Josiah Trotter = Fred Warner
September 25th, 2026
Making a statement early in his rookie season.
Here Joe thought Rueben Bain to be such a beast that he could use his superpowers to overcome KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ hex on rookie edge rushers and fully dominate opposing offenses all by himself.
Joe had the wrong linebacker.
Instead, it is inside linebacker Josiah Trotter. Where would this shaky defense be without him?
As the folks at the prediction outfit Polymarket document, Trotter is already on pace to match one of the best NFL linebackers in recent years. It seems Trotter (and Tennessee linebacker Anthony Hill) are the first rookie linebackers to have at least 10 tackles in each of their first two NFL games since Fred Warner eight years ago.
If the Bucs have the next Fred Warner, wow, what a pick Trotter will be. Right now Trotter and the surprising play of the cornerbacks are the only two things Bucs fans can embrace about the Bucs defense. The run defense ranks third in the NFL in yards per carry allowed.
Everything else is rancid.
🚨 ROOKIE MACHINE: Buccaneers LB Josiah Trotter has racked up 21 tackles through his first two NFL games.
Trotter and Titans LB Anthony Hill Jr. are the first rookie linebackers since Fred Warner in 2018 to record 10+ tackles in each of their first two career games. pic.twitter.com/lOWUi3gcmv
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) September 23, 2026
September 25th, 2026 at 5:23 am
I am happy that we dont make rush judgments and jump fast into conclussions,
I think 2 games is probably a proper amount to judge a rookie.
I know with Bucs being 0-2 we have not much to cheer about but come on. Give it time.
September 25th, 2026 at 6:34 am
Wait till he gets a better DC, HC. None of these players will realize their true potential until Todd, and his staff are gone. The Glazers have never fired a HC during the season. A loss Sunday, and losing the following week to a bad packer team could change that.Firing Todd will be all anybody will be talking about. Will the Glazers make a move will be the only story. Right now, Bowles has the look of someone who would welcome getting canned. Two more weeks the Glazers should do the humane thing.
September 25th, 2026 at 7:15 am
Is Trotter really this good or just looks like a HOFer next to Anzalone?
September 25th, 2026 at 7:39 am
Todd Bowels will make his stats inflated because of the long time he is on the field
September 25th, 2026 at 7:55 am
I’m anxious to see what Josiah Trotter do
Once he get the Green Dot
September 25th, 2026 at 8:18 am
I said it since the draft
If you are counting on Rookies- then you don’t have a plan. You just have hope.
Rookie DLinemen typically take 2-3 to start becoming really impactful.
To expect Bain to suddenly give this pathetic Dline a pass rush was rediculous.
Meybe next year. Meybe not.
I know Trotter has been the only positive thing to talk about this season.
But let’s not crown him an all Pro after 2 games. He made a couple great plays.
But offenses are eating our defense alive- throwing to TEs and RBs over the middle.
That’s Trotter and Anzalones area to defend. Neither one is doing it.
Still no pass Rush, and we are missing Lavonte Davids coverage skills.
2 of our 3 best players are mailing it in. Vea and Wirfs are both invisible. No effort at all.
Godwin was supposed to be our #1 WR. He is absolutely loafing. Watch some of the videos of him.
MacMillian is still all potential, according to Licht and Bowles.
No actually production.
Ebuka has been invisible since week 8 last year. Hurst is a tiny school rookie.
No other good WRs on the roster.
This defense was one of the worst defenses I had ever seen last year. They lost so many games.
They are worse this year.
It’s gonna be a looooong season.
September 25th, 2026 at 8:59 am
When you look at our first round picks, you have to question their production.
Bain, EE, Barton, Kancey, Vea, Wirfs….
Not much to show for these picks…..and Mike Evans hasn’t even shown up!!!
September 25th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Does anyone know who the Bucs are? We saeen both the good and the ugly recently. Betting on the Bucs is a crapshoot. Their continuity is missing. Are they starting out bad and finishing up good? Will they win their division or not?
Right now we don’t know. I don’t think the Bucs know either. Right now they are in last place and can’t say when they’ll turn it around.
September 25th, 2026 at 9:00 am
Just STOP.
September 25th, 2026 at 9:08 am
I’m just wondering whether or not if Kyler Murray used his time off watching and studying film of the Bucs, or playing video games.
September 25th, 2026 at 9:59 am
Well, the defense is helping him a lot by missing tackles. I wonder how he will do once everyone learns to tackle?
September 25th, 2026 at 10:01 am
Half of the ILB’s can’t tackle/looks like Samson, plays like Delilah, the other has a bad shoulder. I don’t expect Trotter to be good for very long with a bum shoulder.
September 25th, 2026 at 10:14 am
And now he is hurt having to do too much to make up for the rest of the defense.
September 25th, 2026 at 11:41 am
“MelvinJunior Says:
September 25th, 2026 at 9:08 am
I’m just wondering whether or not if Kyler Murray used his time off watching and studying film of the Bucs, or playing video games.”
You know he did both lol
September 25th, 2026 at 11:46 am
Stop next your going to tell me Winfield jr equals Ronnie lott. After his first season. Now this bum hasn’t shown up in 3 seasons since he got paid
September 25th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
3 of the top 5 LBs were 2nd round picks.
Hill, Trotter and Rodriguez.
So next year? Don’t waste a 2nd pick again!
Grab another elite MLB to grow up with Trotter.
Let SVD hit free agency.
Cut Anzalone.
Draft another MLB in the 2nd round.