Jaydon Mickens In The Receivers Mix
June 8th, 2021
Last season, Bucs receiver/returner Jaydon Mickens was targeted eight times when the Bucs faced the Giants.
He was never thrown to again by Tom Brady.
The Bucs drafted fourth-round speedster receiver/returner Jaelon Darden in April, adding him to the deepest and strongest wide receivers corps in the NFL. But today, after the first mandatory minicamp practice, Bucco Bruce Arians was lauding Mickens while discussing how well Tom Brady has mastered his command and reads within the offense.
“[Brady] hit some really good third- and fourth-options to Jaydon Mickens today. You know, that’s not a guy he works with all the time, but he was spot on in that stuff,” Arians said. “All that verbiage isn’t new now. You know, so he can spit it out. He knows what it means. He knows where they’re going to be. Really pleased with the receivers today. Their conditioning and their route-spacing was outstanding.”
Something led the Bucs to believe Mickens was worthy of being a massive part of the gameplan against the Giants. It was one of the great surprises of the season.
Yes, he was booted from the offense in a hurry, just like Justin Watson was, but Mickens is still on the roster. So perhaps he’s one more hungry young set of hands emerging with a shot at a minor role in the offense.
June 8th, 2021 at 12:54 pm
He’s not going to be in the final 6. he is #7. he won’t be unemployed long though. more of a odd man odd than we cut you cause you suck.
June 8th, 2021 at 12:54 pm
odd man out
June 8th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
It would seem either he goes, out Watson goes
June 8th, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Also a way of getting Tyler Johnson’s attention…..BA knows how to work it.
June 8th, 2021 at 1:36 pm
i think he’ll make the team….watson wont…the kid that had the ball hit off his helmet wont either…lol…
GO BUCS!!!!!
June 8th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
Realistically the Bucs final 53-man roster is already about 80-85% finalized. At best there are only 8-10 spots that guys are really fighting for, and that’s usually the ‘backups’ backups’ and maybe a couple of strictly special teamers (returners like Mickens & Darden among those).
Bucs rarely use the #7 WR, but whoever that player is best be really good on S/Ts. Punt & kickoff returners seem to have a tendency to get hurt for some reason (evidence TJ Logan who ended up on IR in 2019 as a returner then was placed back on IR in late Aug 2020). Bummer for him, but good for Mickens (until he got COVID19 and was replaced by Barner for the rest of the season after the 1st Atlanta game).
Personally could see the Bucs keeping BOTH Darden and Mickens on the final roster, providing they both play very well on S/Ts.
June 8th, 2021 at 4:03 pm
Beeej Says: It would seem either he goes, out Watson goes
Most likely both will be cut during the 53 cutdown and one will be brought back shortly thereafter……if another team does not pick one of them up.
June 8th, 2021 at 4:04 pm
Any sign that TJ Logan was seen on the Bucs squad this year?
June 8th, 2021 at 4:32 pm
Why is this even a discussion. Speed doesn’t make you a good return guy, Mickens proved that. Put Brown or Johnson on special teams.
June 8th, 2021 at 5:01 pm
Rather have Mickens catching passes than returning punts. He sucked during the regular season, although he did came on a bit during the playoffs. Hopefully, Darden will take over the punt-return duties this year. That would significantly lower Mickens’ chances of making the team.
June 8th, 2021 at 6:45 pm
Baiting for a trade.
June 8th, 2021 at 10:19 pm
Come on now why would y’all talk bad about Mickens he has mad football skills and we all know that he has set records scene day 1 and is a good football player and if he wasn’t he wouldn’t have made it this far you all are very cruel and disrespectful sometimes I believe your the fans that failed at sports or your kids did Mickens is a GREAT PLAYER NO MATTER What you haters says he was born to play football and everybody knows it Go BUCCS AND GO JAYDON MICKENS #85 FAN FOR LIFE (WR,RB,KR,PR,S/T,) and media education speaker