a strong hunch Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is going shopping for offensive line depth, at least when the rosters are whittled down next month as there should good buys in the bargain bin.
Sure, Joe knows there are Sua Opeta groupies out there. When is the last time anyone has seen the former Eagles guard take a snap? Anyone? Bueller? And he still cannot get on the practice field. This guy is a walking injury settlement.
Yeah, it stinks for Opeta, but what good is a guy who can’t even practice? That’s not how a team builds depth, banking on a backup who can’t stay active.
July 27th, 2025 at 12:11 am
Shepherd makes the team. Jarrett, Palmer, Miller, Johnson are history like Harold Hart. The dwarf better be able to return kicks or punts or something, in addition to the Vita dwarf hurl play to sack an immobile QB.
Bucs are stacked at WR.
July 27th, 2025 at 12:55 am
I’ll say they keep 5 wr and Tez makes the team and Shep doesn’t. They also keep 4 rb they seem to like Josh Williams.
July 27th, 2025 at 1:40 am
Shep is #6 at best… but he doesn’t play special teams, does he.
Tez is definitely making it as #5. If one of the other younger receivers shows some growth at receiver and plays ST, it’s bye bye Shep.
July 27th, 2025 at 1:59 am
Its way too early as we haven’t even seen anyone in pads yet much less under the lights of pre-season games….
But I’ll take a crack at the final 53 now and then see if injuries or someone’s play over the next 6 weeks necessitate changes….
QB (2) – Mayfield, Trask
RB (3) – Irving, White, Tucker
WR (6) – Evans, Godwin, Egbuka, McMillan, Tez Johnson, Shepard
TE (4) – Otton, Durham, Culp, Keift
OL (10) – Wirfs, Bredeson, Barton, Mauch, Goedeke, Heck, Klein, Majors, Opeta, Chukwuma
DL (6) – Vea, Kancey, Hall, Gaines, Roberts, Brewer
OLB (5) – Reddick, Diaby, Nelson, Braswell, Walker
ILB (4) – David, Dennis, Anthony Walker, Jones
Safety (4) – Winfield, Smith, Izien, JJ Roberts
CB (6) – McCollum, Dean, Parrish, Hall, Morrison, Vildor
K – McLaughlin
P – Dixon
LS – Deckers
July 27th, 2025 at 2:10 am
Darkhorses and/or bubble guys who MIGHT be able to earn a spot with stellar play and/or perhaps because of an injury, PUP or IR designation….
CB – Roman Parodie
ILB – John Bullock
OLB – Markees Watts
OLB – Jose Ramirez
RB – Josh Williams
S – Kaevon Merriweather
S – Shilo Sanders
OT – Luke Haggard
WR – Trey Palmer
WR – Kameron Johnson
July 27th, 2025 at 2:17 am
Only 5 wr would be nuts imo. Only way is if they put Godwin on pup or something so he didn’t count. Could you imagine if they were trying to ease him back and Evans hamstring bugs him? So you’re down to just 3 guys?
July 27th, 2025 at 2:24 am
Is Tez Johnson really a lock?
I mean he could get snapped like a twig.
July 27th, 2025 at 3:44 am
So the Bucs cut a 24 year old WR with 4 3 speed
Who caught 39 passes as a rookie, and keeya 32 year old WR
It don’t make sense to me, but I’m just a fan
July 27th, 2025 at 3:47 am
“”””keep a 32 year old WR “”””
July 27th, 2025 at 5:11 am
Big Gator has always been a project. Not sure why he is not begging his doctor for Ozempic or another injectable weight loss drug? In fact, his doctor should insist on it. He is a candidate for diabetes or worse if he doesn’t get rid of 75lbs fast. Hoping for the best for this guy. It would be fun seeing his on the field next to VV.
July 27th, 2025 at 5:11 am
I was rooting for Dez. Hoping he gets his dream too. Hoping to see more of Elijah. Thinking Tez will make the team too. Can’t wait for preseason.
Hydrate for sure, the heat is brutal. I participated in another outside event in Largo yesterday morning, and within 2 hours we were all feeling the sun and heat. Giving a lot of kudos to players and everyone else working outside for longer hours. That includes you Joe(s) and Irv!
July 27th, 2025 at 6:55 am
What is up with Rakim Jarret? He seems to make a crazy catch every year then he is disappears. He looks extremely athletic, is he just not mentally fit for the offense or injured? Ryan Miller isn’t a spectacular athlete and despite the one INT he gave up it seems Baker continues to target him. Maybe he is just consistent.
July 27th, 2025 at 6:58 am
Joe, I’m dubious about Shep making the 53.
You have valid points and I see the arguments you’re making. I don’t disagree with them; I’m just a little less sure that he’s a lock.
