Bucs Were An Offense Of Walking Wounded
January 27th, 2026
Offensive injuries killed the Bucs.
How badly were the Bucs banged up last year? It’s hard to imagine they could be worse this fall.
The Bucs sent out a release with a lot of season-ending stats and facts. And one is very likely the reason the Bucs never made the playoffs: injuries on offense.
Their projected starting-five on the offensive line didn’t start one game together. Either Tristan Wirfs was out or Ben Bredeson or Cody Mauch or Luke Goedeke.
In the final games, an out-of-town reporter claimed the Bucs were starting two third-string guards.
How bad did the offense get hurt? The Bucs stated that of the preseason projected starting 12 on offense, a total of 90 starts were missed.
Only two players on the projected starting lineup on offense didn’t miss a game, center Graham Barton and quarterback Baker Mayfield.
And the way Mayfield played in the final nine games and everyone knowing he had at least one injury he was dealing with, Mayfield maybe shouldn’t have made all of those starts.
Joe understands a lot of folks blame Bucs trainers and medical staff. But for years, maybe a full decade, the Bucs regularly had one of the healthiest offensive lines in the game. So Joe isn’t sure that all of a sudden these medical professionals got stupid.
The 2026 season cannot be that bad, can it?
January 27th, 2026 at 12:08 am
While the defense needs a lot of attention this offseason, G TE & RB has to be addressed, no?
January 27th, 2026 at 12:27 am
So maybe Licht does need to go too!
If he is responsible for drafting fragile glass, twigs, brittle players then he is almost as bad as the HC/Dc being the architect of this dumpster fire!
January 27th, 2026 at 12:48 am
Perhaps we should end the lingerie football training camps?
January 27th, 2026 at 2:17 am
The strength and conditioning staff seriously need to be evaluated. Two years in a row where we have a team that’s faced injuries far beyond the norm. I also think Bowles constant walkthrough practices has something to do with it as well.
January 27th, 2026 at 2:43 am
At least Bowles went soft on them in camp to keep them healthy.
January 27th, 2026 at 2:55 am
The strength and conditioning staff seriously needs evaluation, but really, blame the Players Association. Their insistance on easier off season work is why they are suffering now.
January 27th, 2026 at 4:02 am
That picture of Mike really brings it home. Luckily he came back from it looking physically ready to dominate too.
Buccaneer Bonzai and Trey – Agreed. Everything should be under evaluation including their conditioning team. And also blame the Players Association to do better too. Yes, a lot of other blame to go around too. And what happened in the latest NFLPA report cards? That is where players evaluate nutrition, locker room, weight/strength, staff, family treatment, … And where we can compare other teams too.
Rod – Agreed, should not just be doing walk through and only meetings instead of actual practicing.
January 27th, 2026 at 5:26 am
The real challenge for trainers is the heat. Now, 90-degree weather doesn’t cause the injury, but it adds stress to muscles. If your body is even slightly dehydrated, everything shuts down, and cramping begins. If it gets to the point of heat stroke, the player won’t be right the entire season. Have more practices inside and make them tougher, not easier.
January 27th, 2026 at 6:37 am
I hate this picture
January 27th, 2026 at 6:40 am
As per usual, teams with less injuries made the playoffs while teams with more injuries did not. I’m not sure it’s even possible to have more injuries than this- though I don’t wanna tempt fate. Two years ago, our secondary was decimated. This past year it was our offense. It’s about time we have a lucky year.
January 27th, 2026 at 6:41 am
Todd Bowles sucks. Until the fraud is fired you’re going to see the same garbage you’ve seen for the last 3 plus years. His resume screams that. I don’t appreciate rewarding a complete and utter failure with a contract extension. 90% of the fan base wanted him fired and the brain dead Glazers didn’t even force him to relinquish the DC responsibilities. The NFL is a what have you done for me lately league EXCEPT if your name is Todd Bowles. This organization is gonna get what they deserve.
January 27th, 2026 at 6:59 am
Of course everyone here can be 100% right. I have no idea. The difference is I don’t pretend that I do.
But I am sure everyone just loves it when someone outside their work circle tells them how to do their job. How many people that think the strength and conditioning team need to go have been to a gym the last 5 years?
Joe, you must love it when people tell you how to write content.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:11 am
Drunk Buc I think that’s the point of having comments section. So everyone can express their opinions even if they are wrong. 😂
January 27th, 2026 at 7:22 am
Yes wow that Wild when you see it like that. I believe the defense needs to be addressed but the Bucs most certainly can do both between free agency an the Draft. Bucs need LBs, OLBs, DT, OG, RB, TE an Jason can absolutely do this
January 27th, 2026 at 7:32 am
Yet, somehow Bowles avoided injuries and was able to coach the entire season.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:34 am
And, come-on Joe, write better!
