Jaelon Darden Is Cut
December 6th, 2022
The Buccaneers’ ho-hum return man is no longer on the roster.
Tampa Bay waived returner/receiver Jaelon Darden today. The 2021 fourth-round pick was having a solid season returning punts — he leads the NFL with 31 punt returns and 330 total punt return yards — but has been no factor in the offense. Darden’s decision-making on returns/fair catches was questionable at times.
Joe hopes nothing off the field is tied to this surprising move.
Joe suspects Giovani Bernard will take over the punt return job.
In a corresponding move, Ryan Smith was promoted from the Bucs’ practice squad. Yes, that Ryan Smith, the former Buccaneers cornerback and bad kick returner who was signed off the street last month. He was Tampa Bay’s fourth-round pick in 2016.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:25 pm
YESSS
December 6th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
Good move.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:27 pm
Well alrighty then….
December 6th, 2022 at 5:27 pm
Cut Byron next.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Lol. Why now? He’s always been meh to bad
December 6th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
another wasted draft pick
December 6th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
Makin room for OBJ.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
can we bring back michael spurlock??? haha
December 6th, 2022 at 5:31 pm
im all for walking byron down the plank.. maybe let him try a pass with goedeke blocking….lmfao
December 6th, 2022 at 5:32 pm
Is this a tolerate you until I can replace you move? Not sure how Gio is a real solution here. It’s amazing we can’t find a guy to return punts.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:32 pm
There is a God. 😂
December 6th, 2022 at 5:33 pm
That is great news! Darden has been a complete waste of a roster spot.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Amen.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:36 pm
Bring back mickens
December 6th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
Jason Light should trade all the picks from rounds 4 to 7 and just have four or five picks in the first 3 rounds……. Or maybe ask Schneider from the Seahawks advice for a 5th round Cornerback.
Ryan Smith was a really good gunner for ST when he was here along with Josh Robinson, not much else but still a great gunner
December 6th, 2022 at 5:39 pm
Last night, After he hightailed it out of bounds on his last return the Saints guys were laughing at him and calling names normally reserved for cats…
He looked scared to death in the return game
December 6th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
I guess no other team wanted to trade for him. Good luck in your future endeavors, Mr. Darden. We had high hopes for some production from you.
Wonder if this is related to a potential player coming to us via trade? Seems like the Bucs simply wanted a roster spot, or am I reading too much into Darden’s release?
December 6th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Why they haven’t tried Miller back their is beyond me. He has the speed. Maybe they’re worried about his hands, or getting hurt. I’d at least try it. Darden was dead weight,. taking up a roster spot to perform one duty isn’t a good allocation of resources
December 6th, 2022 at 5:41 pm
Darden was horrible. A product of bad scouting.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:44 pm
It looked like to me, Darden plays scared.
The Bucs must think so, too.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:47 pm
Finally. Glad Ryan Smith got promoted too. That 42-yard return last night could’ve cost us the game IF the Saints had scored (as it was, our defense forced them to punt on that drive). Smith has always been a S/Ts warrior.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:49 pm
so many other options, Scotty Miller would be the first choice ok with seeing Darden cut–must be more to this story, could of been benched 1st but outright cut off the team is a little severe, he never fumbled either but he couldn’t wait to get away from contact.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
He wasn’t much of a contributor on offense but I felt pretty confident with him handling punt returns. He was sure handed and didn’t cause us any harm in a very stressful job…
I also felt confident that he wasn’t going to get very many return yards or big plays.
Good luck young man.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Maybe Jensen is coming back 🤞🏼
December 6th, 2022 at 5:53 pm
Good!
December 6th, 2022 at 5:58 pm
At least it looks like they’re watching the games with us. He’s been a complete disaster not making good enough decisions back there . Whether a fair catch or not. He either runs right out of bounds or go’s straight down.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:58 pm
I thought he had the talent coming out but yeah he did seem on & off. I could see them maybe putting Bernard back there because they’re not even using him. They should. He can do a bit of everything. Sad thing about the Darden pick is Licht traded up for him & we lost more draft picks. If anything you trade down get more picks & help build the team overall. Especially if you’re not gonna do much in FA & at the trade deadline. Can’t rebuild your team with just some random dude off the street. Although that’s where Leftwich should probably be. Maybe they should hang onto Bowles but just let him run the D.
