Tampa Bay Buccaneers Suffer Season-Long Absence of Wide Receiver Russell Gage
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are worried that experienced wide receiver Russell Gage may be out for the season after experiencing a knee injury during practice on Wednesday.
Buccaneers and the New York Jets held a joint practice, and it was during a 7-on-7 drill that Gage sustained a non-contact knee injury while backpedaling. Reporters observed that Gage was shedding tears as he was wheeled off the field on a cart.
"It's a pretty serious injury," said head coach Todd Bowles. "We wish Russ all the best. I can tell by the way he was sitting on the truck that it's probably something that happened pretty bad. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him."
Gage's history with injuries was already well-documented since he endured a concussion and neck injury during the Wild Card game in January of 2023, barely making it if the Buccaneers had won against the Cowboys, which would've led to a lengthy absence in the postseason.
Fortunately, Gage recovered from his head and neck injury throughout the off-season, appearing primed to start in the upcoming season.
The Buccaneers' WR Group: Superior 1-2 Punch, Meager Bench
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers had one of the top receiving trios in 2022 with Gage, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin. Evans and Godwin returned for the new season, but their supporting cast was rather thin with inexperienced wideouts.
In 13 games played last season, Gage managed to catch 51 receptions for 426 yards and five touchdowns, placing second overall in the receiving touchdowns category for the Buccaneers. Despite his injury absences, Gage was impressive.
After dealing with injuries last season, Gage took a 30% salary reduction to remain with the team.
Evans and Godwin both surpassed 1,000 receiving yards respectively, registering nine combined touchdowns. Brady's preferred route during passing plays was to check down, and the ground attack delivered 73 receptions and three touchdowns last season by the running back Leonard Fournette. With Fournette leaving for the free agency, the next passer replacing Brady would miss Fournette's contributions as a security net.
In the off-season, David Moore signed with the Buccaneers. Moore, who registered 13 touchdowns for the Seattle Seahawks in three seasons, is the most probable replacement in the regular rotation.
Deven Thompkins was outfitted for five games during the previous season, but only managed to reel in five catches. Thompkins plays on special teams as a kick returner, which is enough to gain him a spot on the roster due to Mayfield's potential reassuring influence.
The Bucs also have three inexperienced wide receivers competing during training camp. Rookies Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett are vying for a spot. Palmer, a sixth-round pick from Nebraska, could also make the roster as a kick returner for the special teams. Jarrett, a former Maryland player, is another undrafted wide out with the Bucs, along with Kaylon Geiger of Texas Tech.
The Quarterback Battle: Mayfield or Trask
Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield are battling it out for the starting QB job. Bowles has yet to name the replacement for Brady, who chose retirement during the off-season.
Buccaneers secured Trask in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but Trask hardly saw any gameplay with Brady around. Trask shone early in the training camp, but experienced setback in the first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, completing only 60% of passes and throwing an interception.
Mayfield has outdone Trask so far, giving him a slight edge to kick off the season as a starter. Mayfield displayed an 80% pass completion rate with one touchdown and no interceptions against the Steelers.
Mayfield is determined to bring his career back on track in Tampa Bay, willing to compete for the starting role with Trask.
"When the quarterback room is shinning, it shows how potent this offense can be," said Mayfield. "We're all distributers within this system, and people are beginning to see what we're capable of. It's just gradually coming together."
Mayfield, a former #1 pick and Heisman Trophy winner, endured an underwhelming campaign with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers last season, only for the Panthers to let him go in December just before Mayfield connected with the Los Angeles Rams for a late-season appearance. During his brief stay, Mayfield orchestrated a remarkable comeback victory against the Las Vegas Raiders, demonstrating to many that he could still flourish in the NFL.
The Post-Brady Buccaneers Contest: Betting Predicaments
Many considered the NFC South the weakest division last year since the Bucs won the division with an 8-9 record. They entered the playoffs as a division winner despite their negative winning record, but eventually got bounced out in the initial round.
With Brady retiring and now savoring life as a minority shareholder for the Las Vegas Raiders, the NFC South is now considered open. The Saints fared best, given the favorable odds of +120, followed by the Atlanta Falcons (+215), Carolina Panthers (+450), and the Buccaneers (+800).
The Saints signed seasoned quarterback Derek Carr, though they're suffering from running back injuries and Alvin Kamara's suspension.
The Falcons are in a phase of rebuilding, with Desmond Ridder leading as their second-year quarterback.
Carolina Panthers have a new coach - Frank Reich - and they made a bold move during the 2023 NFL Draft, trading intensely with the Chicago Bears to advance their position. They picked Bryce Young, a quarterback from Alabama with the top spot.
Oddsmakers set the Bucs' win total at a 6.5 over/under for this season, which is the lowest in their division. The Saints have the highest potential win count at 9.5, next comes the Falcons with 8.5, and the Panthers land at 7.5.
The Bucs are predicted to have a 400-to-1 chance of making it to the playoffs per a DraftKings' prop bet. They strongly favor a -500 betting line to miss the playoffs.
The chances of the Bucs winning the Super Bowl LVIII are +9000. They hold a +4500 probability of winning the NFC Championship.
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Source: www.casino.org
