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The Bucs suffered their first serious injury in training camp as wide receiver Russell Gage was carted off the field during team drills with the New York Jets this morning. Gage suffered a knee injury and both Jets and Bucs players were seen taking a knee in a huddle around him as he was being tended to by trainers.
The veteran receiver, who has battled hamstring injuries in last year’s training camp, during the 2022 regular season and the 2023 offseason, was visibly upset over the injury and was not able to put any weight on his leg as he was being helped to the cart.
#Bucs WR Russell Gage is taken off the field on a cart with support from the training staff. He was not putting weight on his leg and it does not look good.
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) August 16, 2023
Gage was in tears as he was carted off. #GoBucs
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) August 16, 2023
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that it was a non-contact knee injury and that it is likely season-ending.
#Bucs WR Russell Gage suffered a non-contact knee injury during today's joint practice with the #Jets and the belief heading into exams is that the severe injury will end his season, per me and @MikeGarafolo. A hit to WR depth and crushing for Gage.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 16, 2023
Russell Gage Has Had A Hard Time Staying Healthy Since Joining Bucs
Bucs WR Russell Gage – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Russell Gage’s injury in New Jersey was not a hamstring injury, but since coming to Tampa Bay in free agency during the 2022 offseason he’s been hamstrung with hamstring injuries. He suffered a severe hamstring injury in joint practices with the Dolphins last year and that injury lingered into the season and limited his effectiveness. Gage missed four games and wound up catching just 51 passes for 426 yards for a woeful 8.4-yard average along with five touchdowns.
That prompted the team to force Gage to take a pay cut from his $10 million salary, as Gage signed a three-year deal worth $30 million in 2022. Gage’s salary was reduced to $7 million in 2023, but it is guaranteed for the rest of the season. He’ll make that money whether he’s on the roster or on injured reserve, which seems likely at this point.
Bucs Likely To Stick With In-House WRs To Replace Russell Gage
Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photo By: Cliff Welch P/R
The Bucs do like their young receiver corps, which includes second-year players Deven Thompkins and Kaylon Geiger and rookies Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett, Ryan Miller, Kade Warner and Taye Barber. Tampa Bay also has a veteran receiver on the roster in David Moore, who spent time in Seattle with offensive coordinator Dave Canales.
Palmer, Geiger and Moore stood out in the Bucs’ preseason opener against the Steelers. Palmer caught all four of his targets for 33 yards and a touchdown, while Geiger was tied for the team lead with four catches for 50 yards. Moore led the team with 66 yards receiving on three catches, including a team-high 38-yard catch-and-run.
Pewter Report’s Matt Matera and Adam Slivon are covering the Bucs vs. Jets joint practice today in New Jersey and will have more on this story later as head coach Todd Bowles provides an update post-practice.
