INTRO: I kind of nailed last week’s SR’s FAB 5 column last week, profiling the Bucs’ incredible depth at wide receiver before reserves Kameron Johnson and Tez Johnson had their first NFL touchdowns in a 30-19 win over the 49ers.

In this week’s SR’s Fab 5, I profile another depth piece at receiver for the Bucs in practice squader Garrett Greene, in addition to reporting on Josh Grizzard’s chess match with Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Shepard, Tampa Bay’s big decision at right guard and cornerback Zyon McCollum needing another big game in Detroit. Enjoy!

FAB 1. Josh Grizzard’s Chess Match In Bucs vs. Lions

It’s a good thing the Bucs have an extra day to prepare for the upcoming game against the 4-2 Lions at Detroit on Monday Night Football. Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard needs it.

Points have been at a premium for the Bucs in the last three matchups against a stingy Lions defense. Tampa Bay lost at home in Week 6 in 2023, 20-6, and then again at Detroit later that year in the NFC Divisional playoffs, 31-23. Last year, the Bucs prevailed in Motor City thanks to a stalwart effort by Todd Bowles’ defense, 20-16.

Monday’s game features two potent offenses. Detroit is second in the league in scoring, averaging 31.8 points per game, including an average of 43 points at home. Tampa Bay is averaging 27.5 points per game, which ranks sixth in the league.

Grizzard is only concerned with scoring the one more point than the other team that is necessary to get the victory. But with the arsenal that Jared Goff has to work with, this game could turn into a shootout similar to what Tampa Bay encountered in Seattle in Week 5. Thankfully Grizzard and Baker Mayfield were up to the challenge and prevailed, 38-35.

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

And with back-to-back games with 30 points or more, Grizzard has truly gotten into a groove as a play-caller – even while being short-handed with several starters out. Should wide receiver Mike Evans return to action as expected, the Bucs will still be missing five starters on offense due to injury.

Wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. are out, as is running back Bucky Irving. Not only is right tackle Luke Goedeke out, but Luke Haggard, who has been starting at right guard for Cody Mauch since Week 3, is also out after suffering a shoulder injury in last week’s win over San Francisco.

Grizzard must feel better about his situation at running back with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, and at wide receiver with Evans, Sterling Shepard, Tez Johnson, Kameron Johnson and Ryan Miller than he does along the offensive line.

Not only does he have to be concerned with Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who had 4.5 sacks last year in Week 2, including three sacks against reserve tackle Justin Skule, but also with the return of Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who is Detroit’s version of Vita Vea. Although not as big as Vea, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound McNeill is a powerful force inside that can stuff the run and collapse the pocket.

The Lions want to live in base defense, which is their 4-3 scheme that features three very good linebackers with leading tackler Jack Campbell in the middle and Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes on the outside. That playmaking unit has a total of 5.5 sacks with Campbell and Barnes each with two sacks and Anzalone with 1.5.

Even when opponents come out in 11 personnel (three receiver sets), the Lions often choose to stay in base as opposed to bringing in a nickel defender, and they’ll be inclined to do that even more, especially this week. Detroit’s secondary has been decimated in recent weeks.

Lions LBs Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone and Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Starting cornerback D.J. Reed is on injured reserve along with reserves Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Khalil Dorsey. The other starting cornerback, Terrion Arnold, is also out due to injury, as is top reserve Avonte Maddox. To make matters worse, strong safety Brian Branch, their top playmaker in the secondary, has been suspended for his altercation after the loss to the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.

Oh, and Kerby Joseph, the Lions’ playmaking free safety, who leads the team with three interceptions, is questionable for Monday’s game with a knee injury. He didn’t practice on Thursday. With reserve safeties Daniel Thomas and Dan Jackson on injured reserve, the Lions might have to move cornerback Rock Ya-Sin to safety alongside Thomas Harper if Joseph can’t play.

In base defense, Amik Robertson and veteran newcomer Kendall Fuller, who was just signed to Detroit’s practice squad, would likely start at cornerback with Robertson moving inside to the slot in nickel defense. Then the Lions would insert either Nick Whiteside or veteran Tre Flowers, who is on their practice squad.

Detroit’s secondary is razor thin and begs to be attacked through the air. Despite not having Godwin and Egbuka, Grizzard and Mayfield have enough weapons to work with and will try to get the Lions into nickel defense in some strategic moments.

Getting one of Detroit’s linebackers off the field in exchange for another cornerback that is usually buried on the depth chart would be a win for Grizzard and the Bucs offense. That would mean having to deploy four wide receivers to trigger that substitution and that comes with some potential peril.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and former RT Justin Skule and Lions DE Aidan Hutchison – Photo by: USA Today

Deploying four wide receivers would mean removing a tight end that could help out reserve right tackle Charlie Heck, who would then be on an island with Hutchinson and having to block him one-on-one. Yet if White stays in to help block, that might buy Mayfield enough time to take advantage of a mismatch in coverage.

