Russell Gage, Shaq Barrett Expected Ready For Training Camp
June 6th, 2023
Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett.
Last week Todd Bowles said he doesn’t talk injuries during spring practices. And, as many fans know, the NFL doesn’t mandate injury reports until early September.
But Bowles was talking a little health this afternoon.
The head coach was clear that the Bucs’ banged up players all should be ready for training camp. Joe pumped the air with a fist. Joe’s first thought was of Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett, who had Achilles surgery in early November. Shaq ready for camp in late July would be no huge surprise because that’s in the recovery timeline, but it’s still great to hear.
No. 3 wide receiver Russell Gage (50-plus catches and 5 touchdowns last season) is banged up with an undisclosed injury suffered in early May. He’s not practicing yet but it appears he’ll be ready for camp, too.
Ryan Jensen was at practice today walking around wearing a left knee brace. Bowles said Jensen is “off-and-on” when it comes to practicing. He said the team will see how Jensen feels in camp.
June 6th, 2023 at 12:52 pm
Awesome news! Now don’t go jumping up and down after reading this and tweak a hamstring…
June 6th, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Good news, especially for Shaq.
June 6th, 2023 at 1:09 pm
Fun fact: A big part of the Bucs signing Gage was because they continue to have so many issues at WR, and Gage had generally been healthy in his career, and was seen as a safe bet to be able to play all 17 games and, most importantly, be healthy when the playoffs rolled around. That is part of the reason the Bucs felt safe taking a risk on signing Julio, who was known for being constantly injured, but had a huge upside.
June 6th, 2023 at 1:46 pm
I’ll be surprised if Gage plays more than 9 games this yr …
June 6th, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Let’s hope Palmer never gets the injury bug.
Godwin is primed for a big year with no injuries.
See what Cooper Cupp did in a similar offense one year removed from ACL surgery.
There is something to be said for hard work and the guy coming back from that is working hard. Throw talent on top of that and you are gonna see a solid season.
June 6th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
Its frustrating to have signed a FA for more than he was worth mainly because it was believed Gage would at worst be a reliable 3rd receiver and available to step up as a starter in case of injury to Evans or Godwin… only to have that player become fragile as glass from the second he steps into your facility…
It happens I guess and I’m sure no one is as frustrated as Gage himself.
Hopefully Russell Gage can put this string of injuries behind him and have a healthy and productive 2023 season. Those hopes seem seem more like a pipe dream at this point – but man that dude was “uncoverable” his first week at OTAs last year when he was healthy…. LOL
June 6th, 2023 at 5:36 pm
If Gages’ injury is unknown, how do you know he’ll be ready by training camp?
June 6th, 2023 at 5:40 pm
Shaq is especially great news.
Gage? How can we miss a guy who was never fully here?
I’m assuming Stinnie is going to be all the way back. I wish I could remember that other outside linebacker’s name.
June 6th, 2023 at 5:59 pm
It’s a shame we never got to see a fully healthy Gage. He still caught 50 balls and lead the team in TDs. Imagine what a healthy gage can do.
June 6th, 2023 at 7:21 pm
I don’t understand this comment about Jensen. We’ll see how he feels in camp? He started a game five months ago but is questionable for practice 2 months from now? Did he re aggravate?
June 7th, 2023 at 8:40 am
Great news about Shaq and Gage.
But Whoa!
Jenson in a brace? That is a major problem!
If he can’t go at 100 percent we have major issues. We have already shuffled our O-line with rookies and all kinds of change. This does not bode well at all.
Good enough to start a game last year and now he is wearing a brace tells me the knee is not healing on its own! Probably swelling on and off after workouts.