Vita Vea Returns — In Shorts
June 16th, 2026UPDATED: Manbeast Bucs defensive tackle Vita Vea is attending the team’s manadatory minicamp this morning — there were no reports of him attending prior spring practices — but he’s in shorts and a baseball hat and it seems he won’t participate in on-field work.
Vea looks leaner and like he’s been busy in the weight room with Ndamukong Suh. Bucs fans can assess below.
Todd Bowles said after practice that Vea is healthy but the Bucs don’t need to see him in a no-pads practice.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:25 am
With proper coaching Vita could’ve been a hall of fame player. Shameful of Bowles to squander that talent.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:26 am
With proper coaching Vita could’ve been a hall of fame player. Sure, he’s a good player. He could be so much better.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:35 am
Contract year vea is gonna ball out this season.
June 16th, 2026 at 10:41 am
I dont want to jinx things but Gosh oh Golly this Defense should be vastly improved from the Putrid Pass Defense we all have scars from these last couple of years. LBs (washed up LVD) should be better. Secondary minus Limp Dean with a spark from Miami and this DL should be tough with Bain now in there. Maybe just maybe Bowles D will be able to get a REal Pass Rush and get off the field on 3rd downs. This Offense is going to be legit as long as that O-Line stays intact. Get Baker signed and LFG!!
June 16th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Sick of hearing the “he’s gonna ball out because it’s a contract year” line & crap
Maybe they should just do 1 year contracts then so they are motivated to ball out every year instead of just a “contract year”
It’s a bad look all the way around. So then what? He balls out, you sign said player to a big 4 year contract and you wait 3 years until he balls out again in that 4th year/contract year. That’s the “logic” implied there.
June 16th, 2026 at 11:02 am
Better picture than the one published the other day.
June 16th, 2026 at 11:04 am
Hanging out with Suh, Vita’s wallet probably picked up whatever weight he lost.
June 16th, 2026 at 11:30 am
Vea finally looks muscled up.
Good for him and good for us.
He should be able to just strait up throw blockers out if his way even more so now.
June 16th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
That’s smart Todd don’t need to put extra wear N tear on our Big Guy he is Key focal point of this defense
June 16th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Nailed ot Joe. Are they holding him out? Letting him get over the Jet lag maybe?
Go Bucs!
June 16th, 2026 at 4:19 pm
I’ve said since Vita got here, I think if he got down to a Suh sized 335lb, he’d be next level. And in previous years, there’s no way he wasn’t in the 400lb range – the idea he’s been at his college combine peak condition weight of 350lb has been nonsense. At 335lb, I think Vita would be a lot more impactful in the pass game, and I very seriously doubt he’d lose much in the running game.
Anywho, no idea his weight based on that photo, but those arms look better than I recall, so maybe he’s been working on that.
And none of this is a knock on Vita, he’s been great when he’s on the field, and he seems to have gotten into better shape in recent years – although watching him during the season it sure seems like he packs on pounds during the year – but I could be wrong. Regardless, just getting more reps, alone, would increase his value – and he’s the type of guy who should age well, even if he loses half a step in the coming years, he can just pack weight back on and just become a 2-down run stuffing clog at worst.
June 16th, 2026 at 5:15 pm
That’s a big boy. Like Munch said, I don’t remember his arms being that large. Let’s go big fella!
June 16th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
Push the pocket ,tie up the blocks for Bain
June 16th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Its a contract year for Vea. I fully expect him to play to his full potential. Which i find kind of annoying because its just means he hasn’t been giving 100% for years. Anyway I hope he has a great year.
June 16th, 2026 at 7:04 pm
I say sign Baker then draft Vea’s replacement or stick him with the franchise tag if they can’t find anyone.
June 17th, 2026 at 10:02 am
For those who remember Blazing Saddles, that scene with Mongo (the actual Alex Karras) where he’s pushing about 20 cowboys into the wall with a piano?
Vita should just grab 3 or 4 O lineman and hold them like Mongo. Our pass rush would have 10 sacks a game!!
(Shirley I’m joking).