We’re On Jamel Dean Return Watch
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to have to come strong out of the bye week to make the playoffs with their 4-7 record. They’ll get some help from a fairly soft schedule, having just gone through a gauntlet of contending teams in the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Francisco 49ers. But it also appears that their secondary is about to get a desperately needed boost.
#Bucs have opened a 21-day window for Jamel Dean to come off IR and he will begin practice today. The expectation is that he may be ready for Sunday’s game at the Meadowlands vs Giants.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) November 18, 2024
The Bucs opened the 21-day window for veteran cornerback Jamel Dean to come back from injured reserve, and he’ll practice with the Bucs this week. Barring setbacks, he’ll be back for Week 12’s matchup with the New York Giants.
Dean has been out of the lineup since Week 6 after injuring his hamstring. The absence of the every-down start took a secondary that was already shaky and threw it into greater flux. Not that the Bucs’ pass defense was ever great this season, but in Weeks 1 through 5, the Bucs held opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of 88.1 — which ranked 16th in the NFL. Since Week 6 (where Dean played just 10 snaps), the Bucs have let opposing QBs combine for a 120.9 rating — only the Dallas Cowboys have been worse.
A big part of that is that Dean’s not around to keep a lid on things. Dean may have allowed 29 catches on 41 targets this season, but he’s done a lot to limit the damage thanks to his sure tackling. He’s allowed a passer rating of 94.6 (which isn’t great, but we’ll see the alternatives) and more crucially, surrendered zero touchdowns.
Without him, it’s been a mess. Rookie Tyrek Funderberk was the next man up, and he’s been burned for 15 catches and two TDs against on 16 targets, giving QBs a perfect 158.3 rating. Woof. Second-year player Josh Hayes hasn’t been much better, getting picked on for 22 targets and allowing 15 catches for 157 yards and three touchdowns (128.2 rating).
Dean’s veteran presence should help a Bucs defense that now ranks 30th in both yards per game and passing yards per game, as well as 27th in points per game. With both him and Antoine Winfield Jr. back, we might see a secondary that is at more-or-less full strength for the first time since Week 1 (barring 10 snaps vs. New Orleans), which would be very welcome news for a Tampa team that needs to make a charge to the postseason.
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