Todd Bowles Not Chatty About Al-Quadin Muhammad
June 13th, 2026
He’s working out, Todd Bowles said.
A big March free agent signing often gets overlooked quite a bit by both Bucs fans and Joe.
That would be edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 11 sacks last season. Pretty strong feat there by AQM. Why does Joe say that? Well, when is the last time you heard a guy get double-digit sacks in a season without starting a game?
That’s one reason Joe hasn’t typed about AQM much. Oh, Joe is happy as hell Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht broke down and signed a double-digit sack guy.
And while Joe was and is happy with the signing, Joe cannot get over how AQM never started a game last year for the Lions. Logic begs the question, if AQM really was this good, how could he not start one single game for a full season?
It’s just weird to Joe.
But there is another reason Joe hasn’t typed much lately about AQM. He’s been in hiding.
No, he has not been practicing at One Buc Palace. Is this Randy Gregory II?
No, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles said Thursday. AQM has been at One Buc Palace, but he hasn’t been on the field. AQM’s choice, Bowles said, reminding the local pen and mic club that OTAs are voluntary.
“He’s been great in the classroom,” Bowles said, with no hint of his famous sarcasm. “He works out. He’s in the weightroom and everything else.”
Bowles noted he has to be careful with AQM next week in mandatory minicamp since AQM hasn’t practiced during underwear football season. Bowles doesn’t want him hurt.
Then things got a little weird.
AQM is at One Buc Palace but not practicing? Is he hurt? Reporters wanted to know but Bowles got a wee bit testy with the questions, which is uncommon for him. Almost like Bowles was protecting or covering for someone or something.
“It’s voluntary,” Bowles said firmly of AQM’s on-field absence. “It’s voluntary.”
AQM is physically fine, Bowles made clear.
Well, at least AQM is at One Buc Palace. But as far as anyone not employed by the team, he’s a rumor as he hasn’t been seen on the practice fields.
That is expected to change next week as minicamp participation is mandatory. Unless there is an injury.
June 13th, 2026 at 12:24 am
I think AQM probably came here to finally become a starter, like Shaq Barrett, and now we have a rookie 1st round draft pick that will push start bcuz of politics.
I can understand AQM being a bit frustrated by that.
He is currently our most proven pass rusher.
June 13th, 2026 at 12:25 am
*probably not push
June 13th, 2026 at 2:03 am
AQM is I Am That Man
June 13th, 2026 at 2:52 am
AQM is probably pissed he took less to come here for an opportunity to start and cash out next offseason when he’s a free agent and Bain will be a penciled in starter over him. Sounds like a diva already. If your better than prove it with your play. He got signed by a non playoff team in the Bucs. It wasn’t like contenders was knocking on his door to offer him a high pay and starting position. Maybe he’s a Swaggy Baker type who doesn’t like to practice. Who’s know but I’m sure Lee and crew will figure it out. Great journalism here.
June 13th, 2026 at 6:28 am
You may have answered your own question as to why he hasn’t started a game. The key word is team! You can’t have 52 guys running around in the Florida heat and 1 hanging out in the AC. Even outside of the NFL it only takes one prima donna to drag everyone else down. See Bucs D 2025.
June 13th, 2026 at 6:54 am
Typical Bowles. Covering up the stench of his putrid defense.
He’s just a worthless bum.
June 13th, 2026 at 7:18 am
Maybe AQM is having second thoughts about practicing in the Florida heat. I’m melting.😂
June 13th, 2026 at 7:19 am
Test
why are my posts not appearing
June 13th, 2026 at 7:41 am
Pretty foolish not to get out there with the team and start to get acclimated to the heat.
It’s only June. He ain’t seen nothing yet.
June 13th, 2026 at 7:59 am
Oh yeah, he is rockin it in the classroom. . .
June 13th, 2026 at 8:08 am
Having Aidan Hutchinson tearing through lines on the other side, letting a rotation that AQM was part of, is the reason you have high sacks without starts. QB’s were running from Hutchinson and ran right into whoever happened to be on the other side of the d-line.
He an edge setting rotational piece. AQM will be more like how Yaya will benefit from Bain.
It’s no secret.
June 13th, 2026 at 8:24 am
Another one of Licht’s genius pick up’s. Along with the broken 2nd rd corner last year and the 4th round walking ACL tear. Anyone surprised Licht messed up again. What a S show
June 13th, 2026 at 8:33 am
I think it’s quite simple. To follow up with what Erik said, AQM believed that he was coming in on a 1 year deal with plenty of opportunity to earn a nice pay day somewhere. Now that it’s pretty clear that he isn’t in our future plans, he is limiting his risk of getting hurt by sitting out voluntary workouts. As fans, we’d love to see him out there. From a business/money perspective, I 100% understand. At the end of the day, AQM wants the same thing that we do. To go out there, ball out and stay healthy. That’s a win for him and a win for the Bucs.
