The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed four players on the PUP list and one on the non-football injury list as training camp is set to begin.
Training camp is upon us as the rookies reported to camp for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yesterday and the veterans are not far behind. In anticipation for camp, the Buccaneers announced four players who will start training camp on the Physically unable to Perform list (via Greg Auman), with one more on the non-football injury list.
Of the players listed on the PUP, the major one is starting safety Justin Evans who missed the end of last season with an ankle injury and has had toe surgery this offseason. With the coaching change and the drafting of a safety in April, Evans must prove himself after the regime that drafted him is no longer in town.
Other players listed on the PUP include linebacker Jack Cichy, who tore his ACL last season, and undrafted rookies David Kenney (outside linebacker) and Xavier Ubosi (wide receiver). Kenney has been a highly anticipated player to watch this summer, so hopefully he is not out for too much of camp as the Buccaneers have given him another second chance.
Quarterback and utility player Nick Fitzgerald was named to the non-football injury list as well. As the New Orleans Saints have used Taysom Hill, the Buccaneers are hoping to deploy Fitzgerald in the same manner. He has been seen playing special teams and tight end during minicamp as well as quarterback.
As camp gets started, it will be nice to see these players on the field, especially Evans who factors to be a huge part of the Buccaneers’ defense. These rookies are looking to make a name for themselves and earn a spot on the final 53-man roster, and the way to do so is to be on the field. Hopefully these players are not out of commission for too long.