So receiver/returner Trey Palmer won’t play against the Steelers on Saturday night and hasn’t had a full practice this month, but he was back on the field yesterday in Pittsburgh.
(See photo) Palmer has been nursing a hamstring injury (no official injury report available) suffered about a week into training camp. He’s progressed to the point, though, where Joe saw him running routes yesterday — running, cutting and catching in drills.
Joe asked Todd Bowles about Palmer in Pittsburgh and Bowles noted Palmer didn’t practice against the Steelers and will sit out this weekend. Still, Joe saw witnessed Palmer’s work in those drills and he can’t be far from an official return.
On Saturday, rookie returner/receiver Tez Johnson will make his preseason debut. He’s Palmer’s competition and it’s become clear to Joe that the Bucs would prefer Johnson to make the team ahead of Palmer. But Johnson must still show he’s worthy.
Joe’s seen rookies fade under the lights, and as high as the Bucs might be on Johnson, Joe suspects they won’t be too patient with him.
The love affair with Palmer didn’t last long. He had 39 catches and 3 touchdowns as a 2023 rookie and became a largely forgotten man in the offense last season.