We’ve even seen Grizzard surprise us by calling three consecutive empty sets with Irving flanked out as a wide receiver in Pittsburgh back in Week 2 of the preseason. Irving scored a touchdown on a fade pass from Teddy Bridgewater out of shotgun.

Would Grizzard be so bold as to go empty against Hutchinson and the Lions’ front four on Monday night? White is an excellent receiver and has enough speed to beat a linebacker in coverage and enough size at 6-foot-1, 212 pounds to outmuscle a smaller cornerback. On a fade pass like the one Bridgewater tossed to Irving, it only took a second for that pass to leave his hand out of shotgun.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

White has also scored a touchdown on a screen pass against Detroit, yet that was in the playoff loss in 2023 when Dave Canales was calling plays. With Hutchinson revved up to play against Heck on Monday night, White should see a few targets either on screens or swing passes out of the backfield.

Running White up the middle out of a spread four-receiver set against a lighter box in nickel defense also seems tempting this week. Kansas City stayed in 12 personnel quite a bit on Sunday night and beat the Lions at their own game with their 4-3 scheme. It will be interesting to see how often Grizzard tries to get the Lions out of nickel defense on Monday night.

We’ll see how good Grizzard is at playing chess in Detroit. He’s fared quite well the last two weeks and came out on top against the likes of Mike Macdonald and Robert Saleh.

FAB 2. Bucs Must Choose Wisely At Right Guard

The Bucs will be starting a third different lineman at right guard this year when the team travels to Detroit to play on Monday Night Football. Luke Haggard, who has been filling in for the injured Cody Mauch since Week 3, is out with a shoulder injury he suffered in last week’s win versus San Francisco.

The good news for Tampa Bay is that the team has some viable options to replace Haggard. Elijah Klein, who started at left guard in the Week 3 game against the Jets, filled in for Haggard at right guard in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win.

Bucs RG Luke Haggard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay also has practice squader Michael Jordan, who was elevated to the active roster to start the first two games of the season at left guard. Jordan, a veteran, suffered a knee injury in the Week 2 win at Houston and returned to practice this week. He could be in play for an elevation on Monday night, but is he fully healthy?

The Bucs also have veteran Dan Feeney, who was signed from Buffalo’s practice squad after Mauch’s injury. He’s had a couple of weeks of practice to get the playbook down and has been active for every game since arriving in Tampa Bay.

Head coach Todd Bowles, offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and run game coordinator Kevin Carberry must choose wisely when it comes to inserting Haggard’s replacement into the lineup. Not only must the right guard replacement be powerful enough to handle Detroit’s run-stuffing defensive tackle Alim McNeill, but also adept enough at pass protection to pick up Lions Pro Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson on twists and stunts when he loops inside.

Bucs RT Charlie Heck and RG Elijah Klein – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Hutchinson had 4.5 sacks against the Bucs last year in Week 2, and 1.5 of those came when he was attacking Mauch on a twist. It’s not just reserve right tackle Charlie Heck that Grizzard must be concerned about. It’s making sure that Heck and whoever starts at right guard are on the same page communication-wise when it comes to identifying stunts and passing them off with precision and proper execution.

“He’s an unbelievable rusher and an unbelievable player,” Heck said of Hutchinson. “As an offense we have to stay in good situations and stay ahead of the chains. You can’t put yourself in a bad position where you are behind the chains up there in a hostile environment.”

Obviously, Heck wouldn’t reveal who might get the start at right tackle next to him on Monday night. And chances are with two more practices on Friday and Saturday, neither he nor the coaches know right now exactly who the leading the candidate to replace Haggard might be. But it sounds like Jordan, Klein and Feeney are all getting a tryout at that spot, and Jordan would likely be the guy if he proves that his knee injury is behind him.

“The coaches do a good job of rolling guys in there, so I get a chance to practice with everybody and the guys come in ready to go,” Heck said.

FAB 3. Zyon McCollum Must Rise To The Occasion In Detroit – Again

Jamel Dean has made quite a scene this year. Not only did Dean with the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award last week with a key interception in the fourth quarter and his first NFL sack, he’s actually playing his best football right now. Dean is Pro Football Focus’ highest-rated cornerback in the NFL.

Now it’s time for Zyon McCollum to rise to the occasion in Detroit.

Again.

McCollum, who returns to action after missing last week following thumb surgery, played his best game of the 2024 season against Jared Goff in Week 2. He had an 83.2 coverage grade, according to PFF, along with two pass breakups and an early interception of Goff that clearly rattled Detroit’s quarterback. McCollum was only targeted six times in coverage and allowed just two catches for 20 yards while defending Amon-Ra St. Brown. He blanketed Jameson Williams when assigned to him and didn’t allow a catch.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: USA Today

“Thumb feels great,” McCollum told me on Thursday. “I had surgery on it. I tore my UCL. I actually did the same thing on this one (points to his right thumb), but this one I can wait until the end of the season. This one I couldn’t wait on it.

