Josiah Trotter Makes NFL History In Buccaneers Debut

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers stumbled to a 33-27 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.

There weren’t many positives from Tampa Bay’s season opener. Rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter was the exception.

It’s only one game, but Trotter’s NFL debut was everything Buccaneers fans could have hoped for. In fact, finding a better debut for a rookie linebacker would be extremely difficult.

Trotter Was Everywhere Against Cincinnati

Trotter wasn’t simply good against the Bengals. He was one of the most impactful players on Tampa Bay’s entire defense.

The second-round pick out of Missouri finished with 11 total tackles. He also recorded his first career sack and first career interception.

Then Trotter turned that interception into a 38-yard touchdown. His pick-six completely changed the game’s momentum during the third quarter.

Tampa Bay had struggled to generate enough offense throughout the afternoon. Turnovers made the Buccaneers’ comeback attempt even more difficult.

Then Trotter changed everything.

Still trailing by two touchdowns, Tampa Bay desperately needed a play. Trotter provided exactly that with his interception of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

Suddenly, the Buccaneers were within striking distance. Tampa Bay ultimately couldn’t finish the comeback, but Trotter had already announced himself.

This Wasn’t A Fluke Performance

The most exciting part about Trotter’s performance wasn’t simply the statistics. It was how consistently he looked like he belonged.

His hard-hitting style and playmaking ability were already obvious during training camp. Sunday proved those traits weren’t limited to practices at One Buc Place.

Trotter made plays against an NFL offense featuring one of the league’s premier quarterbacks. He wasn’t overwhelmed by the moment, either.

Instead, he attacked it.

That’s exactly what Tampa Bay needed when the organization selected him in the second round. The Buccaneers weren’t looking for someone to simply occupy snaps.

They were looking for a difference-maker.

And Trotter looked like one immediately.

Trotter Already Made NFL History

Trotter’s performance wasn’t merely impressive by rookie standards. He put himself into some extremely rare NFL company.

Per ESPN Buccaneers insider Jenna Laine, Trotter accomplished something that hasn’t happened for an NFL rookie since 1982.

“From Elias: Josiah Trotter is the first NFL rookie with a pick six and a sack in his NFL debut since sacks became an official stat in 1982,” Laine posted on Twitter. “He is also the ninth player in NFL history with a sack and interception in his NFL debut since 1982.”

Read that again.

Trotter became the first NFL rookie since 1982 to record both a pick-six and sack during his debut. That’s an absurd way to introduce yourself to professional football.

The Buccaneers Needed A Linebacker Like Trotter

The Buccaneers entered this season needing young defensive players to emerge. Trotter didn’t wait around for that opportunity.

He seized it immediately.

Tampa Bay envisioned Trotter becoming the replacement for David when it targeted him on Day 2. Those are enormous expectations for any young linebacker.

Trotter’s first performance suggests he isn’t intimidated by them.

His arrival also came with plenty of intrigue. NFL Network draft expert Lance Zierlein described Trotter as having “alpha energy” entering the league.

There were questions about Trotter’s pass coverage during his time at Missouri. Those concerns certainly didn’t show up when he intercepted Burrow.

Trotter diagnosed the opportunity, made the play, and immediately turned it into six points. That’s the type of instinctive playmaking Tampa Bay desperately needs on defense.

Tampa Bay May Have Found Its Next Defensive Star

One game doesn’t make a career. Still, some debuts tell you that a player might be different.

Trotter’s debut certainly felt like one of those performances.

He finished with 11 tackles, a sack, an interception, and a 38-yard pick-six. He was the only Buccaneer to reach double-digit tackles.

More importantly, Trotter consistently looked like the player making things happen.

That should excite Buccaneers fans.

Tampa Bay needs its young defensive additions to become legitimate building blocks. After one game, Trotter already looks like he could become one of the most important pieces.

The Buccaneers didn’t simply draft a linebacker in the second round. They may have drafted their next defensive centerpiece.

And if Sunday’s performance is any indication, Josiah Trotter is going to make that decision look very smart.