The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to get as much as they can out of OTAs and mini-camps. The practices are done, and the long offseason of watching tape will begin. Training camp will separate players.
5th-round draft pick DeMonte Capehart has been injured. He has missed all of the offseason work, on the field at least, but that hasn't stopped him from making a positive impression. With sessions winding down, the rookie finally got on the field, but it was what he did while not on the field that got him noticed.
New Bucs DT DeMonte Capehart hasn’t been able to practice due to surgery, but DL coach Marcus West says he’s been very impressed with the amount of info DeMonte Capehart has been able to retain while learning the defense: pic.twitter.com/T4InOro8Ri
— River Wells (@riverhwells) May 19, 2026
DeMonte Capehart makes his on-field Buccaneers debut
Capehart had minor surgery this offseason that has kept him off the field for almost all of the practices. Coach West said that while he hasn't been able to get on the field, the rookie has made an impact with the knowledge he has retained from the classwork.
Capehart will compete to be a part of the Buccaneers' defensive line rotation. With OTAs winding down, the youngster finally got on the field.
Bucs rookie DT DeMonte Capehart (90) is practicing for the first time in OTAs. Capehart had offseason wrist surgery. pic.twitter.com/xQSzSnuUKp
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) June 11, 2026
Capehart will have more than a month to get his wrist fully healed before training camp begins in late July. The Buccaneers are counting on him to make the most of what he learned inside the building so that he can get off to a quick start in camp.
Capehart will have to climb the depth chart. He will start camp at the bottom behind Vita Vea, Elijah Simmons, Haggai Ndubuisi, and Jayson Jones, but Capehart is viewed as a player who should make an early impact with the team.
Tampa invested draft capital in Capehart for a reason. He has the size, 6-5" 315 pounds, to plug the defensive line. He will learn behind one of the best in the league, Vea, and comes from a top NCAA school, Clemson.
Capehart's draft stock fell considerably due to Clemson's 2025 season, as did many of the Tigers' draftable players this year. He has a lot to prove, but the desire clearly is there, given his astute attention off the field.
Camp should be fun, and Capehart will be one of those players fans may not expect to be paying attention to, but may not be able to avoid.
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