There's a problem brewing in Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp that could hurt the team's Super Bowl expectations
The Bucs are currently experiencing the one thing NFL teams don’t want to experience during training camp.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made one thing very clear almost one week into training camp: They 100% believe they're Super Bowl contenders and the expectation, this year, is to make it to the 60th installment of the big game.
"We set our own standard, and our standard is we win the division the last few years. We are not just trying to do that; we are trying to take it to the next level," Bucs QB Baker Mayfield told reporters on Day 2 of training camp. "When you set the standard, you try and live up to it each day. That is what we are trying to do in training camp right now, elevate each other, get better each day at whatever you are trying to focus on. So yeah, the goal is Super Bowl."
To be fair, the Bucs had the roster to make it to the Super Bowl last year, too, but things fell apart because the injuries were just too much to overcome. From Chris Godwin's horrific injury to SirVocea Dennis' early-season shoulder injury to Antoine Winfield Jr.'s nagging injuries, the bug certainly took a large bite out of the Bucs' roster and it derailed the 2024 season.
Ironically enough, injuries are the No. 1 obstacle that could hold the Bucs back this year, too. Sure, that holds weight for any team – no matter what context surrounds their respective expectations. It's especially true for the Bucs, though. Staying healthy, though mostly out of their control, is the biggest priority of 2025.
Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case one week into training camp. The injuries are piling up and like last year, they're ranging from key starters to depth players.
The Buccaneers started training camp by placing Tristan Wirfs, Chris Godwin, Sua Opeta, and Michael Pratt on PUP and they've yet to be taken off the list. Wirfs and Godwin are obviously two of the Bucs' best players on either side of the ball, while Opeta is expected to be a serious contender for a backup job on the interior offensive line. There's a good chance Wirfs and Godwin miss an early portion of the regular season, which isn't ideal.
Since then, the Bucs lost rookie fourth-round EDGE to a torn ACL (he's done for the year) and starting tight end Cade Otton has been sidelined the last two practices with a tweaked hamstring, along with a couple of other players, per Bucs HC Todd Bowles.
"There were a few guys that tweaked a hamstring that we’re just being cautious [with] and holding out for a little bit," Bowles told reporters after Monday's practice.
The Bucs are being cautious and that's the right way to go. There's a reason they're being cautious, however, and that's because hamstring injuries are very finicky and can linger throughout the season. Walker's injury stings because he was considered one of the best Day 3 picks out of the entire draft and was making an impression during the offseason. He was expected to contribute to the Bucs' pass rush in 2025.
"He was making a big impact early," said Bowles. "Obviously, we were counting on him to do a lot of things. We’ve got other guys that have to step up. I told him he has to look at this as a redshirt year. It’s unfortunate. It didn’t look like it was too much on film, but it ended up being that.”
In terms of depth players, linebacker Anthony Walker remains on the NFI list and is considered week-to-week. We saw how the Bucs' poor LB depth affected the defense last year and right now, they're already down a valuable piece. Safety Marcus Banks, running back DJ Williams, and wide receiver Kameron Johnson have missed the last two practices, as well.
No one is hitting the panic button, by any means, and this is part of training camp, unfortunately. However, the early injuries have already become a trend for the Bucs and even though it's a trend they can't control, it can't keep rolling on like this or else the team could find itself behind the 8-ball before the regular season even starts.