December 6th, 2022 at 5:58 pm
D rok doesn’t even know there’s a trade deadline?…..C’mon man! Go BUCS!!
December 6th, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Check your tone on Ryan Smith ST. He was a terrific gunner. And Smith was not good at CB, but who can be worse thanMcCullom? Looks like he weighs 150 lbs, cannot cover and sure as hell can’t make an open field tackle. At least Smith has size.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:01 pm
Darden would probably have to go to a team like New England with Belichick & he’d have to work with him if he wants to become better.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
He almost always ran toward the sideline. Never tried looking for a seam up the middle of the field. He wanted to be able to step out of bounds rather than pick up an extra couple of yards His only positive attribute was that he was sure handed. But he fair caught way too many returnable punts.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:03 pm
Yup Smith was a heck of a Gunner
December 6th, 2022 at 6:04 pm
Just wondering when they’re gonna figure out it’s time to dump Donovan Smith. Dude is just killing the team with penalties & sacks. I’ve said it for the last couple of years they should’ve gotten rid of him & got a replacement. Fred the sled could do better.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:06 pm
Oh ya for sure Tony because Belichick sure has a keen eye for talent at the receiver position….*eyeroll*
December 6th, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Darden’s bad decisions and cowardice are equal to that of the HC’s.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Darden never fumbled. But that was about it.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:09 pm
Smith isnt bad. He just isnt good when he doesnt have an excellent guy next to him. Alli’s retirement makes him do more work alone. Plus his blown out arm from earlier this yr. Your not going to find a much better dude on the practice squad. But it does look like his career is winding down quick if it isnt a temporary injury. Hate to see it. He hasnt been a bad player. Just not a pro bowler.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:12 pm
Who are the Bucs making room for?
OBJ?
TB12’s old buddy Gronk? Or Eddleman?
Usually when you release someone this late in the year you are making room for a free agent…
I guess we will find out soon enough.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:13 pm
@Gofortheface30
Oh yeah that’s true somewhat.🙄 But yeah he’d probably have to go to a team where they could coach him more & help him.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:15 pm
@Marine Buc
No they’re making room for Antonio.😀
December 6th, 2022 at 6:15 pm
It’s time to cut bait here. This is a good start. Donavan Smith won’t be here next season. He’s been terrible this year when we needed him to play his best.
Now this Todd Bowles and Leftwich disaster.
3 points on tbe board till 3 min left in the game. We won in SPITE of Leftwich. Bowles doesn’t even huddle up w TB12 and Leftwich on timeouts. This whole affirmative action experiment has been proven to be awful. 3 points on the board until 3 min left in the game! Brady again took matters into his own hands.
This win masked a nightmare offense from Gen Byron.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:17 pm
Adios Dardung
December 6th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
At least Stumbles didn’t fumble…I think he went to college at SAFS (Slip And Fall School).
December 6th, 2022 at 6:21 pm
If anyone needed to get cut from their performance last night it would be Zion McCollum.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Haha, the Patriots have a returner. He had a game winning TD punt return, 2 weeks ago. His 1st and only snap on offense, was Patriots only TD against Buffalo this past week. lol
Rookie, Marcus Jones
December 6th, 2022 at 6:25 pm
@ Tony
LOL…
AB is playing for the Orient Road Jail Birds at the moment.
I don’t think we will be able to work out a trade anytime soon…
December 6th, 2022 at 6:26 pm
I’m guessing Darden won’t be the Bucs next GM or a scout for them at some point?😀
December 6th, 2022 at 6:26 pm
I wonder if he’ll run laterally out the side door of One Buc 🤔
December 6th, 2022 at 6:27 pm
Can they cut this coaching staff? They haven’t been able to improve this team through 12 games. I just don’t see how they make noise with this coaching staff.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Only took 12 games for someone to realize just how crappy the special teams have been?
