Buccaneers: Kendell Beckwith has another opportunity to shine

With Buccaneers’ star linebacker Kwon Alexander set to miss Sunday’s game with hamstring injury, rookie Kendell Beckwith has another opportunity to step into the spotlight.

It’s funny, when we look back to the draft and remember the reactions to Buccaneers GM Jason Licht trading up to draft LSU linebacker Kendell Beckwith – who was six months removed from a torn ACL. Many Bucs fans – myself included – thought that trade was made in order to draft USF’s Marlon Mack. We were left scrambling to find out all we could about the former Tiger and why Licht would not only draft him, but move up to do so.

Very few are still left wondering.

Beckwith was a star in Kwon Alexander‘s absence against the Bears and this week against the Vikings he will have the opportunity to do it again. Alexander will miss the game due to his nagging hamstring injury, allowing Beckwith to step in at middle linebacker alongside Lavonte David and Adarius Glanton.

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Beckwith finished Sunday’s game with five tackles, but there was a stretch where every play or every stop or every pass breakup involved number 51. He was out there making plays that don’t always show up on a stat sheet. That said, he was certainly making some splash plays and his abilities allow for the Buccaneers defense to continue to perform at a high level despite missing one of their best players.

I’m not saying Beckwith is Alexander nor that they are the same caliber player as of right now. However, missing Kwon for one or two games now isn’t going to create the talent drop off it would have this time last season. Beckwith has already been a pleasant surprise through training camp and heading into week one of the season with not only his skill level, football intelligence, and game speed, but his incredible recovery from an ACL tear.

Next: Mike Evans vs. Xavier Rhodes

How confident are you in Beckwith’s ability to step in for Alexander this Sunday against Dalvin Cook and the Vikings? Let us know in the comments below!