Jamel Dean Addresses Playing On Borrowed Time
October 19th, 2025
The Jamel Dean comeback is more than just what’s on the surface of his four strong games in the 2025 season for the 5-1 Bucs.
Dean missed one game and most of another with an injury.
Dean has sort of been on the comeback trail since college. He was a third-round pick by the Bucs in 2019 after two knee reconstructions and another knee issue.
That’s left the athletic cornerback brimming with gratitude and toward a borrowed-time mentality.
“So I just assumed that, you know, not having a meniscus in my right knee, had to get both my ACL’s repaired so I was like, ‘Well, I’m already behind the 8-ball,’ Dean told the Salty Dogs podcast. “So I’m just like, ‘if I could at least get like three or four years [in the NFL], I’ll feel like accomplished something. And then I ended up just surpassing all that. So I was just like, ‘well, I’m just taking it one year at a time.’
“…So you just gotta be grateful that you got the opportunity to just go out there and play this game. Because at one point, I thought I wasn’t gonna be able to play football.”
Candid stuff there from the seven-year veteran, a starter on the Bucs’ Super Bowl-winning team.
Joe loves the Dean story, especially the fact that he and the entire Bucs secondary are healthy for tomorrow night’s clash in Detroit.
October 19th, 2025 at 10:45 am
Get on em JD
October 19th, 2025 at 10:45 am
Meanwhile, Detroit’s secondary is all out of the game. We really should squash them if we can protect Baker and Evans and Egbuka play…
October 19th, 2025 at 10:49 am
The excuse cupboard is bare.
October 19th, 2025 at 10:52 am
Succeeding in the NFL
October 19th, 2025 at 10:55 am
Succeeding in the NFL is no easy thing. Tough gig.
October 19th, 2025 at 11:06 am
Joseph and branch are out for Detroit
October 19th, 2025 at 11:10 am
Boy… Dean really was in his own head for years. Three or four actually. And he Main reason why so many gave up on him. It got to the point of “take a pay cut or kick rocks” …
I’m not sure if that’s what finally woke him up, but he’s “self aware”” now.
I think what we’re a seeing is him forgiving himself. I believe he felt guilty for excepting the money and not playing up to it. Which made it even worse for him. It wasn’t a devious ploy. It was his “Own Body or Bad Luck” with injuries that was getting in his head (feeling his mortality, feeling guilty, feeling unworthy) that keep him from being the man we’re seeing now.
NOW… He’s playing free and easy. He’s playing ball without guilt. He’s actually having fun again. And he’s kicking a$$ with ease.. Remember when Super Glue couldn’t keep a ball in his hands for the interceptions?
October 19th, 2025 at 11:13 am
2 sacks of Goff and 2 INTs tomorrow. Bucs win 31 – 27.
October 19th, 2025 at 11:17 am
It’s a lot tougher to type anything up without mistakes on a “tiny phone” …. Plus, half the time it won’t let me back up and proof read so I can clean up grammar mistakes.
A lot tougher…
October 19th, 2025 at 11:24 am
Good stuff Joe!
Don’t remember reading about his knee issues. I now have a way different perpective.
Tough hombre. That he can cover NFL recievers on a bum knee is amazing to me. Lots of dudes sitting at the house who could not handle that. No meniscus? Wow!
Go Bucs!
October 19th, 2025 at 11:24 am
Makes ssense that he needs to keep his weight down to lite. He looks built in that pic.
October 19th, 2025 at 11:34 am
A cb’s main job is to guard the WRs. Interceptions are flashy and nice and get attention from sportswriters. But PBU, completion percentage, QB ratings are the bread of the position. And the best tell of all is how often/how seldom the ball comes their way.
Dean came to the Bucs with knee problems as this article points out. He also came here with 4.3 speed and 6’2” size. A made-for-Bowles central casting big corner.
He’s had some good years and some great games. No doubt he has talent and tools. Great to watch him put it together.
It’s a shame he’s not likely to be back next year. Cornerback don’t grow on trees, and good (if not great) corners are rare AND expensive. Jason lit a fire under him for this year and it’s worked out so far. Dean can take us far in the playoffs and then get a better contract. Sounds like a win all around.
October 19th, 2025 at 11:40 am
Injuries are going to happen in this game, but if you play like your scared of injury your absolutely going to get an injury. Playing scared leads to far worse injury I should say.
October 19th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
I’m just not feeling the I’ve got to “Beat the Drums” until It’s Heard in the heavens above, about our defensive problems. It’s NOT the “talent isn’t being trained and coached up” anymore. I SEE the changes. It’s down to the strategy and the movement in the game. I’ve seen a change. I’m NOT completely sold on how Bowles is going to turn out quite yet but I’ve Seen many of the changes that I was pounding my drum over. So I’m at a point of being able to CHEER vs Jeer…
O, We’re GONNA WIN THIS GAME! I know it’ll seem like a draw with us down most of our “serious” offensive weapons BUT in the depth department, we’ve got them right where we want them. Our guys (depth) are BETTER on our Offensive side of the ball than they are on their defensive side of they ball (especially without a decent secondary), BY MILES…
In my mind, for us to lose this game, we’d have to have a total meltdown.. And the ONE THING we’re Not very good at this year is Melting Down, and Quiting… WE DON’T QUIT! WE DON’T GIVE UP! AND WE’RE NOT SCARED OF ANYBODY! In fact the way we’ve played this year…. The more we get punched, THE HARDER WE PUNCH BACK! A Great example of that is Bomb versus Bomb in the Seahawks game. “Back to Back”. It was the purest statement of “I WANT IT MORE THAN YOU”!
