Todd Bowles Mum About Russell Gage
May 31st, 2023
Silence on mysterious injury.
It didn’t take much for Todd Bowles’ chipper mood to turn dour.
Yesterday after underwear football practice, the second-year Bucs coach seemed to be in a good mood. After the second question of his post-practice media session, the smile vanished.
Bowles was asked about wide receiver Russell Gage being hurt (again). He got injured the week before the first open-to-media OTA practice.
The injury is mysterious because Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield referred to it offhand and wasn’t specific. So Bowles was asked about Gage’s injury.
Bowles sighed and pulled a Lovie Smith.
“We don’t talk about injuries in OTAs,” Bowles said.
End of subject.
Gage, since he signed with the Bucs, has been an injury waiting to happen. Gage last season pulled a hamstring before the first open practice of OTAs and wasn’t seen on the field until training camp.
At training camp, Gage went crazy for the first week or so and Bowles acknowledged at the time, “We can’t cover him.”
It wasn’t long before Gage — all together now — got injured and missed most of training camp.
The injury bug kept biting Gage throughout the season. It’s a big reason why he only started four games in 2022.
Later in his presser, Bowles crowed how rookie linebacker SirVocea Dennis has been getting so many valuable snaps in underwear football because Lavonte David, Devin White and K.J. Britt were each missing from the voluntary practice.
Well, the same could be said for speedy rookie wideout Trey Palmer. With Mike Evans and Gage not at practice yesterday, Palmer is getting a bunch of snaps with the first team.
If Gage continues to be hurt, Joe believes the door is wide open for Palmer to bust through to become a starter, so long as he earns it. And if that happens, Joe would not be shocked if the Bucs give Gage an injury settlement and wave goodbye.
Unloading Gage would be a $5 million cap hit ($2 million if he is released next spring). But if the dude cannot stay on the field, what’s the point?
May 31st, 2023 at 12:19 am
Thanks for the roundup.
May 31st, 2023 at 1:40 am
Paper tiger ?
May 31st, 2023 at 1:55 am
Bummer, but good point Joe. Let someone who can actually be on the field play. Palmer, or the small udfas, shoot even Warner. Crappy situation, but that’s a valuable roster spot.
May 31st, 2023 at 2:15 am
We need a greeter at my local Walmart.
May 31st, 2023 at 2:45 am
Sometimes FA signings work out, and it’s great when it does (Keyshawn, McCardell, Jurevicius). Sometimes it doesn’t (Alvin Harper, Bert Emmanuel, Russell Gage). Stop throwing good money after bad. It’s time to cut bait. It wouldn’t surprise me if Gage catches on with another team and his “injuries” magically disappear.
May 31st, 2023 at 2:51 am
Exactly Joe
And it’s apparent that Bowles isn’t happy about this situation.
A healthy Gage could obviously be a huge playmaker for the Bucs this year.
Hope palmer can prove to be an option for us.
Go Bucs!
May 31st, 2023 at 6:35 am
Gage comes to Tampa and becomes a porcelain doll.
PATHETIC.
May 31st, 2023 at 7:19 am
No opening for greeter at my Walmart, Leftwich has taken the position.
May 31st, 2023 at 7:40 am
Seems he gets “injured” so he doesn’t have to put in the work in the offseason
May 31st, 2023 at 7:40 am
Sounds like Palmer is actually able to catch the ball…..
May 31st, 2023 at 7:48 am
If Gage is not ready by camp, he should be released. I know the Bucs lowered his salary but he’s supposed to be a big contributer. For whatever the reason the guy can’t stay healthy. Give the young WRs a shot.
May 31st, 2023 at 7:58 am
Lefty greeted me “Welcome to Walmart” then directed me into a long solid line, but I called an audible, kicked out around the end and found some daylight.
Soon Toad Bowels may be threatening Lefty’s new gig.
May 31st, 2023 at 8:02 am
Can we cut him and save cap money? If so, do it. I’d rather roll with some of our younger guys. We have the right vets in the room, Evans, Godwin. We don’t need Gage’s vet presents. Besides, he’s not that much of a threat as a receiver.
May 31st, 2023 at 8:19 am
Or maybe check this joe he sighed because it’s MAY…… season doesn’t start tomorrow or next week
May 31st, 2023 at 8:38 am
The Bucs must really see potential in Gage, or they would have cut him long ago.
May 31st, 2023 at 8:50 am
So dramatic and not true. First of all the injury could be minor and technically he does even have to be at practice. Secondly no coaches in the nfl talk about injuries during voluntary Otis’s simply because they don’t have to. Come on joe you know this better than us. If dude is not at training camp ok different story but it’s to early to be talking about releasing him next year my goodness
May 31st, 2023 at 8:53 am
Licht to Gage, It’s been real and it’s been fun, but it hasn’t been real fun. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
May 31st, 2023 at 9:31 am
The guy got injured last year and toughed it out playing a ton of snaps when he had no business being on the field. Caught a ton of balls. I agree he wasn’t himself and this year is important he stays healthy. But saying you think it could be time to cut bait because of a mid May injury is a bit premature. We have no idea how minor it could be.
I thought it showed a lot of maturity and to take that paycut the way he did. Fans always get upset that a player signed a contract and wants to renegotiate it before it’s over. I never see them coming in to defend the player when they’re in that situation.
May 31st, 2023 at 9:48 am
I’ve never been impressed with Russell Gage. He’s just a guy. Good hands, but not particularly big or fast, he’s tough, when he’s played… but there is nothing truly special about him. I was a little surprised the team didn’t cut him during the offseason but he took a pay cut… wouldn’t be surprised if the team waited for him to get healthy and cut him altogether.
May 31st, 2023 at 2:13 pm
I feel for the guy, their has got to be something with our training staff they helped Godwin get back which is awesome but all of ours guys keep getting injured which says something about the training staff
May 31st, 2023 at 2:32 pm
Read the article Hodad it’s. 5 mil cap hit if we release.
June 1st, 2023 at 7:43 am
Then we’re stuck.