Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Seeing few snaps behind Otton
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Kieft went without a target while playing six of the Buccaneers' 82 snaps on offense in Monday's 41-31 loss to the Ravens.
With Cade Otton dominating the snaps at tight end for the Buccaneers through the first seven weeks, Kieft nor the team's other depth options at the position have been able to carve out much playing time. Though Kieft has suited up in all seven of the Bucs' contests, the six snaps he played Monday represented a season high.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Ready for Thursday night
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Kieft (ankle) has no injury designation ahead of Thursday night's matchup against the Falcons, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kieft was able to log a full practice Wednesday after estimating back-to-back limited sessions to open the Buccaneers' week of practice. The third-year pro is expected to serve as a depth piece in the team's tight end room while primarily playing on special teams during Tampa Bay's Week 5 divisional matchup.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Suiting up
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Kieft (ankle) is active Sunday against the Eagles, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kieft started the week with back-to-back DNPs at practice but did get back on the field Friday, setting him up to take the field in Week 4. He should operate as the team's No. 3 tight end, behind starter Cade Otton and backup Payne Durham.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Questionable for Week 4
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Kieft (ankle) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
Kieft opened the week with back-to-back DNPs due to an ankle injury he sustained in Week 3 against the Broncos. The 2022 sixth-round pick has given himself a chance at playing Sunday after practicing in a limited capacity Friday. If Kieft cannot play in Week 4, then rookie seventh-round pick Devin Culp would serve as the Bucs' No. 3 tight end behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Officially questionable for Sunday
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Kieft (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Carolina.
Kieft was a full participant at practice Friday, so he's likely on the probable end of the questionable designation. If he can't go in Week 18, though, rookie fifth-rounder Payne Durham would project to see an expanded role.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Remains hindered by injury
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Kieft (shoulder) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's injury report.
Kieft missed the team's Week 17 loss to the Saints and appears in danger of missing the team's regular-season finale against the Panthers, although his participation level was just an estimate. The second-year pro will work to get out onto the field Thursday, when the Buccaneers will likely hold a regular practice, which could help put him on the path of suiting up for Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Not playing Sunday
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Kieft (shoulder) is inactive Sunday against the Saints.
Kieft was technically ruled out Friday, but his appearance on the team's inactive list makes it official. Payne Durham and David Wells will be candidates to see extra snaps in his absence.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Out for Sunday vs. Saints
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Kieft (shoulder) is out for Sunday's game versus the Saints, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Kieft will miss his first game of the season in Week 17 due to a shoulder injury. In his place, rookie fifth-rounder Payne Durham will probably see more snaps on early downs and near the goal line.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Goes untargeted in win
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Kieft went without a target while playing 17 of 74 snaps on offense in Tampa Bay's 30-12 win over Jacksonville.
A week after cashing in on his first reception of the season for a two-yard touchdown in the Buccaneers' 34-20 win over the Packers, Kieft's involvement as a pass catcher predictably dropped off. Kieft has been active for all 15 of Tampa Bay's games this season, but he's logged just five total targets while functioning mainly as a blocker during his time on the field.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Finds end zone in win
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Kieft caught his only target for a two-yard touchdown in the Buccaneers' 34-20 win over the Packers on Sunday.
Kieft's first catch of the season was certainly noteworthy and extended the Buccaneers' lead to 27-17 late in the third quarter. The blocking tight end also recorded a scoring grab on seven catches during his rookie 2022 campaign, but he remains a complete afterthought in the air attack despite Sunday's contribution.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Empty line on one target
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Kieft failed to bring in his only target in the Buccaneers' 29-25 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
The fact the blocking tight end saw even one target was news in itself, considering it's the first time a pass has gone his way since Week 1. Kieft actually logged a 7-80-1 line on 10 targets as a rookie a year ago, but he's been a complete non-factor in this season's Baker Mayfield-helmed air attack.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Goes without target
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Kieft went without a target over his 17 snaps on offense in Sunday's 27-17 win over the Bears.
