Getty Chase Edmonds, Buccaneers running back
At this point, any sliver of good news when it comes to the running game should be grasped and held tight. So yes, the Buccaneers are getting a new running back into the fold soon, but alas, it is someone we already know well—backup running back Chase Edmonds, who has been designated for return from injured reserve.
The Bucs announced the move on Edmonds, who had suffered a sprained MCL in Week 2, on Monday. He was sent to IR, which requires a four-game absence. Under NFL rules, the Bucs now have 21 days to get Edmonds back onto the active roster, or he must be placed back on season-ending IR.
Sources: #Buccaneers RB Chase Edmonds has a Grade 2 MCL sprain on his knee and will be out 4-6 weeks.
Edmonds is likely to go on short-term IR. The injury occurred during Tampa’s win over the #Bears.
Two questions loom. First, can the Bucs get Edmonds back in time for Thursday night’s Week 8 matchup against the Bills? And, second, will getting Edmonds back matter much?
Edmonds signed on with the Bucs in March, a quick, 5-foot-9 scat back who could make an impact on third downs as a rusher and a receiver out of the backfield. He only got four touches, all runs, in his first two games with Tampa, though his 20 yards on those four carries leave him not far behind the team’s other backups rushers, Ke’Shawn Vaughn (32 yards on 19 carries) and Sean Tucker (23 yards on 15 carries).
Rachaad White, who might be better suited in a platoon situation himself, remains the No. 1, though he has 266 yards on 83 carries, for a very disappointing 3.2 yards per carry.
Buccaneers Rush Attack Struggles
The running game in Tampa continues to be the dominant topic for an offense that has taken a decidedly ugly turn in the last two weeks, both losses. To be fair, the Bucs have not had much success across the board offensively, and rank 26th in total points, at 103. They’re 15th in passing yardage, and 29th in rushing yards and this week crawled slightly ahead of the Raiders in yards per carry.
The Bucs average 3.1 yards per carry, and Las Vegas averages 3.0 yards, pushing Tampa out of last place in that category.
Coach Todd Bowles said he will not be making changing to the starting lineup for Week 8 and, as has become a weekly occurrence, struggled to explain the team’s rushing woes.
“It’s the same thing,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a block here and there, sometimes we miss the cut completely. Whether it’s a lineman or a receiver, we just have to do better as a group.”
Can Chase Edmonds Be the Running Back Who Saves the Buccaneers?
As for Edmonds, he had hoped that this would be a season of redemption for him. He spent four years in Arizona and established himself as a productive role player in 2020, when he ran for 592 yards on 116 carries (5.1 yards per carry) and added 311 yards on 43 catches, all in 12 games.
But Edmonds struggled after signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Dolphins. Edmonds said he got complacent in Miami, which traded him to Denver at the deadline last year. Edmonds could not stay healthy and had a terrible season.
“You know, last season was, just straight up, my worst season ever in all my years of football. Performance-wise, it was just not up to my standard at all. It’s very humbling,” Edmonds said, via the Tampa Bay Times.
“I was really one of the guys in the locker room and the human natural reaction is, like, content, you know what I mean? Like you just don’t have that same (drive).”
We’ve yet to see that drive for the Buccaneers in the running game, from Chase Edmonds or anyone. Hopefully, that changes.