{"id":135387,"date":"2025-06-16T22:01:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T22:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/135387\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T22:01:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T22:01:12","slug":"all-eyes-on-haason-reddick-chris-godwin-to-start-bucs-minicamp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/135387\/","title":{"rendered":"All eyes on Haason Reddick, Chris Godwin to start Bucs minicamp"},"content":{"rendered":"

TAMPA \u2014 Haason Reddick<\/a> only briefly attended Phase 2 of the Bucs\u2019 offseason workout program, but that doesn\u2019t mean the outside linebacker hasn\u2019t been preparing hard for his first season in Tampa Bay. <\/p>\n

A video of Reddick exhaustively going through drills with trainer Kenny Williams at his Reds Camp in Philadelphia recently was posted on Instagram. <\/p>\n

Reddick is expected to attend the Bucs\u2019 three-day mandatory minicamp beginning Tuesday, finally ending any speculation that he might entertain holding out the way he did a year ago after being traded from the Eagles to the Jets.<\/p>\n

The Bucs\u2019 reaction to questions about Reddick\u2019s absence during organized team activities were dismissive for a reason. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s coming in with a big chip on his shoulder,\u201d Bucs outside linebackers coach Larry Foote said of Reddick. \u201cHe\u2019s upset \u2014 and we like it. … He wants to show this league that he\u2019s one of the premier pass rushers in this league and we got a spot for him. He\u2019s motivated, he\u2019s a guy who loves training, loves working out, but he\u2019s got something to prove. We\u2019re here to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reddick, 30, was among the NFL\u2019s top pass rushers between 2020-2023, recording 50.5 sacks. But he sat out seven games after being traded to the Jets and finished with only one sack last season.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s motivated to return to his previous form after signing a one-year, $14 million contract.<\/p>\n

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles indicated he hadn\u2019t spoken to Reddick recently but is confident he will be working Tuesday. <\/p>\n

\u201cMinicamps are mandatory,\u201d Bowles said. \u201cThat\u2019s all I can tell you. I keep in touch through his position coach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reddick is not the only player the Bucs may get a closer look at. <\/p>\n

Receiver Chris Godwin is said to be hitting his landmarks during his recovery from a dislocated ankle he sustained midseason. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s working hard,\u201d Bowles said. \u201cHe\u2019s coming around. We\u2019ll see more when we get to training camp. We\u2019re hopeful of Week 1. Nothing has really changed. If anybody can come back and play, it\u2019s going to be Chris.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are some other storylines to follow during minicamp:<\/p>\n

Jamel Dean vs. rookies\"BucsBucs cornerback Jamel Dean, here at organized team activities last week, will have some rookie competition leading into a new season. [\u00a0DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times\u00a0]Stay updated on Tampa Bay\u2019s sports scene<\/p>\n

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Dean enters minicamp as the starting cornerback opposite Zyon McCollum<\/a> and as the Bucs\u2019 highest-paid at his position.<\/p>\n

But injuries have prevented him from playing an entire season, and he has missed nine games over the past two years due to injury. Dean also left playoff losses to Detroit and Washington early. <\/p>\n

A similar lack of durability prompted the Bucs to trade Carlton Davis to the Lions a year ago. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the Bucs drafted Notre Dame\u2019s Benjamin Morrison<\/a> in the second round and Kansas State\u2019s Jacob Parrish<\/a> in the third round of the NFL draft. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou could feel it after draft day,\u201d Bowles said. \u201cYou come back in here and you draft two players and your position, you better be on your job. There\u2019s expected to be heavy competition in camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morrison would have been a first-round pick if his junior season had not been cut short with a hip injury that required surgery. He was only cleared last week to participate in 11-on-11 drills. He has the ball skills Dean lacks, having intercepted six passes as a freshman and three more during his sophomore season. <\/p>\n

Dean, meanwhile, has only one interception in the last 38 games, which came during a 40-17 December win over the Chargers in Los Angeles. <\/p>\n

The Bucs had just seven interceptions last season, the fewest since Bowles arrived in 2019. <\/p>\n

Parrish was a star during organized team activities with a couple early picks in practice. Bowles said he could start outside in the NFL but likely will cross train as a nickel cornerback.<\/p>\n

Who will be the Bucs\u2019 fifth receiver?<\/p>\n

Go ahead and pencil in Mike Evans, Godwin, Jalen McMillan and rookie Emeka Egbuka<\/a> as the Bucs\u2019 top four receivers. <\/p>\n

But there\u2019s an intense battle for No. 5 (and No. 6 if they were to keep that many).<\/p>\n

There has been a report that the Steelers have an interest in trading for Trey Palmer, who played primarily as the Bucs\u2019 punt returner last season. He went from 39 receptions as a rookie to only 12 in 2024. <\/p>\n

Kameron Johnson played in only five games before landing on the injured list (ankle). Rakim Jarrett had nine catches for 124 yards and returned kickoffs last season. Veteran Sterling Sheppard could be forced to begin the season on the practice squad again due to the logjam at that position.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t count out seventh-round pick Tez Johnson. Despite being the smallest receiver in the NFL at 5-foot-9, 154 pounds, he has the make-you-miss ability of his former Ducks teammate, Bucs running back Bucky Irving.<\/p>\n

Eventually, the Bucs will have to move on from Evans and Godwin. The future may be here with McMillan and Egbuka.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n

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