To me, Shep had too many incompletions that he should have caught, when he had the chance to step up last year.
He also had a few too many penalties called against him that a vet with his experience shouldn’t have had. It’s the number of them that stands out to me. Too many of them.
I’d lean toward Tez because of his ST possibilities and Ryan Miller because as you mentioned, he just seems to keep “hanging around”.
As for Jose, I agree with you and have asked myself the same thing for over a year. If the guy can give Tristan fits during the week, why aren’t we seeing him on Sundays? Something doesn’t add up here. I’m not saying in a bad way… just that actions and words are saying two different things.
With Dez, I’d love to see him make the team, but your point about the tush-push and $840K for 12 plays is a good one. Only time will tell.
On the O-line, I’ve been saying the same thing for about a week now… Jason Licht will be doing some bargain shopping as teams start to pare back their squads. Sua was supposedly beating out Ben for the starting job during the 2024 training camp, but as they say, “Your best ability is…”
July 27th, 2025 at 7:10 am
The one thing I will say about Desmond Watson is we don’t know how long this journey is, so it can be a long time before he is ready to practice while also making good progress. Longest journey / single step kind of thing.
For our WR room, I’m not expecting our favorite players cut to make it back to the practice squad. You know there are some WR poor teams just waiting for us to drop some people.
July 27th, 2025 at 7:18 am
Godwin, Wirfs, and Walker will end up on IR I’m guessing so room for both Tez, Shep, and Palmer or we TRADE Palmer. Shep could be a practice squad guy but he looks crisp at training camp and he is a trusted target.
July 27th, 2025 at 7:24 am
Hope Shep makes the team. Tez is not only making the team but he may be the late round pick of the draft. I like Pickgrins final 53. He hit the nail on the head I think.
July 27th, 2025 at 7:33 am
Teams can have up to 16 players on the practice squad and the Bucs used all 16 spots in ’23 & ’24. This leaves quite a bit of room for guys on the bubble and others that show potential. So in reality around 70 total should make the team in one way or another.
July 27th, 2025 at 7:45 am
Braswell: Yea – he makes the 53. A second round pick rarely gets cut after his rookie season. plus, Licht and Bowles are high on him.
Jake Majors Center: He makes the 53. Three year starter at Texas and perfect depth piece. He’s on his rookie contract and can probably fill in as a back up center and at both guard spots.
Tez Johnson WR: He makes the 53. Adequate WR for spot duty and a full time punt returner.
July 27th, 2025 at 7:55 am
Heat advisories are in effect, hytrate. I got a better idea Joe, move inside! Our first two games are indoors in domes. Wouldn’t it be smarter preparing for those games by practicing inside? What a waste of money building that Glazer shed when the powers at be are to stupid to use it properly.
July 27th, 2025 at 8:01 am
Shep can go on the PS like he did last year where as a vet he can’t be touched. That would make more sense than putting a good young prospect on the PS who can be snatched up.
July 27th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Not saying Shep is a lock. Just don’t think he’s on the outside looking in.
Don’t think the Bucs keep both Trey Palmer and Tez Johnson.
July 27th, 2025 at 8:12 am
Always tough to make those final cuts. This year it may boil down to who we can stash and who we can’t. Practice squad might look pretty danged impressive this year.
Add Ryan Miller even though the Joes and many here wrote the dude off over one play. The dude can play and blocks his tail off. Not to mention 131 ST snaps last year.
Go Bucs!
July 27th, 2025 at 8:31 am
Trey Palmer has full blown Dardenitis. He’s afraid to get hit, watching him return punts is worse than when Darden was running like a scared girl towards the sidelines. So, he is toast.
Shep plays at 110% all the time and he and Baker are tight and have chemistry. That’s a huge reason to keep him. I agree with others, Bucs will keep 6WR or even 7 to start the year if Chris is on PUP list. Keeping 5 WR after last year’s WR injury fest would be asinine,
Big Gator needs someone to sit him down and tell him the truth, and offer him a very tightly supervised program, almost like a drug rehab. He hasn’t got the discipline on his own and needs full time supervision to learn discipline while he loses weight.
July 27th, 2025 at 8:51 am
It’s refreshing to have such depth problems!
July 27th, 2025 at 9:20 am
i dont understand the opeta thing. time to cut him nothing personal. if he isnt ready after a year, when will he be?
July 27th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Jimmy – Opeta may well be dealing with something minor-ish right now – that’s unrelated to his injury last year. We don’t know why he’s not out there yet….
If he’s on the field practicing and playing in games within 2-3 weeks and doesn’t get hurt again prior to cut downs – then he likely makes the team and might even be the primary back up swing guard to start the season.