Bucs Make A Worthy Move At Defensive Tackle
August 20th, 2018
The Bucs added a camp body today, but as a former second-round pick with 36 NFL games under his belt, the new addition could be represent a little more than that.
General manager Jason Licht inked defensive tackle Jerel Worthy to a contract and he lands in Tampa after spending the last three seasons in Buffalo. Worthy, 28, was the No. 51 overall pick by the Packers in 2012.
You can call him a Green Bay bust. He was traded to the Patriots after two seasons and they didn’t keep him long. Then he bounced to the Chiefs and landed with the Bills.
Worthy was an All-American at Michigan State where he played along Will Gholston. He also was a former teammate of center/guard Evan Smith in Green Bay.
Joe expects nothing from Worthy but he does possess enough talent and experience to be a potential speedy reclamation project by defensive line coach Brentson Buckner. Wouldn’t that be great?
The skeptical side of Joe does wonder if this signing has anything to do with the injury to rookie manbeast DT Vita Vea, who hasn’t practiced in more than three weeks.
That’s doubtful, though. Remember, the Bucs did just waive a defensive tackle, their 2016 seventh-round draft pick.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Good pickup. Hope Buckner can coach him up.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
the futur will tell us if he is really worthy …
August 20th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
medical staff is full of sh!t!!!!!!!!!……looks like vita will be out until at least week3….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
August 20th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Sounds like maybe Joe has heard rumblings Vea could be out for the year.
Joe has heard no such rumblings. Joe saw Vea riding the exercise bike in Nashville and it appears the Bucs are just being extra cautious and letting him heal to the max. But that’s pure guesswork. –Joe
August 20th, 2018 at 4:35 pm
beau allen got hurt in practice today. that’s probably what caused this move ….
August 20th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Meh….he’s bounced around for a reason, he’s a body that can learn the system….if injuries continue he can be called upon down the road. I dont make much of this.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:51 pm
“A typical grade I calf strain will heal in 7 to 10 days, a grade II injury within about 4 to 6 weeks, and a grade III calf strain within about 3 months. The most common injury is a grade II calf strain that takes about 6 weeks for complete healing”
I’m guessing it’s a grade II; or that they thought it might be a grade I but it’s in fact a grade II.
This gets into the weird language on injury disclosures in the NFL:
“Injuries must be identified with a reasonable degree of specificity in terms that are meaningful to coaches, other club officials, the media, and the public. For example, leg injuries must be specified as ankle, knee, thigh, or calf. Arm injuries must be identified as shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, or muscle. Listing an injury simply as “leg,” “arm,” “upper body,” or other equally vague description, is not acceptable.”
Based on this – I’m guessing that the team has no obligation to disclose the nature or severity of the calf strain?
It has sounded like most media has gotten the vibe that Vea would be ready by week 1. That would be 6 weeks since the injury – in line with the typical/ max healing time for a grade II.
August 20th, 2018 at 4:51 pm
Lmao Vea out a year gtfo he’ll be back before you know it he didn’t tear an acl or an Achilles
August 20th, 2018 at 4:54 pm
“A typical grade I calf strain will heal in 7 to 10 days, a grade II injury within about 4 to 6 weeks, and a grade III calf strain within about 3 months. The most common injury is a grade II calf strain that takes about 6 weeks for complete healing”
Since most media seem to get that vibe that he’ll be ready for the regular season – I’m guessing it was a grade II strain since week 1 = 6 weeks exactly from when he got hurt July 29.
They don’t have to reveal that detail (the severity of the strain) as far as I can tell from the NFL rules on injury disclosures.
August 20th, 2018 at 5:00 pm
These injuries are really starting to suck. You can’t win anything if players can’t stay healthy. You’d think a certain amount has to be attributable to conditioning. I didn’t go practices this year but I never saw any of these players stretch. Do they even stretch at all? Who’s in charge of this. And if they do it for a couple minutes that still isn’t enough. I also understand linemen need to be heavy but why are so many of them fat? Bruh, that fat belly ain’t helping you.
August 20th, 2018 at 5:13 pm
Doesn’t matter Mike Smith will revert to 12 yards cushions and everyone on that line will be useless.
August 20th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
@ Joe “Worthy was an All-American at Michigan State where he played along Will Gholston.”
Say no more. This speaks volume.
August 20th, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Sounds like he has been rather injury ridden, himself. Let’s hope he can stay healthy and contribute…ACL, Back, Concussion….who knows?
