The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are already trying to figure out how to rebuild their offense without quarterback Tom Brady, and now the team could be without one of its key wide receivers for the 2023 season in Russell Gage.
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During training camp practice on Wednesday, August 16, Gage was taken off of the field on a cart with what appeared to be a non-contact injury according to multiple reporters in attendance. Pewter Report noted on Twitter that Gage was unable to put any weight on the leg as he was being helped onto the cart, signaling a potentially serious injury for the 27-year-old wide receiver.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared that Gage was emotional as he was being carted off of the joint practice against the New York Jets.
During a joint practice vs. the Jets, Buccaneers’ WR Russell Gage was carted off and was emotional as he was taken into the Jets’ training facility.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 16, 2023
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler later reported that Gage would miss the entire 2023 season with a knee injury.
Source: #Bucs WR Russell Gage will miss the 2023 season with the knee injury suffered today vs. the Jets.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 16, 2023
Gage joined the Buccaneers last season after signing a three-year, $30 million contract with Tampa Bay. He played and started 13 games in 2022, catching 51 passes for 426 yards and five touchdowns on 70 targets.
Prior to landing in Tampa Bay, Gage was a sixth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. While he was overshadowed by the likes of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, Gage found his own role when needed, catching 193 passes for 2,065 yards and nine touchdowns over four seasons.
With Gage potentially out for a significant amount of time, the Buccaneers could potentially be seeking more depth behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin at wide receiver. Tampa Bay has limited options in the slot behind Gage with the likes of Deven Thompkins, Kaylon Geiger, and undrafted rookie Kade Warner, the son of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner.
The Buccaneers are also in the middle of a quarterback camp battle between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. Losing a key slot weapon like Gage will make it even harder for Tampa Bay's coaching staff to evaluate the two quarterbacks in order to determine a starter for Week 1.
