Todd Bowles: Shaq Is Back!
August 7th, 2023
Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett.
You know it; Joe knows it; hell, children who have watched the Bucs practice this summer know it.
The Bucs sorely need an edge rush.
On face value, Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett is in camp. That’s great. But is he back to 100 percent after blowing out an Achilles last October? Time will tell.
To hear Todd Bowles speak today, it sounds like if Shaq isn’t back, he very soon will be.
“He looks like he is back to normal,” Bowles said. “The first two or three days you could see him being a little hesitant. Naturally, obviously, after missing that kind of time.
“He has kind of settled into his own and doesn’t even think about it anymore, so he is looking a lot faster.”
This is good news.
But Joe apologizes for being a bit skeptical. Achilles injuries are not exactly ingrown toenails.
For example, Joe isn’t sure how many people noticed that last week former Bucs tight end O.J. Howard was released by the Raiders. On Aug. 1. The dude didn’t even make it long enough to practice in August.
Howard blew out his Achilles in 2020. He never fully recovered. Now, it seems as if his career isn’t over, it’s on life support after failing with the Bills, Texans and Raiders.
Shaq is active on the practice field. But Joe wants to see how Shaq fares against Minnesota to open the season before making a judgment.
Joe’s fingers are crossed.
August 7th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Now, if we can just get Jensen back to near 100%, I’ll feel much better.
August 7th, 2023 at 4:33 pm
Shaq’s motor is what drove him past his physical talents. Teams got better blocking him.
Hopefully they forgot and his injury does not slow him down at all…otherwise…
August 7th, 2023 at 4:34 pm
I don’t think Jensen is EVER coming back. He is done after this long.
August 7th, 2023 at 5:16 pm
SHAQ & KOBE
You’re thinking “Wrong Shaq,” but not in this case!!! In 2013, Kobe blew out his Achilles. He rehabbed and played 2 more full seasons, averaged nearly 22 points per game, made 2xAll Star games, and scored 7x+30 point games, and 1×60 point game.
August 7th, 2023 at 5:21 pm
It isn’t that Howard never recovered, it’s that after all of those years making rosters based on potential, his chances have run out. He was an okay TE despite his gifts. That’s fine when you’re 25 or less. But when you’re closer to 30, teams go cheaper and more value (special teams) Howard never lived up to his potential.
August 7th, 2023 at 6:01 pm
Sly….. you really going to bring up that 60 point game by kobe??? That was gift wrapped
August 7th, 2023 at 6:27 pm
Good to see Shaq practicing in team drills, Jensen on the other hand, seemed to made the wrong decision by foregoing surgery last season. I’m afraid he’s not coming back.
August 7th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
NFL Comeback Player of the Year – Shaq Barrett.
LFG!!!
August 7th, 2023 at 9:18 pm
I’m worried about Jensen then Shaq at this point
August 7th, 2023 at 9:45 pm
If he is in fact back, that’s excellent news…
I had pretty much write him off; the injury bug hit us hard last season, hopefully this year we catch a break
August 8th, 2023 at 3:20 am
I’m just glad we aren’t going into the season BANKING on Shaq and a project JTS to lead our pass rush.
Diaby, (can’t stand the moniker you give him and its pretty rude IMO) looks like he has serious potential, and the interior is waaaaay better than years past.
I got so sick of the answer being to bring people in so late ⏰ in their careers. Gotta have youth, and of course it bit us in the 2nd half. Has Hicks been signed?
We were like an AARP advertisement.
August 8th, 2023 at 5:13 am
I’m with you on that show me Shaq Joe. I sure am rooting for him to do it though.
I can’t trust Bowles to tell me what day pf the week it is anymore.
However I don’t know that our former tight end was ever gonna be more than what he has shown since his injury. Did not show much to me before he had the achilles.
Go Bucs!
August 8th, 2023 at 10:44 am
I agree with others that Jensen will not be back this year, at least not at 100%. Might as well get used to Hainsey at Center. I hope Hainsey is getting lots of reps.