After head coach Bruce Arians confirmed that starting right guard Alex Cappa suffered a fractured ankle against Washington this past Saturday, the Bucs have brought in offensive lineman Earl Watford to begin clearing COVID protocols, per Greg Auman of The Athletic.
Bucs brought veteran guard Earl Watford in to start COVID-19 testing protocols Sunday after losing Alex Cappa. He can clear testing and work out Thursday, sign to practice squad, would add depth and familiarity with Bucs offense.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 12, 2021
Originally a fourth-round draft pick to Arizona in 2013, Watford spent four seasons with the Cardinals under Arians before reuniting in Tampa Bay with his former head coach in 2019. Watford saw action in 15 games for the Bucs last year, starting four of them. Watford could step in quickly and provide depth along the offensive line in Cappa’s absence as Arians announced on Monday that Aaron Stinnie will be starting at right guard against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in the NFC Divisional Round.
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About the Author: Taylor Jenkins
Like the move. Can’t hurt.
Is he any good, cant remember. If he’s better than Haig and Larsen hopefully.
Not too good, but he knows the system.
Let’s look at it like this; He played 15 games in 2019, and PFF had the Bucs offensive line rated at #7 at the end of 2019. Taking this into consideration, he should do fine.
I know him from AZ too and he is hot garbage worse than Larson
As long as he’s in shape, this at least provides us with a backup plan if Stinnie falls on his face and Larsen can’t handle it or something. Hopefully Stinnie with his size will go in there and hold up just fine, but with two games after that if we win, we will definitely need the depth just in case.
Better make sure not all of the offensive and defensive lineman are sitting on the same side of the plane or the plane might not make it to NO
Good pickup. A lot of playoff teams are scrambling for a player here or there to fill out the roster. I don’t remember him making any glaring errors last year..
I like him more tha Larsen
Agreed
has he even been on anybody’s roster this year?
GM was smart on this one.
Good Insurance move!
didn’t understand why he wasn’t resigned (for vet minimum) during the offseason…
he was a great backup and his versatility is a huge +!
So he was out of football for a year? What kind of football shape will he be in?
Bucs can bring back or in whomever they like. One things for Deeyham skippy…If they don’t have an answer , A planA/B and C for the Saints pass rush? We are in D-E-E-P kimshee. Watching those last 2 massacres was worst than Custers last stand. Brady got beat up so much, I started aching! Defeat their pass rush and we win the shoot-out. If not? RahReee Rough..we will be HAMMERED!
Remember these are backups, and this is the playoffs-the idea is to have plenty of bodies so you can keep rotating fresh legs-good pickup!