Haason Reddick Absent from Tampa Bay Buccaneers Voluntary OTAs ... So What?
Almost a full week ago, I wrote a piece about Tampa Bay Buccaneers' new linebacker Haason Reddick missing from voluntary OTAs. It seems to be driving Bucs fans crazy right now.
Advertisement
Well, just like I did then, I'm trying to talk you all off the ledge.
Reddick is 30 years old. He's a veteran. And yes, in a perfect world, and in a perfect scenario, he's here. At OTAs. With his new teammates.
But since when did any of you believe such a world exists? If you do, please reach out to me. I'd like to drink some of that Kool-Aid. The fact is, he's been around the league for a while. He's entering his ninth season in the NFL, and he knows how things work.
He has his offseason workout routine perfected by now. Reddick made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023, his final two seasons in Philly before being unceremoniously shipped off to the ... gross ... New York Jets.
Advertisement
We all know he sat out all the offseason and the first seven games of the year before finally joining the team.
This isn't that. So stop thinking it is.
Reddick wants to be here. He picked Tampa Bay. Oh, and by the way, these are VOLUNTARY OTAs. He hasn't missed anything that is mandatory. And he won't.
If the team was truly interested in being there or worried about him missing, they would've put a clause in his contract about it. They didn't. And the team has yet to express any concern.
Jason Licht is an excellent general manager. He's paying Reddick $14 million this season on a "prove-it" deal. Which is just what I think Reddick will do.
Advertisement
Give it time, climb off the ledge, and take in these words that Reddick spoke when he signed. Maybe they'll comfort you just a bit.
"I'm excited. I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to be in front of the crowd. If anything, I can't wait to get in front of the Krewe," Reddick said. "I want to hear the cannon go off a lot this year. So, very excited. Hope the fans, hope the Krewe is excited as well. Looking forward to making this a great fit here."
'Nuff said.
Related: Buccaneers 3rd-Round Wideout Linked to AFC Contender
Related: Ex Buccaneers QB Shocked at Haason Reddick's Absence from Voluntary OTAs
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
4 minutes ago
- USA Today
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 34: a history of the number and who wore it best
The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 34 days until Pittsburgh faces off against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. In the spirit of the countdown, we're taking a look at the history of No. 34 and the players who wore it best. Current Steelers No. 34 wearers: CB/PR Donte Kent, RB Max Hurleman A pair of Steelers rookies are the current No. 34 wearers on the roster — CB Donte Kent, who was selected with the 229th overall pick in the seventh round, and RB Max Hurleman, who signed with Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent in May. Kent may have an easier road to making the 53-man roster with his punt return abilities, but Hurleman has every opportunity to make an impact throughout camp and the upcoming preseason matchups. Last five Steelers to wear No. 34: Best No. 34 in Steelers history: LB Andy Russell No Steeler has ever worn No. 34 better than LB Andy Russell — a ten-time team captain and part of arguably the greatest linebacker trio in the history of the NFL. Selected with the 220th pick in the 16th round of the 1963 NFL Draft, Russell was arguably one of the most consistent Steelers of all time, playing in 168 games for Pittsburgh — and never missing a contest due to injury. Russell won two Super Bowls with the legendary Steel Curtain defense, as well as earning seven Pro Bowl nominations, one First-Team All-Pro selection, and two Second-Team All-Pro selections before retiring in 1976. He was also named to the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team and the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor — a truly remarkable legacy, one that deserves to be recognized as the greatest Steeler to wear No. 34. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger reveals Pat Freiermuth's reaction to Jonnu Smith trade
From Steelers fans to TE Connor Heyward, many were worried about how Jonnu Smith would fit into the already crowded tight end room — but according to the legendary Ben Roethlisberger, TE Pat Freiermuth doesn't share that mindset. On a recent episode of the Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast, Big Ben revealed Freiermuth's initial reaction to Smith joining the Steelers' tight end room: "I did text Pat when it happened,' Roethlisberger said. 'He seemed to be really in high spirits. He was excited. He goes, 'I think the two of us can really do some cool things.' So, I think that'll be interesting to see how that transpires. And a young dude that you might be able to keep here for a while. I'm sure [Aaron Rodgers] is really excited about it." Smith is coming off a breakout 2024 season — recording 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, resulting in the first Pro Bowl selection of his career. Fans can expect a heavy dose of two- and three-tight end sets in Pittsburgh this season — as the Steelers now have a three-headed monster with Smith, Freiermuth, and the massive third-year Darnell Washington. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers legend reveals Pat Freiermuth's reaction to Jonnu Smith trade
