With Mike Evans sidelined with a hamstring damage and Chris Godwin out for the yr, the Bucs have been relying on a younger receiver to step up of their place and make performs towards the visiting Falcons in Week 8. The weapon that emerged was one which few anticipated – second-year receiver Rakim Jarrett.
Tampa Bay was hopeful that the workforce’s third-round decide, Jalen McMillan would have a breakout efficiency towards Atlanta. Or that Trey Palmer, who served because the workforce’s No. 3 receiver a yr in the past, would erupt for some massive performs towards the Falcons.
As a substitute it was Jarrett, who was contemporary off injured reserve and solely had per week’s value of observe since he final took the sector in Tampa Bay’s preseason sport at Cincinnati the place he suffered a knee damage. The previous undrafted free agent got here by means of within the second half with a pair of catches – every going for 19 yards – and one other 20-yard reception.
Jarrett additionally got here down with Baker Mayfield’s Hail Mary try on the finish of the sport. Sadly, he was a yard out of the again of the top zone when he hauled it in.
“The gang type of instructed me I used to be out of bounds,” Jarrett mentioned. “Once I noticed the fellows on the opposing sidelines have a good time as an alternative of our guys I knew it.”
Bucs WR Rakim Jarrett – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Whereas that catch didn’t rely, Jarrett’s three different receptions for 58 yards have been eye-opening in the truth that he was actually the Bucs’ solely constant playmaker within the passing sport outdoors of tight finish Cade Otton, who led the workforce with 9 grabs for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns. McMillan had 4 catches for 35 yards (8.8 avg.) and Palmer had a pair of receptions for 29 yards (14.5 avg.).
Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen appreciated what he noticed from Jarrett, who is predicted to obtain extra targets and a higher position within the passing sport on Monday evening in Kansas Metropolis.
“Yeah, I imply, ‘Rock’ has been, been working his tail off to get himself into form and get himself again feeling higher,” Coen mentioned. “It was nice to see him on the market and, to provide and make some performs and be in the suitable spot on the proper time. We’ve bought to proceed to get that from him – we’ve bought to proceed to get essentially the most out of all these guys as a result of we’re going to have the ability to depend on them and must depend on them for the remainder of the season.”
Rakim Jarrett’s Bucs Profession Has Stalled Due To Damage
Whereas the Bucs have been excited to get Trey Palmer within the sixth spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft, the workforce was additionally buzzing about signing Rakim Jarrett, an undrafted free agent out of Maryland. Jarrett caught 119 passes for 1,552 yards (13 avg.) and 10 touchdowns in his Terrapins profession and had a knack for making performs after the catch.
Bucs WR Rakim Jarrett and DB Christian Izien – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
“I performed towards Rakim when he was in school at Maryland,” mentioned Bucs defensive again Christian Izien, who performed at Rutgers. “He’s at all times been a very good participant. He was a extremely recruited participant popping out of highschool. He’s at all times had the skillset. It was nearly him staying wholesome. Now that he’s wholesome I feel he could make a fairly good affect on our workforce. He’s undoubtedly good with the ball in his palms. He’s a very good total athlete. He has good instincts and good ball consciousness that helps him make the catch.”
Accidents have stalled Jarrett’s profession in Tampa Bay. He suffered a hamstring damage as a rookie that restricted him to simply two preseason video games, however he wound up displaying some big-play capability with seven receptions for 132 yards (18.9 avg.).
In restricted taking part in time final yr within the common season, Jarrett caught 4 passes for 60 yards, together with a 41-yard bomb at San Francisco. As Jarrett was striding to make that catch, he tore his quadriceps muscle in his thigh. Regardless of the excruciating ache, Jarrett performed the remainder of the 49ers sport and didn’t inform the workforce trainers till afterwards that he suffered the damage.
Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum marveled at Jarrett’s toughness after studying about his torn quad damage in San Francisco.
“He’s quiet, and usually it’s the quiet ones which have that type of toughness,” McCollum mentioned. “He’s at all times been type of a quiet, under-the-radar-type individual, however he’s matured rather a lot. What I’ve seen is him sitting again after being injured so early, happening IR, type of being uncertain of his positioning in that receiver group. So there’s plenty of maturity. I’ve seen him working within the coaching room up there early each day. He’s grinding each day.
“We knew that he had velocity, and he had savviness, however now that he’s matured he’s type of coming into that position he type of envisioned for himself. He has the will – that want-to – to be nice.”
Bucs WR Rakim Jarrett – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Jarrett wound up on injured reserve after the 49ers sport and didn’t play one other down throughout his rookie season. Within the midst of a very strong coaching camp this yr, Jarrett suffered a knee damage within the preseason opener at Cincinnati the place he had two catches for 35 yards (17 avg.), together with a powerful, diving, 28-yard seize on a throw from Kyle Trask.
