Cade Otton Has Another Injury
August 27th, 2025
Year 4 in the NFL has not started well for Cade Otton.
He had a hamstring injury early in this summer’s training camp that kept him out weeks. Otton played in preseaon Week 2 against the Steelers and looked rusty after limited action and a dropped pass. Now, per head coach Todd Bowles, Otton has a new injury.
“He’s got another leg injury in addition to that [hamstring],” Bowles said this morning. “He’ll be out a little bit.”
Bowles said he’s unsure if Otton will be healthy next week.
Otton was a durable and productive guy through his first 2 1/2 seasons after being selected in Round 4 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Then the injury bug hit him and it’s carried over into this summer. Terrible timing for Otton, who’s in a contract year.
No Otton in Week 1 would be yet another loss for the Bucs offense with Tristan Wirfs, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan out.
The first official Bucs injury report of the 2025 season will be released one week from today.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Snakebit
August 27th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
With all these injuries, The ReTodd should think about sitting Baker game 1 to ensure he doesnt get hurt. Start Teddy. GO BUCS!!
August 27th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
Bucs get healthy!
August 27th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
He’s got to be thinking… “Just. GREAT. Of Course. It’s my contract year.”
August 27th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Will more than likely, affect and nag him all season long. He’s going to have to be able to push through it! Now, we’ll see what he’s really made of.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
I don’t care how many injuries you have, YOU MUST BEAT ATLANTA. Quit trying to make excuses for them.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
Not saying practicing indoors would stop these injuries. But if the Glazers would just build a big shed to practice indoors occasionally it might help.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
Just make Otten wear receiver Gloves when he gets back on the field
August 27th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
Pretty sure they already have an indoor practice field.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Get well Cade, but we should be trying to work Payne Durham into the lineup anyway.
6’6′ & north of 240-245lbs, if his redzone involvement doesn’t go up this year I’m going to eat my hat.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
These injuries are going to keep coming
And the. Bucs will replace the injured starter
With a special team player
August 27th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
It’s amazing that this team hadn’t played real football in over 8 months yet it seems like half the team is injured. What are we doing here.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Opens the door for Durham and Culp.
Otton needs to heal up and play if he wants a second contract from the Bucs.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
What if the Bucs had a professional strength and conditioning staff? Imagine if there was a competent medical team at OBP. Probably should put Wirfs in for another surgery just to make sure.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Payne Durham I believe is better. Culp, and Payne will have to step up.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Cade won’t be back next year since his contract is up and bigger money needs to go to Luke ME13 and Vita. Perhaps Hasson re-signs or the Bucs go after Trey Hendricks so I don’t see #88 as a priority. Could come down to Rashad or Cade but if Culp can have a break out year #88 could be a cap casualty.
LFG BUCS!!!!
Fire them CANNONS
August 27th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Durham is big and very reliable. If he can get open, Mayfield will get him the ball. Also, Culp late last year, when given a chance, didn’t disappoint. Not worried about TE at all. Baker sees the field well and will get the ball where it needs to go.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
I am not a big Cade Otton fan and thought they should have drafted a replacement for him this draft. They drafted an injured CB instead. I already see my opinion as the right one and the season has yet to start.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
BucsFan, I believe their injury problems stem from them practicing outdoors too much. Half their home games are in the back half of the season, and their first two games are on the road in domes. Bowles is old school thinking they need to beat themselves up to condition themselves to the heat. Just the opposite is true. This summer heat has been a killer. Then you have a meathead for a G.M., who’s to stupid to know the difference, and clueless owners who won’t step in. They spent millions on that indoor shed, and used it once all training camp. Need a younger coach who knows when to come in from the heat. They have the worst trainers, and medical staff who seem clueless to the dangers of extreme heat. That’s the problem.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
They already have an indoor shed to practice in, Durango.
Injuries are piling up and the season hasn’t even started. This could quickly derail even making the playoffs, let alone a SB run.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Cut him . Overrated . Drops way too many balls. Now Injury prone . Put him on the practice squad . No one will pick him up.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
The Brittle Bucs strike again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 27th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
I think there is something to our injuries and the extreme humidity they practice in. Why not expand the indoor facility . Replace the artificial turf with real grass that can be rolled in and out as needed . Practice indoors to get game plans down and use outdoors for conditioning only . Just a suggestion .
