Bucs List Kameron Johnson As No. 1 Punt Returner
September 2nd, 2025
“Jason, Tez makes me a little nervous.”
Perhaps this indicates just how much rookie Tez Johnson spooked Bucs head coach Todd Bowles in Preseason Week 2.
That was Johnson’s NFL debut in Pittsburgh.
The videos below show the good and the ugly.
The seventh-round pick out of the University of Oregon fielded a first-quarter punt at the 14 yard line, ran straight, juked right at the 19 yard line and flashed his elite change of direction. Johnson turned back left and was gone. His inaugural NFL return was to the Bucs’ 45 yard line — a 31-yarder.
But Johnson also bungled a bouncing punt that the Steelers recovered in the third quarter deep in Bucs territory. That led to a quick Pittsburgh touchdown. Johnson also seemed to misjudge a fair catch earlier in the game that cost the Bucs a harmless eight yards.
Johnson sat out Preseason Week 1 with a hamstring injury.
Per the Bucs’ initial regular season depth chart released this afternoon, Kameron Johnson, a second-year receiver/returner, is the Bucs’ No. 1 punt returner. He returned one punt last season for 11 yards, and returned 18 total in four year with the Barton College Bulldogs.
Joe’s not sure the depth chart is accurate or will be adhered to. Bowles likey will clarify at his Wednesday news conference.
Rookie Tez Johnson nearly takes the punt back to midfield
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September 2nd, 2025 at 2:52 pm
Or possibly it’s an indicator on how much they value him as the #3 wr
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:11 pm
So now we know why they kept Kam Johnson.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Greene looked good returning punts also, and he didn’t drop his pass in the endzone. Johnson dropped two passes in one preseason game. He dropped a bunny in the endzone in a regular season game. This is the guy they trust. Roberto Duran has nothing on him.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Tez looks like a lot better receiver than Kam (Tez does not seem to have the dropsies like Kam), but Kam looks just as good if not better than Tez on punt returns. Makes sense.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:35 pm
I think it’s more about Teddy ‘Hospital Ball’ Bridgewater sending McMillian to the IR, and Tez moving up into a top four WR spot, and not wanting to use him in the return game for now since they need him at receiver.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Tez, in spite of being labeled a dwarf and wasted pick by some of our “expert” commenters, is going to be bigger piece of the WR picture than anyone expected with J-Mac out.
I’ll take him, Tez, or Greene fielding punts… Just catch the ball and no fumbles!
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:37 pm
I had high hopes for Johnson last season, but gave up on him as he was perpetually injured. Let’s see if he can make it through practice this week without stubbing his toe. But if not, Garret Greene will be a worthy replacement, I believe.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Last meeting with the Falcons they Punted once and 3 times the game before.
JustOneGame hit it on the head. No way you put your #3 or #4 Receivers back fielding punts.
Treveon Henderson touched the ball for the first time and took a kickoff the distance. Doubt Patriots will have their Second Round Back Up Running Back handling the ball on special teams.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:41 pm
I rather have Greene or Wlliams returning.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:45 pm
Keep in mind the veteran contract rule, where if they’re on the roster week 1 their salaries are guaranteed. I think Kam is basically on a one week deal, and will really need to do something special to be on the team next week at this time. Not rooting against him, I really liked him last preseason, but I think he’s basically roster filler material for a week until they resign one of the vets they let go. But, who knows, I could be wrong – its obviously pure speculation.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:45 pm
could be to keep his nerves down until he acclimates to real game- real player speed.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:48 pm
He’ll fumble twice on Sunday and he’ll be cut Monday. Falcons 31 Bucs 20
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:49 pm
agree with Rod Munch, it is because now Tez will be getting used in the 11 on 11 play, so like Rod said, perhaps this could of been avoided if McMillan was not expected to be airborne to catch Bridgewater’s hospital ball in a worthless preseason game designed to make Bridgewater look good so the Bucs could cut Kyle Trask.
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:49 pm
I’m with rod on this. Imagine if he got hurt retuning with an already depleted group of receivers? People would be calling for his head. Can’t afford to have Tez get injured. Let the last man do it
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:53 pm
🏈🙄 Tez Johnson earned his place on the Bucs team. GO BUCS!!
September 2nd, 2025 at 3:54 pm
Kam could be one of the 1st guys to get cut when our injured players come back
not sold at all
September 2nd, 2025 at 4:12 pm
Kam is terrible, at least Palmer didn’t drop punts and was a better WR. But since teams aren’t forced to punt against the Bucs defense, probably won’t make a much of a difference who is the punt returner.
September 2nd, 2025 at 4:48 pm
Haha this does not give me any confidence. Kam is dropping popcorn balls wide open in the endzone and he’s more trustworthy catching punts!?
