Tampa Bay star Cade Otton spoke exclusively to Mirror US Sports after the Buccaneers’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams and discussed a season turnaround depends entirely on the players in the locker room
17:53 ET, 28 Nov 2025Updated 17:53 ET, 28 Nov 2025
Cade Otton vowed to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers turn things around this season(Image: GETTY)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like world beaters to start the 2025 NFL season, with Baker Mayfield establishing himself as a potential MVP candidate.
However, after starting the season winning six of their first eight games, the Buccaneers have stumbled in recent weeks, losing their last three contests as Tampa Bay looks to turn things around. The Buccaneers’ struggles came to a head against the Los Angeles Rams in a dispiriting 34-7 loss, with nothing seemingly going right for the team.
With Tampa Bay’s season slipping rapidly, the Buccaneers are searching for answers, especially as the team looks toward the playoffs after Mayfield’s injury. Among those searching for answers is star tight end Cade Otton, who understands that the team’s turnaround begins with the players in the locker room and taking it one week at a time.
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Speaking exclusively to Mirror US Sport, Otton explained what mindset the team had after being blown out by the Rams on Sunday Night Football. In particular, the 26-year-old took responsibility for bobbling a catch from Mayfield late in the first quarter, which quickly turned into an interception and a score for the Rams in what was a historic night for Los Angeles.
With hindsight being 20/20, that singular play exemplified the issues the Buccaneers had throughout the game. “I mean, obviously, a crucial play in the game. I take full responsibility. Just got to make the play. And nothing much else to it,” Otton pensively said in the locker room after the game.
He added, “And, you know, it sucks, it feels horrible. But take accountability and work harder throughout the week. And just work on focusing in those situations. And I’ll make sure I do that personally. And then as a team, I know we’ll do the same.”
Looking back on the game, Otton believes that being down 31-7 heading into halftime sapped Tampa Bay of any momentum and energy to try and fight back against the NFC-leading Rams. “Yeah, I think going down early hurt,” the star tight end surmised after the fact.
Cade Otton almost had an important catch against the Los Angeles Rams, which turned into a turnover(Image: Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
“And, you know, just put their defensive line in pass rush mode. And, obviously, the pick-six was a part of that. So, yeah, definitely hurt us a lot. And not ideal to go down that early, that quick. And we’ll have to be better.”
That said, part of what made the Buccaneers’ climb back into the game more difficult was the fact that Mayfield was injured in the game and had to be replaced by veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Although Bridgewater is a serviceable signal caller, Mayfield’s rapport with Otton was a crucial aspect of the Buccaneers’ success.
Otton is Mayfield’s second-favorite target with 60 on the year, behind Emeka Egbuka’s 93, indicating how comfortable the quarterback is with the star. Speaking about the 30-year-old missing the rest of that particular game due to an injury, Otton explained where the Buccaneers’ headspace was after seeing their leader temporarily fall.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s our leader,” a contemplative Otton said. “And it sucks to see him hurt and any of our teammates hurt. But we always have the ‘Next man up’ mentality. And we’ll go from there and, you know, be there for him as he recovers, however long it takes.”
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Despite how severe Mayfield’s injury looked at the time, Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay’s head coach, stated that after a week of observation, the 30-year-old is slated to play against the equally struggling Arizona Cardinals.
Still, Otton and the Buccaneers know that if they want to come out with a win and turn their season around, it has to start in the locker room, not necessarily with any changes in schematics.
“I think it just comes down to execution on the field. Again, I take personal responsibility for that. And I know other guys on the team will, too. But, yeah, that’s what it comes down to,” Otton concluded.