Will Cameron Brate Need Surgery?
December 26th, 2018
Joe had a simple question for Dirk Koetter today, one that prompted a complex response.
Joe asked the head coach whether the steep decline in catches and overall production by tight end Cameron Brate this season was on Brate, in part, or was he just caught in the mix of a team that has a lot of valuable weapons.
Koetter responded to say Brate has been battling injury behind the scenes the entire season and more would come out on that soon.
“He hasn’t been healthy since Day 1. He’s done an unbelievable job fighting through it,” Koetter said of Brate.
“If you knew the amount of rehab Cam does just on a weekly basis to be able to play, it’s pretty remarkable that he’s out there playing at all. There’s be probably more information on that after the season’s over.”
Joe followed up to ask whether 27-year-old Brate would need surgery, and Koetter said he already had said all he’s going to say about the matter.
Brate’s biggest game of this year is 36 yards at home against Carolina in December. One other time he broke 30 yards. In total, he has 28 catches for 250 yards in 15 games. His six touchdowns, though, made a consistent red zone threat for the third consecutive season.
It sure smells like surgery is coming for Brate, which is unfortunate. Shoulder? Back? It’s all guesswork now. But at least this nugget from Koetter explains a lot.
December 26th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
Why has he not appeared on the injury report?
https://www.buccaneers.com/team/injury-report/week/12
I went back a few weeks and didnt see him on there.
December 26th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
Bet it was that hit on the goal line when Jameis hung him out to dry…
December 26th, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Cut or trade him.
December 26th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Oooo, @Sam….GOOD point! Why the hell wasn’t he on the injury report?! And no, they can’t just wing it on Wednesdays and Thursdays, (leaving him off), thinking he’ll correct it in time for the final Friday report.
Good point Sam.
As usual, even with a sort of “out” clause this year in Brate’s contract, Licht OVER-signed him. He does that.
Glazers get John Harbaugh! Thank you! Go Bucs!
December 26th, 2018 at 4:08 pm
I wonder if 3 weeks after the season is over will we discover that Winston will need surgery too? 🤔
December 26th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
If he’s been that unhealthy then why play him? There are healthy tight ends on the roster that could probably fill in just as well when given the chance while giving him time to heal. A hurt player can limit quality play and hurt the team. This is why we have Auclair, Ernsberger, and Hudson.
December 26th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Labrum tear.
December 26th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
$7,000,000 is a lot of loot for his production
Bring in a new GM and Head Coach
And let them rid the team of the dead weight
December 26th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Koetter was desperate when OJ went on IR to keep his two tight end offense working. Hope the Glazer kids know the situation after giving him a sh!t load of cash. Probably not smart enough to ask. Love Cam, but cut him and get some dough back. Let him go to the Patriots and win multiple SBs to take over for Kronkowski instead of Hump going there.
December 26th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Winston dose hang his teammates out to dry alot. No wonder Evans drops to the ground after the catch. He dosent trust his QB. Bad ball placement by Winston… alot. We need a accurate passer back there. And alot of help on the oline. I heard Ohio State has a top notch QB if he declairs.
December 26th, 2018 at 4:54 pm
sam & jean
i share your views….
why wasnt he on the injury report and why didnt dirk use this as an opportunity to develop auclair?…..
i understand injuries but dirk is making an excuse for brate imo…..if he was on the injury report all year then everyone would know why his production dipped….
imo, dirk did brate a disservice…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!…#ADIOSDIRK!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
December 26th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
The Bucs need to pay Brate. We need his talent.
December 26th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
Cam is to be commended for playing through this season even though he’s been hurt. It would have been a lot easier for him to say I’m hurt and can’t play. Instead he got pt throughout the week so that he could go out there, suck it up, and try his hardest to perform as a professional athlete for the bucs.
December 26th, 2018 at 5:40 pm
He will go to NE and be the next Gronk.
December 26th, 2018 at 7:46 pm
Good on you Joe for getting us this info
December 26th, 2018 at 8:46 pm
Brate can’t be Gronk because Gronk is fast, Cam doesn’t run that well
December 26th, 2018 at 10:33 pm
Props and recognition to Brate for roughing it out for his team and fans, when it sounds he had the excuse not to. #Pride
December 27th, 2018 at 10:05 am
To be clear….my point with him not being on the injury report wasnt trying to hang the bucs or Dirk out to dry. Im more concerned that the NFL will take a draft pick away. Looking at more recent examples…..to me it looks like most they would get is a warning. I like Brate. Great guy and on any other team would likely be a superstar but this O has so many weapons. My personal opinion is Jameis and Dirk and Licht get 1 more year. Basing this on Oregon’s qb saying he is staying put for a year and at 6 spot you can get a great O lineman.