Indianapolis Star
7 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Colts LB Zaire Franklin is back, ready to lead evolving Colts defense: 'I almost shed a tear'
WESTFIELD, Ind. -- Zaire Franklin couldn't take it anymore. Seven practices went by without the booming voice of No. 44 barking from the middle of the Colts defense. He was chiming in from the sidelines and from behind huddles, but each time the ball was snapped, he was a spectator. It's the place this team captain has rarely ever been in an NFL career who had never had a surgery until this ankle issue flared up in the spring. And now that he's back to individual drills for the second straight practice, it's a place he never wants to go back to either. "Man, it's a blessing," Franklin said. "I can't lie, I almost shed a tear yesterday when I got out on that field." Franklin has been in recovery from an ankle cleanup procedure he underwent in May. The injury dates back to a Week 9 game against the Vikings. Franklin wanted to keep playing with the team in the playoff hunt, so he played the final eight games and became the NFL's tackle king with 173 stops to reach his first Pro Bowl. He tried to use rest and recovery to reset the ankle to start the offseason, but by May, he and the team decided it was best to undergo surgery to make sure it was ready for another 17-game slate. This was new territory for a player who has only missed one game across his seven NFL seasons. The surgery brought weeks of uncertainty of when he'd return, and through seven camp practices, he still wasn't on the field. "When you're on that rehab process, it's so easy to get disconnected from the team and really be by yourself," Franklin said. "That's when a lot of that mental stuff starts to weigh on you. I was just very intentional and making sure I was locked in with the guys." Franklin has been that through all of training camp so far, consistently shouting out signals and tips to his fellow linebackers and bonding with new linebacker Joe Bachie. "When it came to my rehab, it was a process," Franklin said. "I didn't take anything personal. I gave myself grace. I committed to my journey and my plan, trusted the trainers I had behind me. Whether it was a step forward or a step back, I took everything one day at a time." COLTS CAMP OBSERVATIONS: Pass rush dominates line of scrimmage But now he's back, and soon, that'll involve running team drills with a defense that has evolved quite a bit since the last time he led it. The Colts signed All-Pro cornerback Charvarius Ward as well as Camryn Bynum in the offseason and added a potential new starting outside cornerback in third-round Minnesota rookie Justin Walley, who is commanding first-team reps while Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents recover from hamstring injuries. The group is undergoing a scheme change under new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who is shifting from Gus Bradley's Seattle-style, Cover-3 heavy approach to one that thrives on aggressive man coverage. That's led to more pass breakups from the secondary and linebackers than a Colts training camp has seen in recent years. "That was probably the hardest part of the past two weeks," Franklin said. "I was itching to get out there, not only to be out there and compete with my guys but to just see my place in this thing." MOST ESSENTIAL COLTS: Can Zaire Franklin save the linebacking corps? His place will be critical as the player who wears the "green dot" of communication for the group, which Bynum has taken over in his absence. He's the only linebacker on the roster with much NFL experience on defense and must key a run defense that lagged at times last year but now must be serviceable enough to force offenses to drop back and throw against the playmakers Indianapolis has accumulated on the defensive line and in the secondary. That will mean repeating his play as one of the NFL's top tackler while also raising the efficiency, as he missed 31 tackles last year, per Sports Info Solutions. 'Obviously, he's one of the leaders on our team and makes a ton of tackles for us," coach Shane Steichen said. "Obviously, wearing the green dot at that position, the communication piece – getting him back on the practice field is huge." It's unclear yet how much of a role he'll have in Tuesday's joint practice against the Ravens, Thursday's preseason opener against the Ravens and or the two preseason games to follow. The primary focus is to get him ready for the season opener against the Dolphins on Sept. 7. But that time is coming, and he can finally see it on the horizon. "It feels good for me to be out there," Franklin said, "so we can be one band, one sound and get to hunting together."