“We were trying to hold off on it until the bye week, but they said no. They said it’s got to be done right now. I got a quick game in in Seattle. They basically told me to pick one [game to play in and a game to miss] – Seattle or the 49ers. So I picked Seattle. I’ve never played in Seattle before. So I got it done and I’ll be good the rest of the season. I’m happy that it’s fixed.”

Despite getting a lucrative, multi-year contract extension this offseason, it’s actually been Jamel Dean who has been Tampa Bay’s No. 1 cornerback. In fact, Dean, who just won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, is the top-rated cornerback in the league so far, according to Pro Football Focus.

In order for Tampa Bay to prevail on Monday night, McCollum needs to have a repeat performance against Goff, and Dean needs to continue to play at a high level.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: USA Today

Ford Field hasn’t been kind to Dean in the past, as he dropped an interception at Detroit on the first drive of the 2023 Divisional playoff game and then left the game in the first half with a back injury. Last year, Dean surrendered 75 passing yards on four catches, including three receptions for 60 yards by Jameson Williams.

But this will be the first time since Week 4 when Todd Bowles has all of his starting secondary suit up for a game. Even rookie reserve cornerback Benjamin Morrison is back from his hamstring injury.

“It felt good, I caught the ball,” McCollum said after Thursday’s practice. “That was the biggest thing Bowles has been on me about. He said, ‘As long as you can catch the ball, I’ll have you out there.’ So it felt good out there today.”

FAB 4. Next Man Up: WR Garrett Greene

It’s been “next man up” a lot in Tampa Bay this year – more than Todd Bowles would like for sure.

The Bucs have had to rely on so many backup players at the start of this season that I’m going to profile a few of the team’s key reserves in each SR’s FAB 5 column over the coming weeks. Today, I’m going to profile practice squad wide receiver Garrett Greene. With all of the injuries at wide receiver this year, Tampa Bay is one more injury away from calling up Greene from the practice squad.

And Greene, who is still transitioning to wide receiver for the first time after playing quarterback at West Virginia, knows it. Even though he’s on the practice squad and started the season technically eighth on the depth chart, he’s as close as he’s ever been to playing in his first NFL game with Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. injured and Jalen McMillan on injured reserve.

West Virginia QB Garrett Greene – Photo by: USA Today

“It’s definitely a lot different than college is,” Greene said. “In college you come in and know you are redshirting. Half of the offense would have to go down before you would play. At West Virginia we had a receiver room with 15 or 17 guys. You can afford some injuries there. But in the NFL it’s much smaller numbers, so you are really only a few players away from getting your number called.”

The 5-foot-11, 201-pound Greene was a dual-threat quarterback for the Mountaineers and ran for over 700 yards in each of his last two seasons, and scored a total of 28 rushing touchdowns in college while running for over 2,100 yards.

It was his athleticism, his 4.5 speed and his football I.Q. that interested the Bucs and prompted them to sign Greene as an undrafted free agent. For someone who had to switch positions and learn how to play wide receiver to fulfill his NFL dreams, coming to Tampa Bay, which had veterans like Godwin, Mike Evans and Sterling Shepard was the perfect spot.

“It was the best case scenario for someone in my position, making the transition to wide receiver,” Greene said. “You kind of get the best of all worlds. Mike is a big, tall receiver and he’s done it forever. Shep is a smaller guy, and Chris is a bigger, physical guy – a thicker receiver. And then you add Emeka and Tez [Johnson] into the mix, as they came in with me as rookies it’s been unbelievable. The amount of stuff I’ve learned from them so far – I wouldn’t have gotten it anywhere else.”

Bucs WR Garrett Greene – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Greene earned a spot on the practice squad by demonstrating great quickness, the ability to get open and a set of clutch hands during the preseason. He caught all eight of the passes thrown his way for 65 yards and a touchdown.

“It was shaky at the start, going from being a Power 5 quarterback for four years to making the switch to receiver,” Greene said. “But Coach BMac (receivers coach Bryan McClendon) has been great at helping me with the transition.

“Catching the football is probably my strength. “Growing up with a baseball background, I was catching baseballs since the age of four. Catching comes pretty easy to me – whether it’s catching the ball over my shoulder or high-pointing the ball. The big thing I need to improve on is getting out of breaks and at the top of routes. Also getting good releases versus press-man, because you know that’s how you making a living in this league when it’s press.”

What has helped Greene make a faster-than-usual transition to wide receiver is the fact that he’s played quarterback and has been on the other side of the pass.

