Buccaneers Rookie Wide Receiver ‘Flying Out There’ Says Chris Godwin

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to react following the loss of receiver Russell Gage, rookie Trey Palmer may present an option to step into the No. 3 role on Dave Canales’ offense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were counting on receiver Russell Gage to be healthy and play a critical role in new offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ scheme. 

After Gage went down with a non-contact injury during joint practice with the New York Jets, however, the Buccaneers are going to need to find a new No. 3 receiver.

READ MORE: Free Agent Receiver Options for Buccaneers

Certainly there are options outside the organization, but rookie receiver Trey Palmer has been stating his case to get a crack at taking the job during training camp, including a big play Wednesday against the Jets over top young cornerback Sauce Gardner.

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“It was a really big play for us…on one of the better corners in the league,” Godwin said of the play. “Trey, he’s a fast guy, and I don’t know if people notice it or not but he’s flying out there and Kyle [Trask] gave him a great ball. I feel like it was kind of tough on Sauce because they went Cover 0 so it’s one-on-one and Trey, like I said, he’s a blazer…that’s the kind of plays we’re going to need from him.”

READ MORE: Mayfield ‘Easily Outplayed Kyle Trask’

To Godwin’s point, Palmer ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine with a 1.51 10-yard split. 

After originally committing to LSU as a five-star prospect out of high school, Palmer was a track star who decided to leave Baton Rouge for the Nebraska Cornhuskers after his junior season. 

With Nebraska, Palmer set a single-season school record after producing 1,043 receiving yards on 71 receptions while finding the end zone nine times in 11 starts. 

Tampa Bay is hoping they found a gem in the 6th Round of the NFL Draft in Palmer who had his best day of practice against the Jets according to star receiver Mike Evans. 

After a solid debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a great practice against the Jets, Week 3 of the NFL Preseason could be Palmer’s coming out party, as his team looks for an answer behind Evans and Godwin.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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