June 13th, 2026 at 8:41 am
If this is how Al-Quadin Muhammad handles the off season, it explains why he wasn’t a starter.
He can’t be in football shape…so I’m expecting him to get injured.
Not a good sign. As a veteran guy, he’s supposed to be an example…he obviously doesn’t care about that. Even if he talks during class stuff and works out, the other players must roll their eyes.
Dude is ruining his career.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Another what if crisis is in the brewing. Gotta keep fans on the edge of their seat to pay attention to the media’s what if scenarios. Until actual football begins it’s alot of what if rubbish.
Taking it for what it is. filling space until the season actually begins.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:03 am
Well as a new player, can’t say it is a great sign. The good ones want to bond and show they want to belong. However, who knows. We will see when we see.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:18 am
Found a really good story on AQM back when we first signed him. It’s almost like a mini football bio on his career leading up to his arrival in Detroit.
I think they saw him as an insurance policy after losing Hutchinson in ‘24 and how that changed how they played up front. AQM was signed to just a 1 year deal with Detroit and without starting managed to outplay that deal as what the Lions expected to just be a role player at most. Could be likely they had no plan for him beyond 2025.
Lions signed DJ Wonnum & drafted Derrick Moore this year, so it’s not like they weren’t lookin to rework their edge rusher room. Figure with what they pay Hutchinson, you can’t pay a guy who was just a role player that recorded 11 sacks part time.
I think that’s partly why AQM works for us, is that we don’t need him to be a 3-down guy, we need him to intergrate with the other talent we have and it gives us different looks to throw at fronts which lines up with what we do on defenses. Take into account AQM can be effective off the edge and inside, he’s just one of the several players we can put in multiple spots to try to find the right rush situationally.
June 13th, 2026 at 9:30 am
AQM was a last a full time starter in 2021 with the Colts his 5th season in the league. Was drafted in the 6th round by NOLA in 2017
He’s 31 years old, an alum of the University of Miami and has stuck in the NFL as a rotational player and has some ‘attitude’ – which imo is why the Bucs signed him. The heat is going to wear on those old bones, so let’s hope he makes it to opening day.
June 13th, 2026 at 10:15 am
Life’s tough. Put on your helmet.
June 13th, 2026 at 11:08 am
Every player has there own off season plan.
VV trains with Suh every off season after Suh’s year 1.
AB’s off season workouts were legondarily harder than OTAs.
June 13th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
They are voluntary an I believe they are ok with him being in the building it’s a long season an he is a Vet theres no need to have him running around doing extra at his age keep him fresh for the Season
June 13th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Yeah-No need to have him running around in his underwear and learning a new system like his fellow former Lion Anzalone-No reason at all.
June 13th, 2026 at 12:37 pm
Pay him and put this piece of the puzzle behind us. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
June 13th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
If hes the best pass rusher on the team he shouldn’t have to worry about coming off of the field. Maybe hes watched film of Bowles defense and realized the “defensive guru” label given to Bowles was a lie he was sold on and wants out.
Can’t get to the qb when theres always a wr open on soft coverage. Thats why the bucs were tops in the league with qb pressures but last in sacks. This is really easy to figure out…or it should be anyway
June 13th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
Maybe it’s the same reason Vita isn’t at these voluntary OTAs. This isn’t a Randy Gregory situation. He’s a veteran that has a offseason plan that works for him. I’d be more concerned if he wasn’t around learning the defensive system. He’s in meetings and staying in shape. This is what Licht and Bowles said when asked. I get the content is sparse mid June but this isn’t a big deal at all.
June 13th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Let’s judge him in training camp and after the pads come on…..Right now, I could agree with both sides…one will be ultimately right. Let’s hope he shines!
June 13th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Lynchmob called someone:
“A worthless bum”
Oh, the irony
June 13th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
I have no issues with the signing or salary, with today’s cap, his $4M base salary ($2.5M guaranteed) isn’t much – and the other $2M of salary has to be earned via bonuses. Seems like a good bet from the Bucs side.
With that said, I just went and watched all his sacks from 2025, something I can’t believe I haven’t done previously, and… uh…. lots of QBs holding the ball forever. I counted 3 sacks where I thought he made a good play to get a sack – and the rest were QBs making bad plays, holding the ball too long, not throwing the ball on a screen, or a QB running the ball and getting stuffed for like a 6 inch loss – which was credited as a sack.
So I can see why with that production he got such a low end deal.
At the same time, there is something to be said for being in the right place at the right time – and the guy has a lot of experience.
Watching more highlights, he seems more like a decent veteran back-up. Again, which is what his contract says as well – and now that deal makes a lot more sense.
Anyways, not rooting against him or anything, I think as a reserve he’ll likely make a few plays this year to earn his money – but I certainly wouldn’t expect a bunch of coverage sacks, not with the awful super loose zone that Bowles loves to run.