Can Anyone Return A Punt?
August 9th, 2025
Ryan Miller continues to make plays.
The Bucs are in need of a punt return man. If you can return, you may have an NFL job.
The past week or so, the Bucs’ incumbent punt returner, Trey Palmer, and rookie Tez Johnson, a hopeful return man, have been on the sidelines watching practice.
Meanwhile, a bubble guy by the name of Ryan Miller has been making play after play in practice. All three of are receivers by trade and battling for a job.
In the Bucs’ first worthless preseason game Saturday night, Miller carried over his solid practice play to the game. There, too, he made plays.
And then in the third quarter, Miller got hurt with a neck stinger but he was cleared to return in the fourth quarter.
The Bucs tried Emeka Egbuka early in the game on a punt return on a rain-soaked field. Joe thinks that was a downright dumb move. If he got hurt, your once powerful receiver room takes a major hit.
(Having Sean Tucker, your new No. 2 running back with Rachaad White injured, in the game with five minutes left was also stupid.)
Rakim Jarrett also returned a punt.
So right now, pending Miller’s status, the Bucs not only have a bubble position available at receiver, they are also looking for a punt return man.
If you can return punts, email the Bucs. You may get a tryout.
August 9th, 2025 at 10:46 pm
Garrett Greene looked good on his one and only punt return – looked really fast, explosive and natural (again, all that is based on just one punt return). Also he had a catch and stood out as looking explosive. I’ve never heard of him before, but he looked good in the couple of plays I saw him. Doesn’t mean much, but worth keeping an eye on if everyone else keeps getting injured or can’t get healthy.
August 9th, 2025 at 10:51 pm
Give Roman Parodie a shot!!! He had speed and power. He better learn how. To hang onto the ball though!
August 9th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
Keep Ryan Miller–guy has proven himself in games with Baker last year. he is reliable.
August 9th, 2025 at 10:56 pm
I imagine it will be tez
August 9th, 2025 at 11:02 pm
Garrett Greene was a dual threat QB at West Virginia
He can return punts, play WR, play QB
He’s athletic
August 9th, 2025 at 11:05 pm
Joe!
“Having Sean Tucker, your new No. 2 running back with Rachaad White injured, in the game with five minutes left was also stupid.”
I concur.
Just put an O-lineman back there and run 4 wide with your scrub WRs. Who would be accountable for such dumbfargery?
August 9th, 2025 at 11:12 pm
Garrett Greene. Made some big time catches in practice and looked good tonight.
August 9th, 2025 at 11:18 pm
I agree about keeping Greene if Tez can’t make it back in time. Besides returning punts it might be interesting to put him at QB and run a few Wildcat plays. Baker is too important to risk, and Trask/Bridgewater can’t run very well.
August 9th, 2025 at 11:23 pm
What about Owen Wright? Give him a chance at a roster spot!
August 9th, 2025 at 11:26 pm
Joe, I was thinking the same thing and praying Tucker didn’t get hurt playing at the end of a worthless preseason game. I know they were short running backs, but it seems like they should have thought about that scenario before the game and been prepared for it.
August 9th, 2025 at 11:31 pm
Ryan Miller is a keeper, that guy plays ball.
August 9th, 2025 at 11:37 pm
I’ll bet Shep would make a good punt returner. Maybe he could give it a shot.
August 9th, 2025 at 11:37 pm
Lakeland Steve, I agree. Sean Tucker might be third on the depth chart, one injury to Bucky or White and Tucker is a featured back. Even with all three healthy, he deserves and should get some action. He’s explosive.
August 10th, 2025 at 12:09 am
81 and 85 flashed tonight. That’s a good thing. But Joes, the real issue is our continued abysmal special teams, in general. I’m not talking about McLaughlin. Year after year we don’t block or cover well and our tackling is piss poor. Tonight was no exception.
August 10th, 2025 at 12:27 am
Miller was balling tonight…a def keeper!
August 10th, 2025 at 12:27 am
LakelandSteve said “but it seems like they should have thought about that scenario before the game and been prepared for it”
That might have happened if we had a full time head coach instead of one necessarily distracted by improving a crap defense.
August 10th, 2025 at 12:29 am
And if White is out a while, its a good thing we got Wright….he was balling too.
August 10th, 2025 at 1:33 am
ryan miller………………token white boy at receiver 🙂
August 10th, 2025 at 5:36 am
Honestly … I fell asleep long about the 2nd quarter
August 10th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Missed on Lavontay Webster from Colorado, but from Palmetto and we saw what he did. Neither here nor there, someone will emerge
August 10th, 2025 at 8:10 am
“Having Sean Tucker, your new No. 2 running back with Rachaad White injured, in the game with five minutes left was also stupid.”
How many carries in a row do you think Owen Wright can handle with Tucker the only other non-injured back dressed for the game? I guess they could just go empty backfield when he needs a rest.
The only other RBs on the 90-man roster were all injured before the game. Or, is someone suggesting Bucky should have been available?
Tucker had exactly one carry with 6:54 left in the game (none in the final 5 minutes, incidentally).
August 10th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Hey Joe, I was waiting for it: “worthless preseason game.” You never disappoint on this one. So, like how are pro teams supposed to evaluate new players? AI? Good luck with that. I know this was Grizzard’s first preseason game call. I sure hope he gains enough confidence to open up the game book during the regular season.
August 10th, 2025 at 9:38 am
Owen write had a pretty good game along with the o-line
August 10th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Greene did great last nite
August 10th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
LakelandBuc Says:
August 9th, 2025 at 11:02 pm
Garrett Greene was a dual threat QB at West Virginia
He can return punts, play WR, play QB
He’s athletic
————–
I don’t watch college football and had never heard of him – but man did he look explosive, again in the two plays where I noticed him. That’s interesting to hear, sounds like a Quinton Flowers type of guy. I’ll have to go watch some highlights of him. Me, personally, I’d much rather have a QB/WR/KR/ATH on the team as opposed to someone worthless like the Balsack QB, whatever his name is, who is just insanely inaccurate and has no chance to ever do anything in the NFL.
August 10th, 2025 at 8:35 pm
# 85 Greene would return punts from now on if it was up to me. He’s fast very shifty and doesn’t run worried !
Go Bucs 2025 !!
August 11th, 2025 at 1:06 am
“So right now, pending Miller’s status,”
Huh? The dude came back in Joe, and took another hard shot on that play. got right up. Status I would say he may have secured his roster spot. Punt return man or not. If I am Palmer, Jarrett or Tez? I’m working my ass off on punt returns.
Go Bucs!
August 11th, 2025 at 10:54 am
Bucky is our best returner