For me it Really IS about what Mayfield has been able to do a his WILL POWER to WIN. It’s a team sport, oh yeah. BUT even Bakers detractors Can’t Deny his importance to the success of this season and the team.. In other words, as long as Baker doesn’t get hurt, We’re IN Any and Every Game NO MATTER WHO WE’RE UP AGAINST! So… don’t get hurt Baker…
The Only true fear I have for us and this game is that it’s a night game.. In fact, I believe it’s the last curse we still HAVE TO Break! Monday Night games and week day games have been a Literal Thorne in our sides.. We FINALLY BROKE the week day curse… And now IT’S TIME….. The Monday Night curse is GOING DOWN!
October 19th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
We already did that against Houston on Monday Night Football.
October 19th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
With all the money they will have to pay Baker the Bucs won’t b resign him.
October 19th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
Wow, I had no idea Jamel Dean was dealing with all those knee issues pre-Bucs. No meniscus? Yeow! He sure helped them win the 2nd SB. I’m glad he has that ring. His 49er game sack reminded me of Ronde, Lynch, and rest of the great secondary of the Dungy Defense. 49ers even injured aren’t cupcakes. They’re a quality squad and have been so for years. I’m glad our secondary is now healthy. Sure hope we can defang few Motown kitties tomorrow night. Go Bucs!!
October 19th, 2025 at 2:13 pm
Love Dean.
Not only is he a very good corner but seems like a really good guy.
Honesty, acceptance, gratitude 🙏🏼
October 19th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Great stuff!!!
Dean has been playing good ball
Sounds like he’s willing to do a 1year deal next year lol…
GO BUCS
October 19th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
I didn’t know about his Auburn injuries. Ouch! Being a MNF game, it’s a great opportunity for Dean to showcase his talents before going on the market. I won’t mind if he balls out and leaves the Bucs next year.
October 19th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
Man what a solid story! I know he gets it from Ira, but I’ve always thought Dean has been a pretty damn good corner for us. He doesn’t give up a lot. Like Lee says, he’s our best corner. Sucks he gets hurt a couple few games every season. Crazy he’s been battling injuries so long. I never knew his knees were so bad. He’s already super athletic. Just imagine how great he’d be if he had 2 good knees and wasn’t so injury prone. Sounds like a really good dude and his outlook is A1.
October 19th, 2025 at 7:20 pm
I’ve been a Dean fan since his Auburn days. He and Davis starting CB’s. He was a comeback story in college and a solid CB2. Glad he’s had a good career and hope he can finish strong with Bucs.
October 19th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
Nice background intel Joe! I was like a lot here not aware of that regarding JD. I have been tough on him for not tackling like an HFL player. His hands catching oskies have betrayed him until recently. His speed and ability to cover has always been there. Knowing his knee issues now I am in amazement he can play as he does! Props to you JD you are a tough son of a gun!
October 19th, 2025 at 7:55 pm
McCollum is an inch taller – but in that picture, Dean looks much ‘bigger’.
Dude is jacked – look at those arms.
Jamel is playing the best I’ve ever seen him as a Buccaneer this year.
If he keeps playing well and stays relatively injury free the rest of the season – I could actually see Licht making Dean a substantial 1 year offer next year – perhaps $10-12M which would be well below market value if he keeps ballin – and Dean might just take that below market offer too….
October 19th, 2025 at 9:59 pm
I’m still certain he’s gone after the season because the Bucs won’t be able to match what another team will offer but I hope he stays. The depth he provides is great. He’s having a great season so far and when he is healthy, he is way way better than most Buc fans give him credit for.
I honestly think the defense against Detroit is kind of simple. Play tight, keep a safety over top with Brown. That’s it.
Other than him, the whole passing attack is the tight end and running backs.
Having all the DBs back healthy should help tremendously. Hopefully that extra split second allows a good pass rush. They cannot let GOFF stand there like a statue
October 20th, 2025 at 9:07 am
I knew about the ACL reconstructions but didn’t know his meniscus was gone. He will be having that knee replaced in the future for sure. Good player, always liked him. Teams throw away from him when he’s on the field. Only low IQ fans attack him for anything other than his lack of availability.
As for him being jacked… he looks like he’s in decent shape. I wonder what you guys would say about me.
October 20th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Dean HAS a meniscus, an artificial one, not his natural one. Without a literal meniscus, meaning bone-on-bone, the pain would be horrendous and very few people could even walk, let alone run.
As an ex-orthopedic tech, the principle is people cannot perform without an actual meniscus. He must have an artificial one to be able to run.
Dean’s admission of this treatment gives me a LOT of appreciation for what he’s doing, it’s impressive. It means he’s overcome a ton of adversity, and I might offer his knee probably gives him some pain and swelling issues – artificial joints are never the same as the natural ones.