CBS: Josiah Trotter Is “Built To Last”
September 16th, 2026
Gets noticed.
When you go beasting on one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks in a very popular, old-school division, you will get noticed.
Bucs rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter is starting to catch national buzz for his performance in Graeterville along on the banks of the Ohio River on Sunday.
(For the uninitiated: Graeter’s of Cincinnati is supposed to be world-class ice cream that Kay Adams hypes. Joe tried it over the weekend. Twice. Ruling: It’s a 7. Joe tried two different flavors, including their best seller, black raspberry chip. It didn’t have much flavor BUT the chocolate chips were instead huge chunks and the chocolate was exquisite!)
Trotter nearly saved the game for the Bucs all by himself. He led the team with 10 tackles, sacked Joe Burrow once and had a pick-six.
It was enough for Ryan Wilson of CBS to take notice and proclaim Trotter will be terrorizing NFL offenses for some time.
Tampa Bay expected its high draft picks to make game-changing plays; it just didn’t expect Trotter to be the one making them all. He led the Bucs with 11 tackles, had their only sack, added two tackles for loss and a pass breakup, then stepped in front of a Joe Burrow pass for a 38-yard pick-six.
Interceptions for touchdowns aren’t sustainable, but here’s the good news: Trotter’s day wasn’t dependent on that one play. He played 58 snaps, had double-digit tackles, was ever-present in the offensive backfield and his impact as a blitzer told us a lot about how coach Todd Bowles views him.
Trotter broke a Bucs record for most tackles in an NFL debut previously held by Derrick Brooks and Mason Foster. If a rookie in his first game outdoes Brooks, color Joe very impressed.
And hey, Foster was no slouch. He had a nice little career — started on a playoff team (Washington), but he wasn’t good enough for lousy Lovie Smith.
Even though the Bucs lost, watching the play of Ted Hurst and Trotter in the Queen City sure has Joe stoked for the future.
With that Josiah Trotter touchdown, Joe Burrow has now thrown a pick-six in four of his past six games. #Bengals #Buccaneerspic.twitter.com/CyAWKcd3i2
— John Breech (@johnbreech) September 13, 2026
September 16th, 2026 at 12:39 am
Enjoyed Graeters for years but Ohio’s best is Jeni’s Brambleberry Crisp. Available to the Joes and Ira at your local neighborhood Publix. Pick up a pint for this weekend’s shellacking of that other Ohio team. Here’s hoping that we’re talking positively about an additional rookie this time next week.
September 16th, 2026 at 1:01 am
People talking about how bad Bain was, but Mims and Burrow are elite, and we might not face such a good QB/tackle duo this year, so I think Bain will still eat.
September 16th, 2026 at 1:12 am
Mims is underrated.
September 16th, 2026 at 1:12 am
TBBucFan:
Thanks for the tip!
September 16th, 2026 at 5:39 am
Bain who?
September 16th, 2026 at 5:52 am
CBS: Josiah Trotter Is “Built To Last”
Josiah is ‘Ford’ Tough!!!!
Bill Currie and the rest of the “Ford Tough’ Boys will like this!!!
September 16th, 2026 at 6:11 am
Remember that Bain cut his NFL teeth on Goedeke and then backups the rest of the time. Goedeke is a nice player but Mims is a whole other level. In fact, you could see the effect on Goedeke himself. That LDE was practicing against Mims all summer and when he got to Goedeke, he made life tough on Mayfield.
September 16th, 2026 at 6:21 am
The same article he had Bain listed as a disappointment. He had zero pressures on 24 pass rush attempts. But he said it is just one game. But noted that other rookie ends who didn’t have sacks in their first game they at least got pressures.
September 16th, 2026 at 6:22 am
I liked the pick. Figured he would learn anyway. Just not this fast. He is a rookie and it will probably show once in a while, but what a bright spot he was Sunday.
September 16th, 2026 at 6:47 am
Breaking a Derrick Brooks record in Game One is a hell of a way to tell Tampa, “Hi, I’m the new guy.”
September 16th, 2026 at 6:48 am
The big question is when will Christian Rozeboom be healthy to take over for a washed up Anzalone. We have e already watched two years of washed up line backer play we know what it looks like. A step late leading to missed tackles and bad angles. It’s not going to get better. Of course he will have a good game here or there. But teams will now single him out in coverage and try to get him one on one with running backs and tight ends. It is t going to get better.
September 16th, 2026 at 6:53 am
Good morning.
September 16th, 2026 at 6:59 am
Can someone please explain why Hurst never saw a throw until the 4th???!!!
September 16th, 2026 at 7:06 am
The anticipation was,elite but clearly Joe b was eye locked in and Trotter v read it. The worship of Burrows,is a bit much. The interception was junior high stuff. Over the last 10 years the Bungles,have Not made the playoffs 8 times. He is,always injured. You are not a franchise player if you are not available. Both teams were no preseason work sloppy. Fumbles bounce around and normally we self recover some but not this time.
September 16th, 2026 at 7:08 am
It was,desperation throw time in the fourth and with no running plays old man Godwin needed,a break.
September 16th, 2026 at 7:33 am
Ohio has some LARGE people. You KNOW there’s goods ice cream there
September 16th, 2026 at 8:56 am
The big question is when will Christian Rozeboom be healthy to take over for a washed up Anzalone
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Yes, Anzalone was out of position on a few plays, but I think his biggest issue was the wrong cleats. He played in a dome for years he should’ve known better. I guess the Lions wouldn’t take his cleats with him LOL (cheapskates).
September 16th, 2026 at 9:02 am
The interception was junior high stuff
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Rewatch the video. Trotter makes a break on the ball while Burrow is still looking downfield. Also, the ball is thrown to the outside of the receiver where only his guy (should) be able to get it.
September 16th, 2026 at 9:12 am
Amarius Mims didn’t allow a single sack at UGA
And he only allowed one QB hit
I didn’t expect Bain to dominate him, straight up
But l believe Bowles could have scheme his blitz package better
We needed more defensive stunts ,schemes, to confuse the Bengals
I was looking at our pff grades
And l was surprised to see Kancey get a 83.9 grade
The only grades that were higher were Trotter and Morrison
September 16th, 2026 at 9:15 am
***83.3***
September 16th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
Bro, I am salivating over this pick 6 by the Bucs. By a rookie. In his first game. That alone is insane. Then what, like 10 tackles, also? While he was at it, JT just thought, “Geez, might as well add a sack.” CHECK.
I’ve played football then I’ve watched football for 40+ years.
This is an all-time epic performance by ANY middle LB, of any era. I would call it elite. He musta been hopped up on Hopium, but dang son, this kid is a DAWG.
If he can be consistent game in and game out, this kid is a superstar in the making.
I was SO wrong when I first heard we drafted him. JL and TB et al, did a GREAT job with this pick, and let’s hope this stud becomes special and a constant at LB for the Bucs for many years – like Brooks and David before him.
September 16th, 2026 at 9:30 pm
Hopefully our next Derrick Brooks. Now all we need is a new Sapp, Rice, Lynch, Barber, Alstott , Dungy/Gruden, Brady, Gronk and AB then we’ll be set. Our current group won’t be able to do it
September 16th, 2026 at 9:31 pm
Oh yeah forgot Mike Evans
September 17th, 2026 at 12:24 am
Loved watching his dad play smash you in the mouth football now we get to watch his son and man I’m impressed. Good for licht to finally hit on a 2nd pick lol. I’m not hating I love our GM but his 2 picks have bin sketchy. Let’s go Bucs and Bain will show up. So will vea. Prob just need a couple games