2 Bucs Set To Begin Season On Injured Reserve

The day following Tampa Bay’s preseason win at home against the Miami Dolphins said that second-year wide receiver Rakim Jarrett and veteran running back Chase Edmonds are likely to begin the season on the injured reserve list. Bowles was asked specifically about Jarrett and brought Edmonds as well.

“Chase Edmonds will probably start there,” Bowles said.  “Those two (Jarrett and Edmonds) for sure. Everybody else is in play.”

Each injury to said respective players are undisclosed for the moment. Jarrett got a couple weeks of practices in before getting sidelined on August 12, while Edmonds practiced on literally the first day of training camp and has been out ever since.

These players also have an injury history in Tampa Bay. Last year, Jarrett was placed on injured reserve as he tore his quad against San Francisco and missed four games. Edmonds also was on injured reserve last season towards the beginning of the year after Week 2 with a sprained MCL that cost him to miss four games.

How Does These Injuries Impact Their Respective Positions?

There was a lot of intrigue about Rakim Jarrett coming into the season on where he could fit into receiver after his second season. He looked good in the spring and made some highlight catches during training camp when he was available. With rookie third-round pick Jalen McMillan breaking out almost instantly, Jarrett likely would have been pushing fellow second year player Trey Palmer for the fourth- or fifth-string positions.

What wouldn’t help Jarrett’s case is that Palmer has been returning punts and that isn’t in Jarrett’s repertoire. Jarrett did play on special teams last year in the 10 games he was active for. The Bucs are still finalizing the roster, but at the receiver position it looks like it’s coming down Cody Thompson, Kameron Johnson and Ryan Miller for those last spots depending if the Bucs are holding onto five or six players. Thompson is very active as a special teamer while Miller works in coverages as well.

Johnson has been electrifying as a receiver and also is a returner. He and Thompson are likely the front-runners.

Can Jarrett provide more in the passing game than those others can on special teams? Tampa Bay will have several weeks to decide, but Jarrett might end up on the practice squad whenever he’s able to return.

Chase Edmonds being out all but solidifies that Sean Tucker is going to be the third running back on the Bucs’ roster behind Rachaad White and Bucky Irving. Edmonds was the second-string running back last season, but was seldom used, as he rushed 49 times for 176 yards and made 14 catches for 81 yards on the year.

Luckily for the Bucs, Irving has looked fantastic this preseason and Tucker stepped up his game as well with some of the biggest runs that Tampa Bay had, including a pair past 20 yards. Even if Edmonds were healthy, there’s a likely chance he’d still be on the practice squad and be a veteran presence in the room. The Bucs have their future at running back, which puts Edmonds in a tough spot.

With that said, Tampa Bay has already cut Ramon Jefferson, leaving D.J. Williams as the other back still on the roster, though it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bucs cut him soon. These players might go on the practice squad, but there might be a spot that may potentially go to Edmonds, too.