December 6th, 2022 at 6:33 pm
Can we cut Todd Bowles yet? I meant Todd bowels lol
December 6th, 2022 at 6:34 pm
Deven thompkins time
December 6th, 2022 at 6:35 pm
Amen! That Guy McCollum was so bad that I was calling for DeeDee Delaney. So you know his was terrible. McCollum and Goedeke are not ready for the NFL and should see the feild in the regular season until year 3. Both are developmental players.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
How about sneak take on both duties? Or why is he holding a spot? Seems we could use another developmental LT.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
I actually was starting to forget he was on the team. Licht needs to grow some
Balls now and get rid of leftwich and bowles
December 6th, 2022 at 6:41 pm
The phantom Randolph should be next.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:45 pm
VATom
Sorely mistaken about Smith. I have hated this guy and his top tier LT contracts for years. He is always in the hunt for most penalties. Always gets run around edge or it’s him collapsing in the pocket. I don’t know why fans haven’t noticed how blatantly obvious it has been. And yes, this conversation amongst fans would have started a long time ago without Ali. Could’ve saved some money. OT in the first round isn’t a crazy thought.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:48 pm
I’ll have to watch golf, when Brady retires.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:53 pm
Arians really hyped him the last couple yrs….kind of sheds light on Arians hype of Leftwich and Gabbert.
December 6th, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Darden had great hands. Secured the ball before running. He did the job well but I think he was afraid of getting hit and could not find openings.
December 6th, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Finally, he is afraid to get hit. It only took 3 years. On the other hand he was sure handed so his replacement better not fumble.
December 6th, 2022 at 7:07 pm
“Darden never fumbled.” Well, it’d be a sight to see after never being touched with all the fair catches and running out of bounds. The less you get touched the less likely you are to fumble. I get it, he didn’t muff or anything and that’s good but he also cost us yards by being too safe (scared). I’m not reveling in his misfortune, but it was past due. I had such high hopes when he was drafted.
December 6th, 2022 at 7:08 pm
He really did do a great job of making sure he got out of bounds and stopped the clock on every return. His career is likely done, maybe a practice squad somewhere else but he’s not an NFL level player.
December 6th, 2022 at 7:33 pm
Oh maybe we see Devin Tompkins Brought up from our P.S to Return punts he isn’t afraid of Contact I was really hoping to see Darden get a chance on offense to bad I really didn’t mind Darden honestly was best punt return man we have had in years
December 6th, 2022 at 7:36 pm
He’s actually been one of the better returners in football – which says a lot more about the sorry state of punt returning than anything else. But what a strange move to make at this point.
December 6th, 2022 at 7:42 pm
Interesting move. Darden came along way, it seems he was having a solid season returning kicks.
December 6th, 2022 at 7:45 pm
The other buccaneer that needs to be fired is the special teams coach Keith Armstrong. Our coverage unit has been allowing a big kick return every game lately. It is a travesty.
December 6th, 2022 at 7:46 pm
I agree. Who are they making room for ?
Weird . This late in season
December 6th, 2022 at 7:53 pm
Well he never fumbled a catch, so there’s that. Otherwise I was enjoying him running sideways and running out of bounds on every punt return. Wonder who is next on deck? Now fire the special teams coach.
December 6th, 2022 at 8:08 pm
Bowles on waivers
December 6th, 2022 at 8:08 pm
His return in the 3rd quarter, where he jogged to the sideline was the last straw.
December 6th, 2022 at 8:17 pm
Whoever they bring in probably will not contribute to ST unless they plan on using Scotty Miller more
December 6th, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Did the Bucs get their names mixed up? I expected to hear Leftwich had been cut.
December 6th, 2022 at 8:29 pm
Mickens is sharing a room with AB down at the county.
December 6th, 2022 at 8:30 pm
TBBF smells something here
December 6th, 2022 at 8:47 pm
How many Times do we have to see Donovan Smith with a game changing penalty to realize he’s a complete disaster. If you think it’s over, it’s not the bucs will be in the playoffs and he will a have a game changing penalty to cost them yards or even worse points. If there’s a chance, Brady comes back next year, you cannot bring him back.
December 6th, 2022 at 8:58 pm
Finally admitting they made a mistake.
December 6th, 2022 at 9:08 pm
What took so Loooooong
December 6th, 2022 at 9:08 pm
DONT blame the player!!! Blame the Coaches that put him on the field every week!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2022 at 9:14 pm
Ryan Smith was the best pick in that 2016 class lol
December 6th, 2022 at 9:23 pm
Buccaneers.com reports Ryan Smith was released. ??
December 6th, 2022 at 9:25 pm
Interestingly we may be waving a returner that could very well end the season as the top hunt returner in the NFL yards wise. Don’t get me wrong, he didn’t do anything else on this team and that’s why he was cut. Still somewhat ironic given our deficiencies at that position.
