A Leaner Tyler Johnson
May 20th, 2022
The Bucs roster has five receivers who earned one of those cool Tampa Bay Super Bowl rings.
That’s a lot of experience.
One is Tyler Johnson, who caught 36 balls last season, 14 for a first down. The Bucs’ 2020 fifth-round pick was the only Bucs receiver to play all 17 games, and he stepped up with two big first-half catches against the Eagles in the playoffs, plus clutch grabs on the winning drive against the Jets in January.
The fun part about that is Johnson didn’t really have a good season. He was up and down and his hands failed him a little too often. So that sort of illustrates how talented the 23-year-old receiver is.
There’s a divide at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. The Joe typing here believes Johnson has produced, is maturing, and is poised for a bit of a breakthrough in 2022. The other Joe kind of writes off Johnson as an inconsistent and meh receiver who took a step back last season after screwing up by reporting to 2021 training camp out of shape.
It’s hard to say what Johnson is to the Bucs offense, but Joe can say he looks to be in fantastic shape. Fresh practice photos and video at Buccaneers.com reveal a leaner Johnson, and at 6-1 he sure stands out among the many “Smurfs” in the Bucs’ receiving corps.
Perhaps the greatest competition in Bucs camp is for the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 receiver positions.
Just imagine if Scotty Miller can recapture the quality of play and production he had in 2020, and Johnson can build off his January success, the Bucs would would have all kinds of quality and experienced options for Tom Brady.
May 20th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
I hope he is over the hunger and ready to settle down at his job. He seemed to be looking for splash plays last season and left the easy stuff on the ground.
He might be needed this season.
May 20th, 2022 at 4:47 pm
Awesome to hear! I was hoping he would show up in shape this year with a fire under him because I think he has a ton of potential. Not sure what happened last year but maybe with Perriman and then later on Grayson taking snaps and them getting gauge woke him up.
LFG!
May 20th, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Bodes well. Lot of talent there. Personally, I like Perriman and Grayston. But good competition for sure.
May 20th, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Good News here! Tyler Johndon can and is ready to produce.
I mentioned this exact thing yesterday in the article on Gage.
The wrong Joe still wants the crust cut off on his peanut butter and bananna sandwhiches.
Tyler had to give up the Josh Freemuck burrito diet and be ready for camp this year! This guy can produce when he is on his game. Problem is he was often the 5th option last year and started out in BA’s outhouse. (dont call me porky, porkie)
I’ve liked this guy beore he got here.
May 20th, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Wow this sounds like a classic case of are you going to give a guy a second chance.
Of course you will second chances, redemption, are as American as apple pie.
I think CG’s injury gives Johnson a “chance” at a second look.
May 20th, 2022 at 5:16 pm
Suh.
May 20th, 2022 at 5:27 pm
I think he was kind of meh last year and not a big part of our future. I hope he proves me wrong. I would tell him, “Kid you’re going to go a long ways in this league because you have a long ways to go.”
May 20th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Darden is the most talented receiver we have not named Evans, Godwin and Gage. I hope they give him every chance to be that number 4 guy. Johnson and Grayson as the 5 and 6 would make us pretty potent.
May 20th, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Let’s go bro ! Possibly Brady’s last season need to leave it all out there for him
May 20th, 2022 at 6:18 pm
I hope Tyler losing weight can make him run faster.
May 20th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Went Hollywood last year
May 20th, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Extra stickum on your hands.
May 20th, 2022 at 6:49 pm
Yup, if by Hollywood you mean he left the videos of the Green Bay title game on auto replay in his cell phone. The hardest thing to do when blessed with success early in a career is in the immortal words of Primetime Deion not falling in love with the smell of your own perfume.
May 20th, 2022 at 6:59 pm
Good to read. Time will tell.
May 20th, 2022 at 7:10 pm
I hope ALL the receivers do well.
May 20th, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Although I recognize Johnson can provide some upside to this O as a possession receiver if he is healthy and motivated and lean; still, I am more interested in the blazing speed of Perriman and Grayson. Can’t ever have enough speed. I like speed.
May 20th, 2022 at 7:36 pm
I love the alternate personalities of Joe1 vs Joe2. It keeps me coming back to this site on the regular. It’s like reading 2 blogs on the same site. It has motivated me to start posting as pessimist D and optimist D. Thing is, you never know what D you gonna get on any given (Sun) day. Now, where are my pills? LOL. (Just kidding, I’m quite sane – my mother had me tested).
Either way, I love football, so GO BUCS!!!