August 27th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
I hope Grizzard has been putting in packages with White playing some slot or split out.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Yea pat your self on the back for for an idiotic take.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Joe raising his mug with cold adult beverage to all the Traskies every night this week. Did I make you smile Joe?
Anyways, we have Durham and Culp. I’m looking forward on seen them continue their progress from last year when 💯% Otton was injured. Folks we are loaded with talent.
LFG!!!!!
August 27th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
unbelievable Says:
August 27th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
They already have an indoor shed to practice in, Durango.
—–
For sure. dude, of course they do. it was sarcasm. Joe calls it the “Glazer Shed” But, in order to utilize its advantages they have to actually use it. Has anyone told Bowles about this?
August 27th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Billlbuc … ‘Cut him (Otton). Overrated . Drops way too many balls. Now Injury prone’.
Seriously? Cut our #1 TE? Cade’s played in 47 of our 51 games and averaged over 900 snaps per year on offense in the 3 years he’s been with us. THAT’S INCREDIBLE. He got 600 yards for us last year, with 4 TDs & 31 first downs. I agree that his drop percentage is too high (7.3% in his career), but I’m convinced much of that is because he’s out there busting his hump blocking & route running on just about every offensive play (way too much time on the field). And I’d hardly call someone with his 3-year availability ‘injury prone’. Not yet at least.
August 27th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
It looks Trey Palmer will be going back home to Louisiana
I’m hearing that the Saints claimed Trey off waivers
August 27th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
Guessing hammy is the deciding factor of if he’s able to contribute, that’s a tough one to get past and sometimes spills over into back stiffness/pulls. Hopefully it’s a degree of gamesmanship, preparing for Durham is much different than Otton. Otton can create mismatches down the field, Durham isn’t that type of threat. Otton carried us for a few games last season, he’s a very capable TE that has to be accounted for.
August 27th, 2025 at 1:22 pm
looks like he’s lining himself up for a return with the BUCS on a 1year prove it deal lol…
gotta go heavy run game with payne and ko kief
GO BUCS!!!!
August 27th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
dam, injuries are starting to rack up…
i was saying a couple years ago, don’t sleep on durham…dude has nice hands…let’s see what he’s got…
and culp too…his window is opening up with otton down
August 27th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
lakeland
if thats true, it sucks…
palmer>kam johnson
GO BUCS!!!!
August 27th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
I just saw baker on a Popeyes commercial😊
August 27th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
Nick Jackson is back!
August 27th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
At least we have Blooper Bilgewater if Bakefield gets hurt.
August 27th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Next year draft tight end, and now hope Licht will search the database for a replacement
August 27th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
This year is starting off rough! I hope it ends better than it has started.
August 27th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
This summer heat has been a killer. Then you have a meathead for a G.M., who’s to stupid to know the difference,
____________
That’s a hot take Hodad.
Can you spot your grammatical error meathead?
JL could spot it.
August 27th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
It is so disappointing that all these really good players keep getting banged up before the season even starts. Why does this always seem to happen. They can’t even get out of the starting blocks without so many of the guys already ending up in the hurt locker. They really need to examine this closely to find out the cause. Is this disproportionate? I would like to see how the Bucs compare to other teams on the injury front, especially so early in the season.
August 27th, 2025 at 1:59 pm
Because football is a contact sport, that’s pretty much it. You start thinking about blaming injuries on the weather, the training staff, or anything else you’re just ignoring the obvious.
August 27th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Some good news it’s the beginning of the year and not the end,, None of the injuries are season ending ,,, so we will have a full team and fresh legs for the last 5 games which we should be favored in all of them ,, and then hopefully a playoff run,,, I agree w Bakerfan, we should treat ATL as a must win,, a lose and your out Reg Season game which we tend to do pretty well in
August 27th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
DR, don’t come on here and ruin the doom and gloomers day! Seaon’s over man!
August 27th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Melvin. How do you know how bad it is? He and the staff know if he can ‘push through’, not you.
August 27th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Missing 4 starters on offense and haven’t played one meaningful game. There will be more injuries once bullets start flying. Have to say I’m not having a great feeling about this season.
August 27th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Right around year 4, starter players league wide start to show wear and tear. This is why some players stay in condition year round. How else does Lavonte stay healthy during the season? It is year round conditioning. He may take a week vacation from daily conditioning, but time wears down even the best. If Cade wants a long term job, he needs to have the mindset that this job is year round, not just seasonal. This includes their diet, and hydration. I really cannot blame anyone wanting to retire after getting beat up after 4-5 years, but if they want to be a starter until retirement, year round mindset is the only way. There are alot of 10 year back ups with a history of injuries.
