Will Randy Gregory, Tristan Wirfs Show Up For Bucs Camp?

The Bucs signed veteran outside linebacker Randy Gregory on April 4 to add some experience to Tampa Bay’s very young group of pass rushers and edge defenders.

But outside of showing up to sign his one-year, $3 million contract, Gregory has been a no-show on Bucs workouts this offseason. Gregory skipped the team’s voluntary OTAs, and his absence for the team’s three-day mandatory mini-camp was unexcused. Gregory was subjected to fines in excess of $100,000 as a result.

So will Gregory show up for training camp next week? The players report for camp on Tuesday, July 23 and the first practice is the following day.

In a sit-down interview with Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles seemed indifferent about Gregory’s status.

“We’ll see,” Bowles said. “I don’t know. I don’t know. Players go through personal things in the offseason and they have decisions to make. We have decisions to make, so we’ll see.”

Despite the fact that the 32-year old Gregory has seven years worth of experience in the league, Bowles runs a very complex and intricate defensive scheme. The Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller was emphatic in saying that Gregory is far behind the team’s other outside linebackers at this point.

“You can’t just come in here and play,” Bowles said. “You cannot just come in here and play.”

Bucs OLB Randy Gregory and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes – Photo by: USA Today

Reynolds suggested that the Bucs cut Gregory and move on from him in a recent Pewter Pulse video. If Gregory, who is suing the NFL and has a history of personal issues, does not report for camp on Tuesday, expect Tampa Bay to part ways with him and end his Buccaneers career before it even begins.

Bowles is very happy with the collection of young talent the team has assembled in the outside linebacker room. Just a few weeks after signing Gregory, the Bucs spent a second-round pick on Alabama pass rusher Chris Braswell. Plus, veterans Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Anthony Nelson are entering contract years and will be highly motivated to play well in 2024. The Bucs also have a trio of second-year talents in starter Yaya Diaby, Tampa Bay’s leading sacker last year, and reserves Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez.

“It’s a very good group and they play very well” Bowles said. “We don’t look at sacks as everything. As long as they get pressure and they disrupt things and they can set the edge and play the run, we’re good. There are very few guys that are going to be double-digit sack guys. They might get their sacks, but some are going to get ran by 100 times and we don’t want to open any holes in that way, too. We like our group. They’re young. All of them are strong and I’m looking forward to them growing together.”

Randy Gregory Might Not Show Up, But Will Tristan Wirfs To Report To Camp?

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs, TE Ko Kieft and SS Kaevon Merriweather – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles might be without his starting left tackle at the start of training camp, but he expects Tristan Wirfs to be there on the sidelines. Wirfs, who is seeking a multi-year contract extension, missed the voluntary OTAs and didn’t participate in the team’s mandatory mini-camp in June.

But he did show up. In fact, Wirfs, who is currently playing on his fifth-year option, has been a regular workout participant in the team’s strength and conditioning program at One Buccaneer Place. He is currently a “hold-in” as opposed to a “holdout.” The difference is that he will be on hand to watch practice and take mental reps while general manager Jason Licht and assistant G.M. Mike Greenberg work with Wirfs’ representatives and continue contract negotiations.

Bowles isn’t concerned if Wirfs’ hold-in lasts a few days or even a week into camp until his new contract is finalized.

“No, I’ve been around long enough to see how business works on both sides,” Bowles said. “I understand the player side being a former player. I understand the coaching side and I understand the business side. Those things will work themselves out. Obviously, we love Tristan. We think the world of him. But those things have to work themselves out. Obviously, we paid Mike [Evans], we paid Win (Antoine Winfield Jr.) and we paid Baker [Mayfield]. Lavonte [David] came back and got some.

“It’s going to happen every year with every team with cap situations. Some may get paid right away, and some may have to wait a second, but they’ll get there. And it’s just a matter of hashing it all out, and I understand that and how it comes together. So, you understand that part and you kind of go from there. That’s all I can do as a coach. I hope it works out sooner rather than later and we’ll go from there and get ready to play.”

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