Buccaneers TE Cade Otton Sidelined with Hamstring Injury in Training Camp

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training camp took an unfortunate turn on Monday, marking a tough fifth day for the team. Promising rookie pass rusher David Walker, a fourth-round pick from Central Arkansas, suffered a torn ACL during practice last week and will miss the entire season.

Walker had been making a strong impression in camp, with coaches buzzing about his potential before the injury. This setback is undoubtedly a blow to the Buccaneers’ defense, which was counting on his contributions.

The bad news kept piling up: after losing David Walker for the season, the Buccaneers got more injury updates that didn’t exactly boost morale. Cade Otton was a notable absentee for the second straight practice as the Buccaneers took the field.

Via Sports Illustrated’s River Wells,

“Cade Otton is once again not participating today, so maybe not a vet rest day yesterday after all. We’ll ask about it after practice.”

Following Monday’s practice, Coach Todd Bowles updated the team on Cade Otton’s status, revealing that the tight end is dealing with a hamstring injury, which explains his consecutive-day absence from practice. According to Bowles, the team is being cautious with Otton due to the time of year, describing the injury as not serious. Otton is expected to return to practice soon

Coach Bowles downplayed the severity, calling it a “hamstring tweak” and emphasized that the team is just being cautious with Otton. Let’s hope he’s right, given the Buccaneers’ already thin tight end depth – losing Otton for an extended period could be a significant blow. Unlike Walker’s outside linebacker position, which has more depth, tight end is a crucial spot where depth is limited.

—

Otton’s absence would be felt on both sides of the ball, given his reliability as a blocker and receiver. What’s more, he’s been a model of durability over his three-year NFL career, making this injury a concerning development for the Buccaneers.

Otton has become a trusted target for Baker Mayfield, and his impact goes beyond stats – he’s a player who can influence the game even without frequent touches. Let’s hope Coach Bowles’ optimistic assessment holds true, and Otton returns to the lineup soon, as his presence would be a significant boost for Mayfield and the Buccaneers.