After Kieft failed to reel in any of his three targets in the Week 1 win over the Vikings, quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't end up looking the tight end's way in the Week 2 win. Kieft has run routes (26.5 percent) more frequently than he's blocked (18.4 percent) when he's taken the field for passing plays, but he's unlikely to rank as anything more than a tertiary option in the aerial attack at any point this season.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: No catches in wild-card loss
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Kieft failed to bring in his only target during the Buccaneers' 31-14 wild-card loss to the Cowboys on Monday night. He finished the 2022 regular season with seven receptions (10 targets) for 80 yards and a touchdown and one kickoff return for seven yards across 17 games.
The rookie tight end was primarily utilized as a blocker and on special teams, where he logged 271 snaps. Kieft was efficient with his few opportunities as a receiver, and he could be set to move up to the No. 2 role next season if veterans Cameron Brate and Kyle Rudolph (knee) aren't brought back.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Doesn't bring in only target
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Kieft logged 22 snaps on offense in the Buccaneers' 30-24 win over the Panthers in Week 17 but failed to bring in his only target.
The rookie once again served primarily in a blocking role, and despite the fact Cameron Brate was a healthy scratch, Kieft was an afterthought as a receiver. After a seven-game stretch between Weeks 7 and 14 when he caught one pass apiece in six contests, Kieft has only logged Sunday's lone target over the last three games.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Records short reception in loss
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Kieft hauled in his lone target for an 11-yard gain in Sunday's 35-7 loss to the 49ers.
For the third week in a row, Kieft drew a target in the passing game, but he remained a distant third in the pecking order at tight end behind fellow rookie Cade Otton and veteran Cameron Brate. Otton led the group with 44 snaps, while Brate and Kieft took the field for 28 and five snaps on offense, respectively.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Cashes in on one catch
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Kieft brought in his only target for a five-yard touchdown in the Buccaneers' 23-17 overtime loss to the Browns on Sunday.
The blocking tight end logged 16 snaps from scrimmage and came up with his first career touchdown midway through the third quarter. Kieft now has one catch in four of the last five games but remains a fantasy afterthought in all but the deepest of formats.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Limited practice Wednesday
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Kieft (ankle) was listed as a limited participant Wednesday.
Kieft has practiced in a limited capacity for two straight days after picking up an injury during the Buccaneers' Week 7 loss to the Panthers. The reserve tight end has recorded two receptions for 37 yards through seven games.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Upgrades to limited activity
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Kieft (ankle) was limited at Tuesday's walkthrough, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.
After sitting out Monday, Kieft was back on the field in some capacity one day later and has one more opportunity to get back to full activity before the Buccaneers potentially gives him a designation for Thursday's contest versus Baltimore. Cameron Brate hasn't practiced since injuring his neck during the Week 6 game against Pittsburgh, so it looks as if Keift will once again operate as Tampa's No. 2 tight end behind Cade Otton should Brate eventually be ruled out for Thursday's matchup versus the Ravens.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Impressive gain on first pro catch
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Kieft brought in his only target for 19 yards in the Buccaneers' 41-31 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night.
The rookie tight end was impressive on his first pro reception, and he logged just nine snaps from scrimmage overall along with 17 on special teams. Kieft's catch aside, the sixth-round pick's primary role on offense will continue to be as a blocker unless injuries strike multiple players in front of him at tight end.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Sixteen snaps, no targets in opener
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Kieft logged 16 snaps on offense but did not draw a target during the Buccaneers' 19-3 win over the Cowboys in Week 1.
The rookie sixth-round pick garnered active status as the No. 3 tight end behind Cameron Brate and fellow first-year player Cade Otton, but his role was limited to blocking in the opener. That's very likely to be par for the course moving forward, considering both Kieft's 265-pound frame and the fact he was used in a very similar role during his college days at Minnesota (12 catches in four seasons).
