Smells Like Injured Reserve For Tyler Johnson
August 30th, 2020
Another no-practice day for Tyler Johnson
Buccaneers fifth-round pick Tyler Johnson was considered a “steal” of the NFL Draft as a fifth-round pick four months ago. Some even chattered about him winning a No. 3 receiver job.
That chatter sure died in a hurry.
Johnson has had an undisclosed injury for nearly all of the Buccaneers’ training camp and the ramp-up conditioning phase.
However, it seems the Bucs and Johnson likely caught a break in this all-in Tampa Bay season.
If the Bucs don’t want to cut Johnson next Sunday at the roster deadline and then hope they can re-sign him for the practice squad — thus exposing him to sign with other NFL teams — the Bucs can massage a new league rule to keep him.
New NFL rules in place only for 2020 allow any team to take any player with a football/ non-football injury off the roster for three weeks. After three weeks, the player is eligible to return to practice, and then within three weeks he can grab a roster spot.
So the Bucs could keep Johnson on the initial 53-man roster and a day later put him on the shelf for six weeks.
Again, it’s a new rule with lots of flexibility tied to all the nonsense surrounding The Sickness.
Of course, if you don’t officially cut Johnson next Sunday by the 4 p.m. deadline, that means you’re exposing another player you might also want to keep. However, that guy likely isn’t a fifth-round pick who many people think is third-round quality.
August 30th, 2020 at 9:34 am
We need to protect TJ…..and, isn’t it uplifting to have player that other teams want for a change….
August 30th, 2020 at 9:44 am
This is a total bummer. At least Miller and Watson are having solid training camp performances…
August 30th, 2020 at 10:26 am
I mean if he wasn’t ready to perform this year, maybe IR isn’t so bad. Doesn’t this hide him from going through waivers unlike the practice squad?
August 30th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
Stash
August 30th, 2020 at 5:26 pm
I didn’t want the Bucs to draft him, so I can’t say I’ll lose any sleep if they cut him. The guy the Bucs SHOULD have drafted was KJ Hill out of Ohio State. He is the Buckeyes all time leading receiver (breaking David Boston’s old record). He is a great route runner, has sticky hands and can even return punts. He was drafted late by the Chargers and is vying for their starting slot WR role.
Oh well, at least we are deep in this position with Miller and Watson behind Evans/Godwin!
August 30th, 2020 at 5:27 pm
Damn shame. I was looking forward to watching this kid grow this season.
August 31st, 2020 at 2:29 am
“Some even chattered about him winning a No. 3 receiver job.”
Huh? All the people in this message board said he’d be the the number 3 on day 1 of camp, before making the pro-bowl.