Durham, who did not log any targets across 15 snaps in Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders, finished the 2024 regular season with 11 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns across 16 games. Durham saw a significant increase in opportunity on offense during his second season, logging 417 plays from scrimmage after playing only 125 as a rookie in 2023. However, the Purdue product was likely on his way to potentially falling short of his meager 5-58 receiving line of a season prior before top tight end Cade Otton suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss the final three games of the regular season. That opened the door for Durham to serve as the No. 1 tight end from Weeks 16-18, during which he generated a 9-81-2 line on 12 targets despite position mate Devin Culp also showing some promise during that span and absorbing some targets in his own right. Nevertheless, Durham garnered active status over Culp for Sunday night's postseason game, although with Otton back in action, that didn't lead to any production. Durham will be heading into the penultimate year of his rookie deal in 2025 and profiles as the likely No. 2 option at the position again.
Durham brought in both targets for 16 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday. Durham drew another start for Cade Otton (knee) and played on a robust 54 snaps (81 percent) in the close, playoff-clinching win. The second-year pro also recorded his second career touchdown on a six-yard pass early in the third quarter, which narrowed what had been a 16-6 halftime deficit. Durham has done a solid job over the last three games in Otton's stead, but the latter's ability to practice in a limited fashion on two occasions during Week 18 prep could be a sign he'll be ready to return for Sunday night's wild-card matchup against the Commanders.
Durham (quadriceps) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Saints. Durham and Devin Culp (ribs) both avoided injury designations and should continue to play larger roles in the regular-season finale since Cade Otton (knee) is listed as doubtful. Over the previous two games Otton missed, Durham caught seven of 10 targets for 65 yards and one touchdown. Durham upgraded to full practice participation Friday to gain clearance for Sunday's win-and-in game after missing practice Wednesday and being limited Thursday.
Durham (quadricep) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. Durham and fellow tight end Cade Otton (knee) have followed the same pattern of practice activity to begin Week 18, with both following up absences Wednesday with limited sessions Thursday. Otton has missed the Buccaneers' past two games, but if he can maintain limited activity or upgrade to full participation Friday, he could have a good chance at making it back for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Saints. If both Otton and Durham are cleared to play, Durham would likely fade back into a secondary role at tight end after playing more than three quarters of the offensive snaps in both of the past two contests while producing a 7-65-1 receiving line on 10 targets.
Durham missed Wednesday's practice with a quadriceps injury. Durham filled in the past two weeks for Cade Otton, who also missed practice Wednesday and thus appears in danger of missing a third straight game with a knee injury. Devin Culp (ribs) took some of the snaps from Durham in Sunday's blowout of the Panthers, catching three passes for 52 yards but apparently suffering a rib injury along the way. Practice reports Thursday and Friday should provide more clarity on Tampa Bay's TE room for a crucial Week 18 matchup with the Saints.
Durham brought in two of three targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 48-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday. The second-year tight end once again filled a lead role with Cade Otton (knee) sidelined and got in on the fun of Baker Mayfield's five-touchdown day. Durham secured a five-yard scoring grab with just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter for his first NFL touchdown, and his yardage total served as a new career high. Durham will reprise his role in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Saints if Otton remains sidelined.
With Cade Otton (knee) ruled out for the second straight game, Durham once again is set for an expanded role Sunday against the Panthers, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports. With Otton out last Sunday against Dallas, Durham dominated the playing time at tight end for Tampa Bay, logging 92 percent of the offensive snaps. He turned in a useful 5-29-0 line on seven targets and now catches a Carolina defense that has struggled badly against tight ends in fantasy this season.
Durham brought in five of seven targets for 29 yards in the Buccaneers' 26-24 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday night. He also fumbled once but Tampa Bay retained possession. With Cade Otton (knee) sidelined, Durham worked as the sole pass-catching option at tight end and finished the night tied for second in both receptions and targets. Both numbers also matched Durham's output in those categories over the 13 regular-season games he played as a rookie in 2023 and served as new single-game career highs. Durham's massive role expansion -- he logged 67 snaps (93 percent) overall, the most of any non-QB skill-position player -- will naturally be a one-game outlier if Otton is able to recover in time for a Week 17 home matchup against the Panthers on Sunday.
Durham could have an expanded role Sunday in Dallas with Cade Otton (knee) listed as doubtful for the contest, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports. More snaps for Durham may not result in an expanded role in the passing game, as he's earned just two targets in 13 games this season. Position mates Ko Kieft and Devin Culp, a rookie seventh-round pick, haven't been targeted at all, though, so Durham at least should be an option for QB Baker Mayfield considering the workload he likely will be taking on. In 26 appearances as a pro to date, Durham has a 7-92-0 line on nine targets, which is good for a 77.8 percent catch rate and 10.2 YPT.