August 27th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
It is really quite amusing to me that so many folks on this site act like the Bucs have more injuries than other teams.
It is very easy to go to ESPN and click on each NFL team and then clock on the column that says “Injuries”
August 27th, 2025 at 3:43 pm
This is tough news for a nice guy who plays the game well. But while I’m an Otton fan I’m also aware that there are two TE’s behind him that may take the TE spot and seize in Otton’s absence.
Both Durham and Culp have flashed and shown some skill in very limited action.
Culp was targeted 7 times his first year, twice that last season and he’s caught a very respectable 16 of those 21 targets.
Culp got targeted just 6 times catching 5. Culp and Durham both have decent speed for TE’s at sub 4.5 40’s..Culp is 4.48 to Durham’s 4.87.
Either one of these guys have the potential to make Griz forget about Otton if Cade misses too many games and one of these two breaks out.
August 27th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
StPeteBuc – I think you meant Durham was 16/21 above.
August 27th, 2025 at 4:45 pm
@BBB Thanks. You’re correct.
August 27th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
@durango – my bad. Hard to tell sometimes lol
August 27th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
Couch Fan Says:
August 27th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
With all these injuries, The ReTodd should think about sitting Baker game 1 to ensure he doesnt get hurt. Start Teddy. GO BUCS!!
———–
Good call, you can never be too safe!
August 27th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
These same nuts bashing Otton now are the same morons last year saying he’s a bust and to cut him after he only had like 1 catch in the first two games. Then after everyone is injured and Otton is a stud and putting up huge numbers these dopes then are the ones saying pay then man. These dummies never know what they’re watching, or how to interrupt it, so I’ll break it down for you.
Otton is a very good receiving TE, not much of a blocker. That is also the case with 90% of the starting TE’s in the NFL in 2025 – and of that 90%, Otton is in the top third. With TE’s making big money, however, the Bucs are unlikely to be able to afford to keep him.
Durham, meanwhile, is a better blocker, but much slower. Durham however is a good receiver, in college he basically looked like a WR until his senior year where he had a big time growth spurt and got really big — and slowed down a lot. I will say he seemed to have gotten back a little of his speed and doesn’t look as slow now, but he’s certainly a better #2 than #1, but should fill the role OK in an offense that doesn’t really feature the TE, and will likely be the starter next year.
Kulp meanwhile is a developmental prospect, with lots of speed, OK hands, but also a subpar blocker. He’s more like a modern Tim Wright, which isn’t a bad thing. Kulp playing late into games into the preseason, however, is a bad sign – they likely wanted to get him as much experience as possible, but also it means they don’t see him as being a big contributor anytime soon. He’s very much a lottery ticket, and they sometimes payoff, sometimes with a free ticket, but also you might win a million dollars. We shall see.
August 27th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
I’m kool with Durham & Culp.
Someone said it let’s just like we all know we can🤙🏾👊🏾
August 27th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
@BucsFan81
I’ve been saying that they should really look into the strength & conditioning coaches because there’s no way this many players should be getting hurt. Yeah of course it’s very rare a team goes through a year without anybody getting hurt but this many players shouldn’t be getting hurt. Especially with the season starting.
August 27th, 2025 at 7:42 pm
Dooosh, I’m also dyslexic.
August 27th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
We will run the ball down their throat, quick screens to rb’s, slants to Egbuka, and over the top throws to Evans. Defense will slow down the run, pressure Penix into at least two picks. It’ll be fine.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
we could just not show up for the game, take the forfeit, and wait for the stars to return
August 27th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
I’m growing a bit more confident in Bowles. I believe he’s learned from his mistakes as Licht did.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:13 pm
He was healthy the first two seasons because he rarely got the ball…so he wasn’t hit.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
Tony Says:
“I’ve been saying that they should really look into the strength & conditioning coaches because there’s no way this many players should be getting hurt.”
All deep south teams go through it. It’s the heat and humidity.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
The game planning for the Falcons might be including having the TE chip in to help Heck as the ATL D will very likely test him. In that case Durham will have an opportunity to show off his blocking skills. I’d be worried if saw Kulp on the field, I can see him making a nice catch and then coughing up the ball in what might be a close game…….