May 20th, 2022 at 8:18 pm
I don’t know why but I am a big Grayson hopeful!
May 20th, 2022 at 8:31 pm
#8 – L’est we forget … Suh!
May 20th, 2022 at 8:33 pm
TJ catches the impossible and drops the easy. This must change. But I seem to remember a guy named Evans who had a bit of that his first two years and that sure changed thanks to hard work and coaching. C’mon Tyler, make the routine look routine.
And Dardung the most talented receiver not named Evans? ROTFLMAO! That is comedy gold right there! He reminds me of Jacquez Green or Reidel Anthony, except not nearly as good and they sucked.
May 20th, 2022 at 9:04 pm
WR depth chart: Evans, Godwin, Gage, Miller, Tyler Johnson, Immortal Cyril Grayson. This group could do some serious damage. It’s a bit of a gamble to roll with this crew vs signing another WR vet to cover for Godwin’s absence, but I say let ’em play!
May 20th, 2022 at 9:10 pm
The Brady circle of trust is difficult to get back into. Showing up out of shape is inexcusable and usually a precursor. Hopefully he learned his lesson.
May 20th, 2022 at 9:11 pm
Of course there is promise for an upside for this kid. The adjustment he had to make from being the guy on his college team to cracking a lineup with Evans, CG and AB must have been difficult. Maybe it was a dedication thing, or maybe he was in over his head. At 23 with all of this experience, this kid still has a chance to shine.
May 20th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
You get drafted and have a chance to play the sport you love as your job and make millions in the process. And you show up out of shape at start of offseason. Not a guy that has his head on right. Sorry. I hope he proves me wrong.
I have cyril and scotty in front of him. And i know he is bigger slot guy. So what.
Not sure why people have so much love for perriman? Yah that bills ending was great. He was wide open. And i know the speed people always bring up. Dont see it on the field.
May 20th, 2022 at 10:26 pm
Probably still slow hopefully he can work on his route running to create separation
May 21st, 2022 at 12:18 am
Regardless of whether you believe there are 3, 2 or 1 WR positions up for grabs and regardless of the potential of the players in question. It’s all going to come down to who can stay healthy and on the field. I hate to say it, but unfortunately 1 or more of these WRs will be following in Justin Watson’s footsteps and I liked Justin Watson. Will never forget the one handed preseason TD grab he made and he was an easy guy to root for. Special Teams capability will probably be of little significance to this group, as I foresee Bowles keeping a project DB that plays Special Teams over a WR. I’m just glad there are no DIVA WRs on this team. Although I could go for a DIVA punter.
May 21st, 2022 at 1:46 am
football players are at one buc grinding…
fat fellas are at the chinese buffet on fowler fumbling dumplings…
the choice is yours
May 21st, 2022 at 1:48 am
toting the rock does not mean tucking a dumpling under your arm, and heading back to your table with an overstuffed plate of general tso’s
May 21st, 2022 at 7:19 am
There coming for your job Tyler!
I am interested in several of the smurfs upside. I see a return man I one of them. Fingers crossed!!!
Tyler is an above average receiver … when he wants to be.
May 21st, 2022 at 7:23 am
Perriman should be our #4 receiver due to his speed & experience……..then we have Grayson, Miller & Johnson & Darden…..that’s a pretty good 8 pack!!!
May 21st, 2022 at 8:44 am
Glad to hear Johnson coming in leaner and in shape. So last year at 22, coming off a Super Bowl win in his rookie season and with money in his pocket he rolls out of bed, out of shape and stumbling from an off season of partying. BA hazed him pretty good and deservedly so. He never got his mojo back. He sees us sign Chris for big $$$ and then Gage. He hears that the word on the street is he may not make the roster. He’s a talented guy. Looks like he’s figured out a few things and is ready to compete. Let’s see how he does
May 21st, 2022 at 9:56 am
Perfect time to trade him.
May 21st, 2022 at 10:20 am
I like Johnson, but he better produce. Not going to wait for him to turn the corner like we waited for OJ Howard. GOBUCS!
May 21st, 2022 at 12:59 pm
I hope he does show up. Because if he does, that makes our 4 WR sets even more dangerous.
May 21st, 2022 at 7:53 pm
Wishing and hoping that our highly suspect receivers behind Gage suddenly become good is probably going to bite us in the butt.
May 22nd, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Saw a couple videos with him in them and he does look faster, leaner and quicker. Hope he has a breakout year, because we need all the WR depth we can get without Godwin available early.