Bucs practice squad or LSU?
The following may invoke heckling from friends or could get you a free beer.
Who led the NFL in sacks in the 2026 worthless preseason? Settling the bar bet with the correct answer of Bucs edge rusher Jack Pyburn with four sacks could either get you a beer on the house, or mocked for actually knowing this.
Because worthless preseason stats are, well, worthless.
Still, KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles put Pyburn on the field for a reason. And Pyburn got the job done, even if it was playing against dudes who will be slinging beers on St. Pete Beach during Labor Day Weekend.
And Bowles is clearly smitten with Pyburn. Bowles often has a poker face when talking during press conferences. His face lit up discussing Pyburn yesterday.
> “Pyburn is leading the league in sacks, so he’s made a great case for himself at a deep position,” Bowles said. “So it’s something we definitely have to look at.”
Pyburn is an outside linebacker. And to hear Bowles say the Bucs are deep at outside linebacker makes Joe smile. But was Pyburn good enough to leapfrog Anthony Nelson or front office favorite David Walker for a spot on the 53-man roster — if the Bucs keep five outside linebackers? Joe can’t go there.
Right now at outside linebacker, you’re looking at YaYa Diaby, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Rueben Bain, Anthony Nelson and David Walker.
So Pyburn is likely looking at (maybe) a practice squad slot. And why would he agree to that? In the latest legal (you-can’t-do/yes-you-can) decision last week, players are currently allowed to leave NFL teams to return to college for one season.
Joe is guessing Pyburn, if he goes back to LSU to play for scummy Lane Kiffin, could pull $1 million. Maybe more.
Let’s see, improve your craft in college as a starter and pull seven figures or be a practice squad tackling dummy for $13,750 a week.
Gee, tough decision.
Additionally, per an edict from the NFL, Pyburn could not re-enter the 2027 draft if he goes back to LSU. Instead, he would be a free agent (which also means he could re-sign with the Bucs).
That would be excellent for Pyburn because if he improves at LSU, he could choose an NFL team.
Pyburn told Jenna Laine of ESPN last week he is undecided on his future.