“Along with the playbook, playing quarterback and having to learn all of the concepts and what each player does on every play, that’s helped me a lot,” Greene said. “Also, the quarterback timing – when routes are supposed to where on the field. The flows of the pass game, I’ve been on the other side of it, so playing quarterback has really helped me.”

Greene has been overwhelmed with how helpful the other Bucs receivers have been in helping accelerate his learning curve at his new position.

Bucs WR Garrett Greene – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I take bits and pieces from everyone,” Greene said. “Mike came out to OTAs and he was talking to me and coaching me through routes. He had no business teaching a UDFA that he didn’t know would even be around in three months, but that speaks volumes. He’s one of the best humans I’ve ever been around – not to mention one of the greatest wide receivers to ever play the game.

“Chris has taught me about recovery and how he takes care of his body. Shep has taught me how to keep it light and have fun and find joy in playing a game for a living. Mek is younger than me, but he seems older with how he goes about his business. He’s a pro. And Tez … well, he’s like Shep! I think it’s been an unbelievable blessing to be in this room with these guys.”

Evans has been very impressed with how quickly Greene has taken to coaching and learned how to play receiver.

“I was just talking to a couple of guys about him today,” Evans said. “He just keeps getting better and better and he’s only played wide receiver for how long? Since OTAs? He’s made some great plays and he’s a good guy to have on the team.”

Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum told me that Greene gives the defense great looks in practice. He also didn’t know that Greene played quarterback in college and had never played receiver before signing with the Bucs.

Former Steelers S Sebastian Castro and Bucs WR Garrett Greene – Photo by: USA Today

“What? I didn’t even know that!” McCollum said. “I always thought he was a receiver. That’s crazy! He walks like a receiver, talks like a receiver and plays like a receiver. I had no idea he played quarterback! That’s just a testament to how smart he is and just how he’s able to come into this offense and also give us great looks.

“He gives us great looks and he’s been doing that since training camp. He’s surprised everybody with his athleticism. I’ve never seen a receiver his stature jump up as high as he can. He’s done great and I know that whenever his name is called he’s going to be ready for us. He plays the star receiver for us week in and week out. He runs his routes like we’re going to see them on game day.”

Greene has been playing the role of Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in practice this week in preparation for Monday Night Football. Unless another injury strikes the receiver position, Greene may not be called up from the practice squad.

But as each week goes by his level of readiness increases. Team sources tell me that he makes eye-opening plays in practice all the time on the scout squad against Tampa Bay’s starting defense.

“You’ve got to stay ready. I told him and I tell all of practice squad guys that they have to stay ready. Probably 70% of them wind up playing. The reason why they made the team is because they see the talent in you.”

SR’s Buc Shots

• Monday’s outcome between Tampa Bay and Detroit will be decided by how many takeaways Todd Bowles’ defense can come up with and how well Baker Mayfield and the offense can protect the ball. The Lions are plus-6 in turnover margin and the Bucs are plus-4. Tampa Bay has only turned the ball over twice in six games, which is the fewest ever in franchise history. Detroit only has three turnovers on offense.

The Bucs have won the last two games by winning the turnover margin 2-0. And last year, Tampa Bay won at Detroit in Week 2 by having a 2-1 edge, picking off Jared Goff twice in a 20-16 defensive slugfest.

• Lions Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is an absolute game-wrecker. He had 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble against Tampa Bay last year, and has six sacks this season along with a forced fumble in each of the last four games. Hutchinson tormented reserve right tackle Justin Skule last year for those of those sacks, but Skule had only practiced as the starting right tackle for two days prior to playing the Lions.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson – Photo by: USA Today

This year, reserve Charlie Heck is filling in for Luke Goedeke at right tackle. But Heck has the advantage of starting the last four games at right tackle and getting some significant playing time in Josh Grizzard’s offense already. The team hopes he is better prepared to handle Hutchinson this year.

“The more reps you can get the more comfortable you begin to feel,” Heck said. “Getting out there in games and seeing what you need to work on is huge – rather just going in on the fly. We just have to stay ahead on the chains and limit our negative plays.”

• The Bucs played excellent red zone defense last year, holding the Lions to just 1-of-7 attempts in the red zone. Tampa Bay safety Christian Izien picked off Jared Goff in the red zone in the second half and also forced a turnover on downs.

This year Detroit is one of the best red zone offenses again, ranking third in the NFL with a 74.07% touchdown conversion rate. Meanwhile the Bucs red zone defense is one of the league’s worst, ranking 28th and allowing a touchdown 68.75% of the time. Tampa Bay will have to play more like it did a year ago to hold the league’s second-ranked offense in check. Detroit is averaging 31.8 points per game, including an average of 43 points per game at home.

• And finally, check out my latest Pewter Pulse video on whether Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard will be the latest one-and-down play-caller in Tampa Bay.