December 6th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Darden did a good job from my perspective. I’d rather see him pick up 10-15 yards on a punt return and scoot his tiny body out of bounds with the ball firmly in his hands than see him “not play scared of contact”. He ain’t Mike Alstott. He’s 5’8″, 174 lbs and so many fans want him to take head-on hits from guys with 50+ pounds on him?
How many times do you see a returner take his eyes off the ball and muff it because he’s looking for his seam to make a big return? Big punt returns rarely change games unless they’re 40 or 50 yards and those are rare. But a muffed punt deep on your end of the field? Big trouble. A short field and an extra possession for the other team. I’ll take sure hands with a modest return any day of the week and let my offense go to work.
What hurt Darden is that he never fit on offense. It’s a shame but that’s the breaks.
Darden haters got their wish. Let’s hope the next returner doesn’t put the ball on the ground or you might want a mulligan on that wish. Bucs have to play mistake-free ball to have any chance and they just cut the one guy who did his job cleanly every time.
December 6th, 2022 at 10:10 pm
Darden was apparently a BA obsession. Outside of any huge things like Gronk or Jensen returning, I’d like to see Cyril Grayson come back. You have to respect how hard that guy worked, and he seemed to be getting better
December 6th, 2022 at 10:33 pm
You either have it or you don’t…I would love to.see the bucs talk obj to playing in the playoffs with us..it’ll give us depth in a room who tends to be banged up.
He’s worth kicking tires on and spending the rest of the glazer loot..at this point we are facing the cowboys in the playoffs I don’t really see no other option unless we collapse and lose out.
So yes we can beat the cowboys but yes they have got better since we played them.
Our run def is suspect and run game had got better when we run to the left and not on every first down for 1yd or a loss.
We need to move Neal to MLB with David
Move white to def end/ olb let him get after the qb 95% of the time like parsons.
Brady needs a te that will find the empty spots in the middle..they gotta know what he wants before he wants it.
Run game by committee will get us moving..
Godwin gotta be Mr 3rd down..gage needs to also help with that..
We need to up tempo the offense pick n choose when to let off the gas or when personal changes happen.
Will be playing at home in the 1st playoff game so that advantage has to be on the fans to be the 12th man on defense…we need to be deafening to other offenses where they can’t hear play calls..we should be dead silent when Brady is on the field…
Don’t sell your tickets only let bucs fans fill the stands not a bunch cowboys fans coming on vacation to out roar us like we’re some weak chumps.
Back to the offense..personally people may disagree with this but I would put Mike evans at tight end him matched up on any linebacker would be absolutely unstoppable..yes he would catch a few hard hits but this will fix Brady intermediate pass that he needs from a te like gronk..can Mike be gronk in the passing game yes..can he chip block yes..could he block a de idk I’m say yes till proven wrong.
Godwin in the slot beside him…Jones in the #1 spot to stretch the field and gage running crisp routes on the right side…
Rotate fournette n white till one catches fire..
Maybe touch of Bernard n shady depending on how they look in practice.
Scotty will rotate in for gage n godwin.Godwin..
Pick up obj have Brady bring him in n run some route trees if he has it pay him 6 to 8 mil n run for this super bowl…
Probably be cowboys. Eagles or vikings…afc will be bills bangels or cheifs
December 6th, 2022 at 10:36 pm
Dallas.. who has been frothing at the mouth for OBJ have stated that he may be of no benefit until 2023. His injury is not healed.
OBJ talk is silly.
December 6th, 2022 at 11:12 pm
@ smash squatch ,,,,, good one
December 6th, 2022 at 11:14 pm
Fair catch a taxi. See ya!!
December 6th, 2022 at 11:19 pm
YaaaHOOO! He’s gone! Anyone else would be better. From his first return to his last, he was always scared. YAY!
December 6th, 2022 at 11:58 pm
He’s been decent when he returns them but let’s way to many hit.
The biggest issue is he never had any value on offense
December 7th, 2022 at 12:12 am
Scooter seems like a natural kickoff returner, I expect a half dozen or so could do punts
December 7th, 2022 at 12:21 am
Cyril is languishing on the Brown’s practice squad, I’m sad
December 7th, 2022 at 12:44 am
if they can’t bring Grayson back ? is Tyler Johnson still with Texans?
December 7th, 2022 at 12:58 am
Ooooo they waived a punt returner…who will likely be placed on the practice squad if he clears.
