Buccaneers Rookie Has Locked in Starting Job, Todd Bowles Says
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Elijah Roberts has done enough to earn the starting job, head coach Todd Bowles said.
“He is really understanding the system and getting comfortable and then applying that to his ability in already knowing how to play. He is really settling in down there,” Bowles said at a press conference Friday. “(He is) using his hands a lot more, he is bringing his feet with him. He is one of our slipperiest guys down there.”
When asked whether he views Roberts as the Buccaneers’ starter now, Bowles gave a straightforward response:
“I do,” he said.
Elijah Roberts Has Put Up a Strong Performance This Season
When pass-rushing defensive tackle Calijah Kancey went down with a torn pectoral muscle, Roberts was called on to step up for the Bucs — and he’s done exactly that, and more. Now, his playing time reflects it.
Roberts, a fifth-round pick by Tampa Bay this year, has been productive from the start. Through seven games, he’s recorded 12 pressures, an 11.1% win rate, and a sack. He’s served as a rotational player alongside starter Logan Hall, but things appear to be shifting in Tampa Bay following abysmal performance against the Detroit Lions.
Roberts’ role took a notable turn against Detroit — he started on the defensive line and saw an uptick in snaps. According to Pro Football Reference, Roberts played 68% of the defensive snaps compared to Hall’s 63%. After his impressive performances in recent weeks, it appears Roberts has officially earned a starting spot for the Buccaneers.
With Bowles’ confirmation, it appears Roberts will take over as the starter ahead of Hall for the remainder of the season. That arrangement will continue into Week 8 on Sunday, when the Buccaneers face the New Orleans Saints in their final game before the bye week.
Bucs Lose Mike Evans for Possibly the Year
On the offensive side of the ball, in addition to a tough loss against the Lions on Monday, the Bucs also lost their star receiver for possibly the rest of the season.
Mike Evans, who had been approaching 13,000 career receiving yards, will be sidelined to near the end of the season with a broken collarbone.
“(The Buccaneers training staff) was looking at his right shoulder, but seeing him getting carted off should let you know he’s in excruciating pain,” ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutledge said during the broadcast. “They are finally carting him off because he was just having so much trouble just getting off the field on his own … the official word from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is he is out with a concussion and a shoulder injury.”
“WR Mike Evans suffered a broken collarbone and is out for most of the year, coach Todd Bowles announced,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Oct. 20. “Absolutely brutal.”
Evans, 32 years old, is tied with Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice for the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards with 11.
The Commanders fooled everyone in their loss to the Chiefs, after a tale of two halves for both sides of the ball
Commanders looked like a contender in the first half
The offense was clicking to start the game, and they drove right down the field, but unfortunately, Deebo Samuel deflected a catch right to a defender and ended a great opening drive with a turnover. The defense did the unthinkable and had two turnovers off of Patrick Mahomes in the first half, and finally found the endzone on a Terry McLaurin toe-tapping catch.
The defense had its best showing in the first half, while the offense didn't take advantage and add more points to reward their efforts. Going into halftime 7-7 against the Chiefs on the road is the best start you could possibly ask for, and it should've been a bigger lead for the Commanders. It did nothing for the second half, though, as we saw the ugly side of the team we've grown used to seeing over the last few weeks.
The second half showed that the Commanders need a lot of work
The Chiefs adjusted at halftime, and the Commanders didn't. They shot themselves in the foot as well, and that's not something you can do against Mahomes. Rookie Jaylin Lane missed a kickoff on the first drive of the second half that ended up going down at the two-yard line after the Chiefs scored to go up 14-7. The Commanders ended up punting five plays later and gave the ball right back to the Chiefs after having it for only two minutes.
That drive was a killer in the end, because the Chiefs scored again after that drive to go up 21-7. The Chiefs caught all the momentum in the second half, and they didn't look back. The defense went back to giving up huge plays, and players like Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice had easy touchdowns.
The truth about the Commanders is that they do have good players who are capable of making big plays, but they can't play four full quarters to beat a team like the Chiefs right now. I don't know how much Jayden Daniels would've helped tonight if he were playing, but seeing the defense go back to its old habits in the second half raises questions after seeing how they played in the first half. Seven points obviously will never be enough to win a game like that either. Both sides of the ball are at fault.
The season is slipping away from the Commanders, who have the Seattle Seahawks at home next Sunday night, and a lot more injuries are starting to pile up. There's only a small thread of hope left before we can call it a bad season, and look forward to the offseason.
