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The Bucs got here into coaching camp with a wide-open competitors for his or her remaining vast receiver spots. Behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage and Julio Jones, there are two — perhaps three — spots to play for.
Tampa Bay has no scarcity of candidates with expertise. Scotty Miller starred in elements of the Bucs’ run to the Tremendous Bowl in 2020. Tyler Johnson got here up with some huge catches throughout that run as effectively earlier than taking over a bigger position late in 2021. Cyril Grayson Jr. was a breakout star on the finish of final season. Breshad Perriman has a few years in Byron Leftwich’s offense now. And second-year speedster Jaelon Darden gained useful expertise final 12 months as effectively.
However proper now, it’s three undrafted free brokers who’re making the largest waves. That’s to not say that Miller, Johnson, Grayson and Darden haven’t been performing effectively in camp — they definitely have. However Jerreth Sterns, Deven Thompkins and Kaylon Geiger Sr. proceed to impress. And it’s solely making the competitors for these ultimate two or three spots more durable to name.
“They’re doing a heck of a job,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles mentioned Thursday. “To return in coaching camp after which play in a recreation like that, then have a full week of apply and play particular groups – these guys are making a case.”
Making A Case In Observe And Underneath The Lights
All through coaching camp, Tampa Bay’s vast receivers have been a few of its prime performers. And that’s even with out the highest 4 practising recurrently. And in terms of making an attempt to unseat a number of the extra skilled gamers for his or her roster spots, the three rookies are constantly making use of stress.
Thompkins had an awesome summer time, prompting Bowles to single him out after mini-camp. He’s adopted that with a powerful camp. The Utah State product had the second-most receiving yards in faculty soccer final 12 months with 1,704. In the meantime, the main receiver within the nation — with 1,902 yards — was Western Kentucky’s Jerreth Sterns. He’s one other receiver who’s making a powerful case to crack the 53-man roster come September. And don’t rely out Geiger, who has been as regular as anybody all through camp. Regardless of largely taking part in with the threes, he’s made it unattainable to have this dialog with out together with him.
Bucs WR Jerreth Sterns – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
One of the best half for these three younger receivers is that their work on the AdventHealth Coaching Heart apply fields carried over to Raymond James Stadium final Saturday night time.
Sterns was the standout, catching all 4 of his targets for 51 yards and a landing — a 19-yarder from Kyle Trask.
Geiger additionally caught all 4 of his targets, ending with 52 yards. That was the second-most receiving yards on the group. And whereas Thompkins’ stats — two catches for 11 yards — don’t stand out, he made a key third-down catch to maintain the Bucs’ ultimate drive alive.
Most of Tampa Bay’s receivers are making it powerful on Bowles and the remainder of the Bucs’ choice makers to slender down the sphere for these ultimate two or three spots. It’s a must to think about the group will attempt to stash as a lot of its gifted receivers as it could, nevertheless it’s unlikely that each one three stay in Tampa. And whereas that’s unlucky, they’ve all accomplished greater than sufficient to catch on elsewhere.
The wide-open race for these depth receiver spots continues Saturday night time because the Bucs tackle the Titans at Nissan Stadium.
“It’s the most effective assortment of younger receivers I’ve ever seen,” mentioned Bucs senior assistant to the final supervisor Bruce Arians.
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