Bucs Week 9 snap counts reveal changes at receiver and safety
Tampa Bay's Week 9 snap counts reveal a major receiver shakeup, increased playing time for Bucky Irving and changes at safety.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made significant adjustments to their offensive and defensive personnel in their Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears. Rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst III saw a drastic reduction in his playing time, appearing in just one snap out of 68 offensive plays and contributing no targets. Tez Johnson took on a much larger role, nearly doubling his snap count from the previous game to 54 out of 68, and catching two passes for 76 receiving yards, including a crucial 58-yard touchdown.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin led the position group with 62 snaps, followed by Johnson and Emeka Egbuka, who returned from missing the previous two games. On defense, the Buccaneers saw shifts in their secondary after Antoine Winfield Jr.'s injury. Winfield played 29 defensive snaps before leaving the game, while Ifeatu Melifonwu and Tykee Smith appeared in 49 and 61 snaps, respectively.
Rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter continued to handle a large share of the defensive workload, playing 97% of the 61 defensive snaps. The snap counts reveal a noticeable change in the Buccaneers' offensive rotation, with Johnson's increased involvement suggesting a bigger adjustment beyond simply reinserting Emeka Egbuka.
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