January 27th, 2026 at 7:35 am
As per usual, teams with less injuries made the playoffs while teams with more injuries did not. I’m not sure it’s even possible to have more injuries than this- though I don’t wanna tempt fate. Two years ago, our secondary was decimated. This past year it was our offense. It’s about time we have a lucky year!
January 27th, 2026 at 7:41 am
Any updates on Cody? So happy that McMillan recovered so well.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:50 am
I was hoping that Klein would show up as another Licht late round miracle lineman but apparently not. That may have made a difference but apparently he can’t even get on the field. We definitely need to see about that in the draft somewhere down in the late middle rounds. Some free agent depth might be a good idea as well. There is no doubt that injuries screwed the plan and Grizzard wasn’t prepared to handle all of that on the fly through out the season.
I have no doubt that Mayfield was banged up more than usual. The problems with the line were forcing him to perform miracles early in the season. I love his playing style but its hard to do that all through the season.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:52 am
If your GM puts together a team with quality backups and makes moves at the trade deadline-Oh yeah we are talking about Jason Licht-Sorry.
January 27th, 2026 at 7:56 am
What is the defense’s excuse?
January 27th, 2026 at 8:00 am
Why is Klein still on the team?
He was our #7 OG.
We started 5 guys at guard ahead of him.
He clearly can’t play. Why waste à roster spot on him for another season?
January 27th, 2026 at 8:05 am
The turf adds a lot to the wounded, it’s one of the reasons pointed at for the increase in turf toe injuries. And the lack of training to get the soft tissue into playing shape. And the NFL wants to add another game, SMH. Is it any wonder players grab as much cash as they can before they’re hung out to dry? The game is a shadow of itself.
January 27th, 2026 at 8:22 am
Meh, his contract goes thru ’27
January 27th, 2026 at 8:29 am
Boy this off season has been a success for the Glazers brass. They have the media talking offense and injuries and even fired their OC. Pretty good magic trick they’ve pulled.
So the offense was riddled with injuries. CHECK
THE QB was playing hurt. CHECK
So fire the OC who was working with a MASH unit? Check
The defense didn’t suffer many injuries and the defense sucked.
Keep the DC? Check
January 27th, 2026 at 8:30 am
“Starting 12”? Explains a lot…
January 27th, 2026 at 8:58 am
That roster looks….not very good.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:33 am
We fans have to just watch it better and comment better.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Well said, fan. Just can’t make sense of this organizational mess.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:47 am
This reminds me that Barton did a pretty good job at LT for Tristen and that UDFA Ben Chukwuma played solidly despite his lack of quality competition at Georgia State.
I wonder if Ko Kieft was an underrated blocker and his loss was bigger than we recognize.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:48 am
“ How badly were the Bucs banged up last year? It’s hard to imagine they could be worse this fall.”
Really? What changes have been made to the medial and training staff? What studies have been done to try to find the cause of leading the league in no contact injuries in each of the last two years. They keep doing the same thing expecting a different result. Of course it could be worse this fall.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:51 am
JmBob
Kieft. Spot on.
January 27th, 2026 at 9:51 am
The football equivalence of an Abusive relationship!
So what you’re saying is that even with the Offensive troubles, ALL BUT 2 games were Won by the Offense and “pretty much” ALL BUT 2 games were lost BY the Defense!
Ok, maybe not exactly what you were saying BUT then again what is the article about? Is it the offense, defence, or the in Most regards, failing training staff or the incredibly under performing “strength and conditioning department”? Is That what this article is about? It’s unclear…
I mean I’m More Than curious about the success rate of All the other strength and conditioning departments regarding the “health of the team” around the league. It seems to me that the unsung strength and conditioning department has either been equally or EVEN far less successful than the defense! Under Bowls and Licht, this Entire “grid iron” performance is “Questionable”, AT THE VERY BEST …. BUT how about that strength and conditioning departments Record of success??? I only bring up Lichts name because IT’S MORE THAN UNCLEAR JUST WHO’S WEARING THE PANTS! Who’s call is it? Who’s “incharge” of overall performance of the team? It seems “LIKELY” if not only fair that BOTH are equally GUILTY of such an “amateur hour” running of the “important part” of the whole operation, THOUGH… THE LAZLERS MUST BE injected as the abusive absentee ownership group THAT THEY MOST CERTAINLY ARE!
SUFFERING this CLEAR CONTINUENCE OF A PATHETICALLY DISHEARTENING and UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FOOTBALL TEAM THAT WE CHOSE TO TAKE A CHANCE ON SO LONG AGO, HAS NOW TURNED OUT TO BE EXACTLY AKIN TO A CONTINUINGLY ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOVELESS (onesided) GIRLFRIEND….. WE ALL KNOW HOW IT ENDS!