December 7th, 2022 at 1:10 am
too many episodes getting tripped up on the turf, amazing he didn’t fumble back there every time he hit the turf. disaster waiting to happen.
December 7th, 2022 at 1:12 am
Smith was a heck of a gunner on special teams
December 7th, 2022 at 2:12 am
making room for gronk ???????????
December 7th, 2022 at 2:25 am
Maniac Buc assured us all that Scotty Miller was a curse and keeping Darung from his rightful place as Bucs best atlete and other bullspit.
This is stupid, this inept mofo just for whatever reason lasted this long…………………….finally.
Maniac Buc — what does your inside source tell you about your boy today?
December 7th, 2022 at 5:11 am
Typical small school athlete not being able to transfer his speed to the next level. It is a combination of speed, yes, but also illusiveness. Our special teams coach isn’t that good so add that to the equation. Devin Thompkins comes to mind although this coaching staff doesn’t give rookies a shot very often.
December 7th, 2022 at 5:29 am
in the end, the kid had zero juke moves…
and more recently he’s been developing really bad habits of backing away from the football totally, and letting the other team dictate the field position as it bounced around on the turf
December 7th, 2022 at 6:03 am
He had a nose for the sidelines to much. He’d run laterally 20 yards to gain 5 yards.
December 7th, 2022 at 6:14 am
What Browsing from DC said
Seems like they wanted to bring up Smith for DB depth. Injuries and an ineffective McCollum prompted the need
December 7th, 2022 at 7:21 am
Gronk? 🙂
December 7th, 2022 at 8:01 am
Long overdue the bucs need to draft a third receiver/punt returner. Kick returner not needed since 95% of kicks go to the endzone.
December 7th, 2022 at 8:18 am
Everything I read is that Ryan Smith was waived from the practice squad not promoted from the practice squad.
December 7th, 2022 at 9:40 am
So when they gonna cut that Randolph guy? He don’t even have 10 catches for the whole season I don’t think.
December 7th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Check your facts, Ryan Smith was released not promoted
December 7th, 2022 at 9:47 am
Thank you@!!@@
Finally!!!!!!!!!!
He reminded me of the bad Dexter Jackson!!!!!!!!
Bring back Adam Humphreys!!!!!
December 7th, 2022 at 10:18 am
Yea well they should have cut lead foot Brate right along with him.
December 7th, 2022 at 10:52 am
“Ho hum” returner? If that means he can signal fair catch and not fumble I agree. That was the extent of his skill set. Too late for Edleman? Shifty, tough as nails returner.
December 7th, 2022 at 10:52 am
he was fine
he didn’t muff punts
too bad for him — he seemed to work hard and he was fast
NFL is a tough league
December 7th, 2022 at 10:59 am
The guys ran away from contact
December 7th, 2022 at 11:09 am
Darden always made me nervous back there. Afraid of contact and lets too many punts hit the ground.
December 7th, 2022 at 11:37 am
For those calling for Dovan Smith’s cut, I couldn’t agree more. He will always be a penalty machine.
Why not try Goedeke? Make him into a LT. He was a tackle and college, yet we keep trying to make him a guard and he had a tough year learning the LG position. He just be a better tackle.
December 7th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
EEK Says:
December 7th, 2022 at 10:52 am
he was fine
he didn’t muff punts
too bad for him — he seemed to work hard and he was fast
NFL is a tough league
^^^^^^^^
They should’ve made a show for Darden, called “Dressed And Afraid”.
December 7th, 2022 at 12:12 pm
To the “wasted draft pick” OR “Licht cant draft in the late rounds crowd”
Please stop saying this kind of thing and actually look across the NFL. No GM is drafting better the JL PERIOD. Late rounders rarely make it in the NFL. Darden was just a 4th round pick there is no real loss here. We got some use out of him now he’s gone big deal…
December 7th, 2022 at 12:41 pm
Was it really all his fault, I know we didn’t expect him to run thru tacklers, our special teams play is not “SPECIAL”…..AT ALL!!
December 8th, 2022 at 12:57 am
“Sidelines” Darden can’t say he wasn’t given a fair chance.
Holy crap, was he bad; never fumbled, but I seriously can’t remember the last time he took a hit either.
Monday night he left the team on or around the 11th at least twice, with his specialty (when not bolting for a sideline): “the inappropriate fair catch.”