August 20th, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Vita Vea fat asx is so out of shape he practiced one week.
Pathetic. Not gonna be any kind of factor for at least a month into the season and probably longer.
August 20th, 2018 at 6:08 pm
I’m an old dude and so I remember old school players who literally smoked ciggies non stop and did very little to take care of their bodies in the 50’s.
So NFL types began conditioning their ever growing bodies and paying attention to nutrition…worked with very experienced trainers all in the hope of minimizing injuries.
Problem is the unintended consequence. Players are huge these days…faster than ever and very well prepared and conditioned and so they hurt each other.
It’s like when the NFL went from leather helmets to the more modern helmets and the tacklers had less fear of sticking their head in harm’s way.
I just can’t bring myself to blame anybody for injuries…it’s like Forrest Gump…Shirt happens. 32 teams with product…the players…literally worth billions with a B. Everything possible to prevent injury is being done by EVERY team in the league. Just follow the $$$$.
Injuries have always been a part of the game and almost all of it now days is simple luck…or bad luck. Do we think Guice didn’t prepare his ACL or the supporting muscles properly. Nah…just an unlucky hit.
August 20th, 2018 at 6:09 pm
This is a good move, we need DTs right now. Urein is out with a concussion, Vea is out with a calf injury and Allen just got injuries in the Tennesse game.
August 20th, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Not a good sign when you’re picking players up off the street
August 20th, 2018 at 7:34 pm
I think Joe was right. Camp body.
Why rush Vea back for a preseason game? No need to.
August 20th, 2018 at 7:45 pm
Nice to hear him and Will Gholston played together at MSU. Will might be able to help him understand how the defense is run more quickly with them having good experience playing next to each other. BECOME A WORTHY DT WORTHY!!!
August 20th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Joe,
Stevie T is on IR. Players have to be waived/injured if they are put on IR before final cutdown. This exposes them to waivers and they can be claimed by any team in the league.
August 20th, 2018 at 8:42 pm
Bucs signed 2 DTs in two days. They also signed Adam Reth off waivers from the Eagles. This guy Worthy sounds interesting. You never know this could be a system he thrives in or he may have just had a string of bad luck with injuries. Definitely worth keeping an eye on.
August 20th, 2018 at 9:01 pm
Brandon- I was under the impression that Stevie T. was waived/injured with medical payment and this status allowed the Bucs the option to sign him back when the negotiated time is up and he is healthy.
August 20th, 2018 at 9:55 pm
Vea is out awhile. You people still haven’t caught on to the injury train in Tampa the last decade.
You don’t sign this guy off the street if Vea was coming back any time soon. We’ll be lucky to see Vea by week 3 or 4.
August 20th, 2018 at 10:02 pm
Stpetebucsfan,
Reminds me of Kenny Stabler smoking between plays in the huddle. There’s something that you’re not going to see in today’s game.
August 20th, 2018 at 10:47 pm
Vea was riding a stationary bike last week and you think he won’t be back for 5-6 more weeks? My prediction is he will be ready and dressed on or before game 1 vs Saints, baring no new medical set backs. We’ll see who’s right in less than 3 weeks.
August 21st, 2018 at 6:23 am
BigMacAttack Says:
” I didn’t go practices this year but I never saw any of these players stretch. Do they even stretch at all? Who’s in charge of this.”
BaHaHaHa – you can’t make this stuff up folks….. Instant Classic
Joe – I’m tellin ya – you need to post “best of JBF comments” articles regularly and just show a bunch of random quotes like this one….
August 21st, 2018 at 6:58 am
This is nothing new. Injuries are part of it and we need bodies. If he can contribute that’s great.
Hopefully Vea will make an appearance in the regular season. We need him then.
Pickgrin- I’m loving your idea! I’m POSITIVE that we could fill an entire page with some really funny stuff.
August 21st, 2018 at 10:24 am
I am still wondering why we haven’t offered a 5th round pick and one of our wide receivers to Jacksonville for Dante Fowler. He has 12 sacks the last two years and was a backup. Because there line is so talented. But we will sit on our hands and watch New England get him for a 6th round pick and a box of live lobsters. And he will go on to have 14 sacks and make the pro bowl. If I had as the gm I would have tried to get him at the beginning of training camp. Complacency doesn’t work in the nfl. He would be one of are top pass rushers as soon as he walks in the building. Make it happen Licht
August 21st, 2018 at 2:27 pm
Vita will be back by week one.