Tez first game and he screwed up but maybe it’s outta the way now. Also, this is Bowles attitude with the offense. Scared, conservative. If Tez lost the job cause of that fumble… how does it instill confidence in him next time? I’m not saying players need to be coddled and shouldn’t get consequences for mistakes but there is a line there and when it comes to the O… Bowles doesn’t seem to know where it is. KEEP THE BALL IN THE OFFENSES AND BEST PLAYERS HANDS! (When Wirfs is back at least)
September 2nd, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Returning a punt would actually require Bolwes’ defense to force a punt. Maybe he’ll get a chance in week5.
September 2nd, 2025 at 5:06 pm
That 57 yarder was more impressive than anything Tez did returning punts and Kam looked a little more explosive, because he’s faster than Tez.
September 2nd, 2025 at 5:10 pm
I thought he made the roster but would be inactive. What WR is going to be inactive?
September 2nd, 2025 at 5:29 pm
It could mean they will be using Tez more in the passing game?
September 2nd, 2025 at 7:22 pm
Have a thought here…
I wonder if Tez is actually going to get the start as the slot receiver in the Falcons game? If that’s the case, then it totally makes sense for the punt return duties to be given away….
September 2nd, 2025 at 7:54 pm
@Bucsfan1998
He may not “start” but he’s going to be used as a WR (slot and Y) a lot unless he screws something up. 3rd downs and as a man-beater he should feast. My biggest question with him is can he block ?
September 2nd, 2025 at 8:33 pm
Two will be watching the game as an inactive.
Should be sKam Johnson watching. It won’t matter. Forcing zero punts so you wear out the opposing offense with long drives is a Tdod Belows staple. Washington did what they wanted. Tragically comical Todd also wanted them to do that. What a genius!
September 2nd, 2025 at 8:34 pm
Tez not two. Autocorrect sux
September 2nd, 2025 at 8:58 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 2nd, 2025 at 5:06 pm
That 57 yarder was more impressive than anything Tez did returning punts and Kam looked a little more explosive, because he’s faster than Tez.
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Everyone had a great return vs the Bills.
Hoping for the best of Kam, since it would be a good thing for the Bucs, but he’s not ‘more explosive’ than Tez, and probably isn’t faster in a straight line (and don’t quote his BS 40 time, go watch film, and look at Tez’s in game speed, he’s way faster than 4.5 40 in underwear).
Hopefully Kam looks great as returner and is the Karl Williams, that would be awesome. However he’s likely he’s just the fill in guy until Godwin is back, and then Tez is likely the returner, but Kam has a shot to win the job if he looks good.
September 2nd, 2025 at 9:05 pm
Remember who picks the starters. Ramirez was good at rushing the passer. So he was cut.
sKam is neither good as a receiver or proven as a returner, but Todd will have him returning and also grilling burgers on the sidelines. Versatility.
September 2nd, 2025 at 10:10 pm
Preseason meant nothing. The roster will settle down after week 2
September 2nd, 2025 at 10:20 pm
Palmer made me nervous every time he fielded a punt last year but at least he never muffed one. Be great to see us break one and we’ll maybe see 2 or 3 guys or 4 giving it a shot this year. We sure can’t call our punt return team settled.
September 3rd, 2025 at 5:37 am
Aqualung … ‘Returning a punt would actually require Bolwes’ defense to force a punt.’
Comments like that intrigue me Aqualung because they always get me wondering what the real stat was. IOW how did the Bucs fare in terms of forcing punts?
On checking the stats, we sucked, big time. Bucs ranked #28, forcing an average of only 3.3 punts per game. For comparison, the Browns were the best, forcing an average of 5.0 punts per game.
Got to wondering why, so looked at FG attempts (ie, if opponents weren’t punting very much, perhaps it was because they were already in FG range?). And yup, that correlates. Bucs allowed an average of 2.6 FG attempts per game in 2024 … and led the NFL in that stat (allowed MORE than any other team … whoopee). Certainly 1 stat that helps explain why the Bucs’ defense allowed more points in 2024 (385 points) than we have in any year since 2019, Todd’s first year as DC here.
September 3rd, 2025 at 7:02 am
The special team coach gets a lot of say on who is returning punts — a more crucial pick than who returns kickoffs.
That guy is picking the guy that 1.won’t drop or muff the punt, 2. won’t back off and let a punt that he should have caught drop, and 3. best return potential.
At this point, I’ll give coach McGaughey the benefit of the doubt that he picked the best punt returner.
September 3rd, 2025 at 7:16 am
Wow! That is a surprise. Screwed the pooch with that fumble I guess.
Third string Kick return man? Will he be active on game days? Not listed at all as a WR? Huh?
Go Bucs!
September 3rd, 2025 at 7:20 am
“Hoping for the best of Kam, since it would be a good thing for the Bucs, but he’s not ‘more explosive’ than Tez, and probably isn’t faster in a straight line (and don’t quote his BS 40 time, go watch film, and look at Tez’s in game speed, he’s way faster than 4.5 40 in underwear).”
“Go watch film” when the metrics used to indicate speed pre-draft all say Kam is indeed a step faster than Tez. It’s only “BS” because it doesn’t support the case you’re trying to make and that’s cool, for you. Kam is about 20lbs heavier, stronger and faster than Tez, make that make sense with game film lol