Buccaneers Rookie Josiah Trotter Officially Earns Starting Job

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Josiah Trotter has officially earned a starting role for the beginning of his NFL career.

The Bucs listed Trotter alongside Alex Anzalone as their starting inside linebackers on Tuesday’s Week 1 depth chart. The announcement confirms what had been building throughout training camp, even as Todd Bowles remained unwilling to publicly declare the competition over.

Trotter entered the offseason as Tampa Bay’s second-round pick, but he still had to prove himself against established competition. He did exactly that once the pads came on and allowed him to showcase the physical style that made him such an intriguing prospect.

A Rookie Duo on Defense

Trotter will now join first-round pick Rueben Bain as a rookie starter on Tampa Bay’s defense. Bain generated plenty of attention throughout the offseason, but Trotter steadily built his own reputation once training camp provided opportunities to compete in a more physical environment.

His performance quickly made him difficult to overlook next to Anzalone. The two linebackers also developed chemistry throughout camp, giving Tampa Bay another reason to feel confident about putting Trotter on the field immediately.

That development represented a significant turnaround from the Buccaneers’ initial unofficial depth chart. Trotter was originally listed behind SirVocea Dennis, who entered camp with experience in Tampa Bay’s defense.

Dennis ultimately retained his roster spot, but the starting job became a different story. Trotter’s emergence gave the Buccaneers a compelling reason to hand the rookie a larger role from the outset.

Following a Familiar Path

Trotter also enters the NFL carrying a recognizable football pedigree.

His father, Jeremiah Trotter, was a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker with the Philadelphia Eagles. That connection has added another layer to the expectations surrounding the younger Trotter as he begins his professional career.

Anzalone understands that pedigree particularly well. The Buccaneers linebacker grew up as an Eagles fan and watched Jeremiah Trotter play before eventually becoming teammates with his son.

“He’s a great player, obviously, has the pedigree,” Anzalone said. “I remember watching [Trotter’s dad, Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter]. I grew up an Eagles fan, so I watched his dad growing up.”

Now, Anzalone will line up beside the younger Trotter when Tampa Bay opens its season against the Cincinnati Bengals. For the Buccaneers, the rookie has already earned the opportunity to prove he belongs.