Son of Buccaneer legend wants a chance with the Buccaneers

James Wilder is one of the best running backs in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ history, and now his son wants a shot to follow in his father’s footsteps.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are dealing with an injury bug right now that could spell trouble for the rest of the season. Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette are both question marks right now, and they have very low chances of seeing the field on Sunday.

None of these losses will be easy for the Bucs to handle, but Fournette could be a major loss before the game. The Buccaneer run game has been their weakest aspect by a mile, and not having depth in the backfield could spell trouble.

Tampa Bay is facing off with the LA Chargers this weekend, and this game will be tougher than it looks on paper. The Bucs could get roped into a game of ball control, and having a viable run game is pivotal in a time like this.

Without Fournette on the bench, the Bucs may have to look elsewhere if they aren’t ready to give Ke’Shawn Vaughn reps just yet. If Tampa Bay wanted to go in a completely different direction, they could pursue a free agent to bring a seasoned force to join Ronald Jones and LeSean McCoy in the backfield moving forward.

One name that has recently jumped out regarding the Buccaneers is James Wilder Jr., son of one of the most accomplished Buccaneer running backs in team history.

Wilder tweeted directly at the Buccaneers last night after the Fournette news, and he made a convincing case to get a shot.

Wilder doesn’t have much NFL experience, but his size could make him the perfect between the tackles back for the Bucs to use going forward in relief of Fournette. The combination of 233 pounds and the speed that he showcased at Florida State and in the CFL could make Wilder a decent free agent option for the Buccaneers to consider.

As a depth running back, the Bucs take on minimal risk with this move, and the financial upside is clear. A name like Wilder carries a lot of weight in the Tampa Bay area, but Wilder Jr. has made enough of a name for himself to earn a shot on his own accord.

The Buccaneers have very little to lose here, and the upside is great. Tampa Bay should at least give Wilder a chance during a tryout and see if he would be a good fit, and the potential payoff could leave the Bucs in a better spot at the position moving forward.