If you have forgotten about the Bucs' tight ends, there is a reason why they have not been mentioned much.

Through Tampa Bay's first three games this season, Cade Otton has just three receptions on seven targets for 25 yards. Payne Durham, Pewter Report's training camp diary back in July, has yet to be targeted in the passing game. The same went for Ko Kieft before he suffered a season-ending broken leg, while Devin Culp has remained a gameday inactive.

Hearing all of this, one might think they have not made an impact. Yes, it has not come with targets and receptions, but they instead have played a critical role as extra blockers as the offensive line has dealt with injuries. With it appearing likely that left tackle Tristan Wirfs plays and the group upfront looking more like its old self, that would also allow the tight ends to get more involved and open things up.

Bucs Want To Get Tight Ends More Involved, Cade Otton's "Time Will Come"

From the outside looking in, it is concerning to look at the lack of counting stats and see a real lack of production from the tight end position. Just a year ago, Cade Otton set career-highs with 59 receptions for 600 receiving yards, adding in four touchdowns. Payne Durham and Devin Culp flashed late-season promise as receiving options when Otton missed three games.

Bucs TEs Payne Durham and Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Heading into this year, the arrow was pointing up, but they have all but disappeared. First-year offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has not forgotten about them; they have just been willing and able to block and do what it takes to win games.

"The game does dictate it, but to your point, what those guys have been able to do is they're very selfless on what we've needed, at least up until this point," Grizzard said on Thursday. "A lot of the things that Cade [Otton] has been doing have been in that wing alignment, helping out the offensive line.

"We know that his time will come – the ball will find him. It's just a hat off to him that he might not have the targets he's had up to this point last year or even through the middle of the season, but [it's] typical Cade [Otton] – not complaining about it. Whatever it takes to win – 3-0, move on to the next one. [We'll] see how much we can get him the ball this week."

With injuries spreading from the offensive line to the wide receiver corps, it will not be surprising to see Otton and the rest of the tight end room become more involved against the Eagles in Week 4. The offense will be without Mike Evans, and while Chris Godwin Jr. might return, he will also be rusty. Adding in Jalen McMillan remaining out of action, and things look a lot like last year when the wide receiver room was decimated midseason.

That gave No. 88 a chance to thrive, and he responded with a three-game stretch during Weeks 7-9 where he had 25 receptions for 258 receiving yards and three touchdowns while doing his best Travis Kelce impersonation playing the Chiefs.

Bucs TE Cade Otton and Chiefs TE Travis Kelce – Photo by: USA Today

Now, there might be a renewed focus to get Otton touches.

"A lot," quarterback Baker Mayfield said when asked about putting an emphasis on getting Otton involved. "It is tough to say until we know if Tristan [Wirfs] is going or not. We have asked those tight ends to help on the edges, chipping and doing some of the dirty work which they have done a great job of. It is tough to say until then, but we would love to get Cade [Otton] more involved just because of how reliable he is — always in the right spot at the right time."

Payne Durham Remains Selfless To Help The Bucs Win Games

Payne Durham was viewed as someone who might see the field more in his third season. Over the offseason, Durham looked improved as a blocker, and Durham has a track record of being a 6-foot-5, 255-pound red zone target dating back to his college days at Purdue.

Bucs TE Payne Durham – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Still, when Pewter Report asked Durham on Thursday about being selfless as Josh Grizzard pointed out, he is more than happy to be.

"For my role, that's what I am," Durham said. "Being selfless for the team. For Cade too, that's just kind of the culture we have in the room. Going from [tight ends] coach [Justin Peelle] all the way down, just a bunch of dudes that want the Bucs to win. Whichever way our coaches think we can help do that, we're going to do it. No one's down or anything, we're having fun winning games. Times are good."

Standing at 3-0, it is hard to argue with Durham on the times not being good. Sunday poses a different kind of challenge than the Bucs have seen yet, as they aim to go toe-to-toe and blow-for-blow with a 3-0 Eagles squad. For as much as Philadelphia's offense is filled with star power and generates headlines for its "Tush Push," there is a valid argument that their defense flies under the radar and is even more complete. At each level there is elite talent, especially along a front seven boasting the likes of defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis along with inside linebackers Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell, just to name a few.

That could keep Grizzard's offensive gameplan similar to what it has been the first few weeks, which would mean another quiet game for the tight ends serving as blockers. Durham has no problem with that.

"Fine by me," Durham said. "I'm good with it. I think it's a really good challenge we got coming in. We're definitely excited to take that on and see what we can do against them."

Head coach Todd Bowles does not seem too concerned either, as long as the Bucs' offense does their part with all of the moving parts.

"I would like to see us continue to hit the open guy," Bowles said. "If that's a tight end, great. If not, I'm happy with the results there."

It is worth watching what the results are on Sunday. If it ends up as another Bucs' win, no one will be complaining about the box score.