Buccaneers part ways with benched starter on Tuesday after disappointing start to season
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the unusual move recently to sit down one of their starters at a position where you typically don't see that happen. On Tuesday, they apparently decided they'd finally seen enough. The team announced on Tuesday afternoon that they have waived punter Jake Camarda. Camarda was a player the team had […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the unusual move recently to sit down one of their starters at a position where you typically don't see that happen. On Tuesday, they apparently decided they'd finally seen enough.
The team announced on Tuesday afternoon that they have waived punter Jake Camarda.
Camarda was a player the team had put significant draft capital into, taking him with the 133rd overall pick (4th round) of the 2022 draft. However, he fell into head coach Todd Bowles' doghouse this year, and he never managed to find his way out. He started four games for the team this season, averaging a gross punting average of 45.3, but a very poor net average of 36.5 yards with 115 punt return yards allowed.
The team elevated Trenton Gill from their practice squad and started him in games against Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Baltimore. As a player can only be elevated three times in a year from the practice squad, the Bucs had to make a move.
Gill outperformed Camarda in some crucial areas. Gill had a better net punting average (38.3 yards), far fewer punt return yards allowed (only 4) and a higher touchback rate on kickoffs (84.2% to 75%). That was apparently enough for the team to decide to move on from their former draft pick.
Camarda, not being a vested veteran, will now pass through waivers with the opportunity for teams to claim him. If he clears waivers, he will be a free agent.
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