Where IS the love and Respect for the fans? If they loved us fans then “SOMEHOW they’d FIND AWAY” to make us AWARE OF IT! The Caring owners WOULD CLUE THE FANS IN on what “their” intentions ARE… If they “cared about us in the slightest” that is …
What We “ACTUALLY GET IS” their LACKLUSTER INTEREST IN US, and a FACEFULL of THEIR NEGLEGENT INTENSIONS. All the while they outstretch they greedy arms and DEMAND MORE! MORE GOLD!
“I’M QUITE SURE” THEY SEE YOU AND ME AS THE TRUE SUCKERS OF THE UNIVERSE AND TREAT US AS ” Re TURDED MONEY COWS” ACCORDINGLY! Suckling on OUR WALLETS UNTIL IT’S DRAINED DRY!
Some of you, “A GREAT MANY OF YOU” seemed to have it twisted. Your thinking IS backwards. The PROOF of your abuse is crystal clear. It’s YOU that refuses to see it..
How does in feel being “that chick” guys? Are the Lazlers making YOU “feel good” about Your fandom? Just BE realistic to yourself for just this moment and TAKE A GOOD LOOK at the situation…
ISN’T IT THAT “WE ARE” THE DESPERATELY REJECTED AND INCREDIBLY STUPID “ABUSED GIRLFRIEND” IF WE CONTINUE TO SUCK ON THIS ROTTEN EGG OF AN OWNERSHIP GROUPS RED HEADED STEPCHILD OF A BACK HAND WE’VE “NOT ONLY” JUST RECEIVED “AGAIN” BY THESE COULDN’T CARE LESS OWNERS, BUT TO CONTINUE TO KEEP BEGGING FOR MORE ABSENTEE OWNER ABUSE MAKES “YOU” UNLOYAL TO YOURSELF!
And let me just ask…. WHERE IS THE LOYALTY TO THYSELF? Why again do YOU deserve to be confused, abused, and generally UNHAPPY by these people who couldn’t care less about Your Fandom? O you like the cool flag? Well so do I but I DON’T LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO “BOUGHT THAT FLAG TAKING A WHIZ ON ME AND TELLING ME IT’S RAINING! I personally….. I’M LIKELY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT! But that’s me.
It’s YOU whom don’t understand just how abused YOUR “FANSHIP” IS……
And for THOSE….. Those who would argue that I’m No Fan for being NON WILLING TO CONTINUE TO SUFFER THIS “STOCKHOLM SYNDROME”, WELL YOU CAN JUST KISS MY ………..
January 27th, 2026 at 9:55 am
“And the way Mayfield played in the final nine games and everyone knowing he had at least one injury he was dealing with, Mayfield maybe shouldn’t have made all of those starts.“
*Final 11 games
There were signs
January 27th, 2026 at 10:14 am
And they still gave maximum effort. They knew they had to carry this team. They got Zero help from their Defense. Baker played hurt the 2nd half of the season. He knew they had to outscore opponents. The Bucs ‘ defense truly sucked. They never got off the field. It was 3rd down and 28, The Bucs still could not stop a parked Bus.
January 27th, 2026 at 11:52 am
Geez, will some of you just lighten up, it’s just football. A boys game played by grown men who get paid lots of money to run around with an oblong object based on silly made up rules.
The outcome of the games don’t reflect nor impact the status of the Tampa, the status of its citizens, nor the size of any ones reproductive organs.
It’s just entertainment…..
January 27th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Mike Johnson Says:
January 27th, 2026 at 10:14 am
And they still gave maximum effort. They knew they had to carry this team. They got Zero help from their Defense. Baker played hurt the 2nd half of the season. He knew they had to outscore opponents. The Bucs ‘ defense truly sucked. They never got off the field. It was 3rd down and 28, The Bucs still could not stop a parked Bus.
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Great line and true but RodMunch and his sisters believe the Bucs had a great 2025 defense, as well as, great O line play. Fun watching Rams and Seahawks protect their QB’s and make tackles all over the field. Bucs do neither. How TB survived all this is a wonder.
January 27th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
sounds like we blamed our oc and fired him when we were lucky to have him and we did well considering the injuries.his only mistake was backup qb. he didnt mess up the special teams or waste millions on hassan reddick
my guess is last years oc will be a hc soon and win a super bowl. we have given away some good assistants in the past.
we did develop a good rookie tackle and 2 receivers, maybe one more lineman would have helped, but if so, our oc would have gotten a head job elsewhere due to the start he had and us advancing a little farther.
i dont hate robinson.