That led to a different stint on injured reserve and minor surgical procedure to repair his knee.
“I had what’s referred to as chondral defect,” Jarrett mentioned. “You may have cartilage in your thigh bone and your calf – cartilage that was linked to my knee was beginning to put on off. They needed to go in and scope it and took the unfastened cartilage out and shave the bone so it strikes step by step. That was it. Nothing main – no ACL, no ligament tear. I really feel good.
“It was irritating, however it was for the betterment of my profession to do what wanted to be performed. We’ve bought guys like JMac, Shep and Trey Palmer to step up as properly.”
With Mike Evans out of motion by means of the bye in Week 11 and Chris Godwin out for the yr, Jarret’s return to motion is a welcomed sight for a Bucs offense in determined want of a playmaker to emerge.
“I caught two digs, on the primary one, it was the primary go I had caught in months, so I used to be just a bit hesitant at first,” Jarrett mentioned. “Then as the sport went on, I bought extra comfy.
“I used to be simply going on the market doing what was referred to as upon me to do. The chance introduced itself. Some guys went down, so some guys needed to step up. I’m simply doing my job.”
X Marks The Spot For Rakim Jarrett Proper Now
Nobody can actually exchange Mike Evans, the workforce’s X receiver, also called the cut up finish. Evans is Tampa Bay’s greatest receiver – and offensive weapon – of all-time. However Rakim Jarrett goes to offer it a shot.
Bucs WR Rakim Jarrett – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Jarrett’s 19.3-yard receiving common is at the moment the very best on the workforce, albeit a small pattern dimension. And regardless of taking part in his third place in three years, Jarrett appears comfy going deep and making among the performs that Evans is accustomed to creating downfield.
“All through my school profession I solely performed within the slot,” the 6-foot, 192-pound Jarrett mentioned. “Final yr I solely performed Z (flanker), and I needed to be taught that for the primary time. This yr I’m solely taking part in X. I don’t play all three positions right here, however I do know I can play all three.”
When requested about Jarrett’s potential to play all three positions, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen didn’t rule it out sooner or later. However the truth that he missed the second half of coaching camp and the preseason, to not point out the primary seven video games of the common season recovering from knee surgical procedure impeded his progress of studying Coen’s system.
“He’s extra of a most likely a ‘Z’ [or] ‘X’ kind physique,” Coen mentioned. “I imply, these guys type of interchange when it comes to like formally transferring them to completely different locations, proper? They’re all type of in a position to transfer outdoors, inside, left, proper, ‘Z,’ ‘X,’ ‘F.’ I might see that ‘Rock’ might undoubtedly be body-type-wise a ‘Z’ and slightly little bit of an ‘X’ for us down the road. I might see him with the ability to go inside some if he wanted to.
“So it’s extra identical to getting him and identical to taking part in him at one place as a result of he hasn’t performed, proper? Like, we can not give him an info overload. He’s performed an outstanding job of being on the screws and listening, paying consideration. We’ve simply bought to maintain him in a single place only for time on job.”
Jarrett has no issues being on the perimeter the place he can use his velocity and physicality to get open one-on-one.
Bucs WR Rakim Jarrett – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“My capability to beat man protection is the very best attribute I convey to the workforce,” Jarrett mentioned. “I feel I can get open at a excessive clip if given the chance. I’m going to go on the market and do what’s requested of me.”
Jarrett does have a knack for getting open. Zyon McCollum, the Bucs’ greatest cowl cornerback, has seen that over the past two years in observe.
“It’s his savviness inside his route-running and simply subtly pushing off,” McCollum mentioned. “Lots of people don’t perceive how briskly he’s. He’s actually good at lulling DBs to sleep after which simply letting his stride carry him down the sector. He’s persevering with to get higher. You suppose you could have him coated after which he makes the catch.”
Whereas the Bucs are hoping for extra manufacturing and large performs from rookie Jalen McMillan and second-year receiver Trey Palmer towards the Chiefs, the workforce can rely on it from Jarrett after his eye-opening 2024 debut versus the Falcons.
“This week ought to be even greater for the fellows on the perimeter,” Jarrett mentioned. “We’re taking it daily and preparing for the Chiefs on Monday Night time Soccer.
“It’s an important alternative for all the fellows that often wouldn’t get the targets to type of present folks across the league what we will do. We’re taking part in for our careers. That’s what I instructed Coach Bowles. He mentioned one thing to me, and I mentioned, ‘That’s why I’m right here. I’m right here to make performs.”
