Cade Otton, Snap Counts And Wear-And-Tear
August 29th, 2025
Toll of snaps.
Bucs tight end Cade Otton is beginning to become a favorite snack for the injury bug. And Joe is starting to wonder if this is the beginning of an ugly pattern.
It was revealed by Bucs coach Todd Bowles this week that Otton has an unspecified leg injury. This on top of a hamstring that cost Otton weeks of training camp.
Otton also missed the final three games of the regular season in 2024 with a knee injury.
So that’s a knee injury, a hamstring, and a mysterious leg injury Otton since December 2024. Week 1 of the 2025 season is a week away.
So why all the injuries to Otton’s wheels all of a sudden? The answer may lie in the numbers.
In 2023 and 2024, no tight end played a higher percentage of snaps in the games he was active than Otton. In 2023, Otton played in 97 percent of the snaps, in a full season of 17 games. That came out to 1,064 snaps.
Last year Otton played in 92 percent of the snaps in games in which he was active. He logged 856 snaps.
And it wasn’t like Otton was in hiding as a rookie. He had 70 percent of Bucs snaps in 2022 while sharing time with Cam Brate. That same 70 percent of the snaps would have placed Otton as the 17th most snaps by a tight end in 2024.
What is Joe getting at here? Joe is beginning to think the wear and tear on Otton is beginning to catch up. Tight end is a physical position.
Look how much foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski missed time with injuries. It actually drove him from the game twice.
Every person’s body is different. Some get hurt all the time. Some rarely (Ronde Barber springs to mind). Some develop quicker. Some age quicker.
Each body has only so many snaps of NFL football in it. Joe just wonders with all the punishment Otton’s body absorbed if we are beginning to see the toll of those beatings beginning to add up.
August 29th, 2025 at 7:09 am
Frankly, I’ve been shocked at his durability to this point. Not only is snap count high, but the hits he’s taken have been brutal. He’s fearless and usually comes down with the ball, but he always seems to be leveled in the process.
August 29th, 2025 at 7:12 am
Stop trying to jump OVER tacklers !
August 29th, 2025 at 7:14 am
I suppose it’s time for other TEs to step up and start helping carry the load. Will be interesting to see this season if the other two have developed and start contributing more this season.
August 29th, 2025 at 7:21 am
Tackleblockwin is spot on. If the other two can’t the Bucs need to pivot and address it it in a trade or future draft.
August 29th, 2025 at 7:38 am
Of course Cade feeling the effects of his beatings from overuse in his first 3 years. How could he not?
If you include plays that were executed but didn’t count (penalties, etc), the Bucs have averaged 68 offensive plays per game over the 6 years that Todd Bowles has been here.
o Otton’s averaged 58 offensive snaps per game in the 47 games that he’s played in over his 3-year career.
o Evans averaged 56 offensive snaps per game in the 168 games that he’s played in over his 11-year career.
o Godwin’s averaged 52 offensive snaps per game in the 111 games that he’s played in over his 8-year career.
Granted Evans & Godwin get paid a lot of money, but we’re beating the daylights out of some of our starters. And yes it is taking a toll on guys who have to run routes at max speed AND block on every play. And it’s costing us in terms of availability when the injury bug strikes.
August 29th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Otton’s high snap counts were a concern going into last season, but his count remained high. Time for Durham in particular to get more snaps.
August 29th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Joe, I agree completely with the last sentence of your story.
I’m not so sure about the second sentence of the first paragraph.
Only time will tell whether it’s the beginning of a pattern.
@Smashsquatch made the point I was going to make about Cade taking some brutal hits over the years. Especially last year when Mike and Chris were both out.
I think what we’re seeing now is a combination of both.
Payne and Devin both showed they’ve got some talent when they were given chances last year. They need some work and there’s room for improvement, but the talent is clearly there.
Even Ko, on the few occasions he’s gotten the ball, has made some plays. Not always, and I think Ko’s true value to the team is in other aspects of the game.
Rotating Payne and Devin in a little more often would go a long way to helping Cade avoid the injury bug and perhaps recover a little faster from the injuries he does suffer.
August 29th, 2025 at 7:51 am
will cade otton become cade forgotten ?
that is the question
August 29th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Man I hope our other Tight Ends can step up…another middle of the field weapon at that position is huge for Baker, not sure who i can count on besides Otten? Hope they can at least block well and help Heck to start season off right
August 29th, 2025 at 8:28 am
Otton’s health wouldn’t be such a big concern if Devin Culp didn’t seem to have hands of stone during the preseason. His drops are going to keep him off the field and leave it up to the two guys without wheels to turn to in the passing game. I like Payne Durham, don’t get me wrong. But watching him run a route requires a sundial and some patience.
August 29th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Absolutely I agree that snap count may have everything to do with it. I have a friend who played catcher in the pros for a number of years. He said a normal year he would play around 120 games. One year he played 140 and it took him two off-seasons to fully recover. Very, very few people can put that kind of wear and tear on the body without a noticeable effect.
We definitely need help for Otton and hopefully the guys we got can provide it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see us draft another one next year.
August 29th, 2025 at 9:40 am
Kieft’s value is in blocking. That’s why he’s still on the roster. Culp? Don’t know enough about him. Otton is a good receiver, but he has taken a beating. Some of the hits were vicious and illegal. I’m a Bucs Radio fan, and I’m aware of it. The refs need to do their jobs and call it. Yeah, football is a rough sport, but some of the hits are criminal and beyond the pale. Ask Chris Godwin about it. I hope Crizzard is calling plays with that fact in mind.
August 29th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Don’t think Durham need much separation when he is 6’6”’with an 84 “ wingspan and a 35” vertical jump. Wouldn’t worry about him getting “open”. Culp can be a weapon. Speed kills and he’s got it. Grizz needs to get him in a LB matchup and have Baker check to it. I still am a huge Cade fan, but let’s give him some rest.
August 29th, 2025 at 9:56 am
Don’t think Durham needs much separation when he is 6’6”’with an 84 “ wingspan and a 35” vertical jump. Wouldn’t worry about him getting “open”. Culp can be a weapon. Speed kills and he’s got it. Grizz needs to get him in a LB matchup and have Baker check to it. I still am a huge Cade fan, but let’s give him some rest.
August 29th, 2025 at 10:02 am
What Vanessa said!!!!
💯%
Rotate more the TEs like we do RBs.
Go Bucs!!!!
August 29th, 2025 at 10:38 am
Culp was getting his drops out of the way in preseason, he’s ready to make some big catches now like he did late last year and give otter a break
August 29th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Someone buy Otten some Receiver Gloves and make him wear them!!
August 29th, 2025 at 11:45 am
I’ve been saying this for a few years
The Bucs carry 4 TEs, but Otton gets all of the snaps
What exactly is the purpose of carrying 4 TEs?
August 29th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Joe warned us. Hopefully there’s enough depth there to get bt
August 29th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Time for Durham to step up. Dude is huge, he should be a mismatch montser.