Devin Culp Injury News & Updates

Culp (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday night's game against the Texans, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

The 2024 seventh-rounder managed to make the Bucs' 53-man roster at the end of training camp but has been a healthy scratch for the first two games of the regular season. It appears Culp is unlikely to be active for gameday unless Cade Otton, Payne Durham or Ko Kieft were to miss time due to injury or illness.

Culp (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Atlanta.

With Cade Otton overcoming a lingering groin injury to play Week 1, Culp will observe Sunday's game in street clothes while Payne Durham and Ko Kieft serve in backup roles at tight end. Culp managed to make the Bucs' 53-man roster after a strong training camp, but the 2024 seventh-rounder is unlikely to see much playing time unless Otton, Durham or Kieft were to miss time. Culp's next chance to play is Week 2 against Houston on Monday, Sept. 15.

Culp is in line to see increased target opportunities if No. 1 tight end Cade Otton (leg) is sidelined to open the regular season, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Head coach Todd Bowles previously remarked that Otton is expected "to be out a little bit," without further details. However, more information on a projected return timeline is expected during the official Week 1 practice week next week, and Dix notes the Buccaneers will take a "committee approach" at tight end for any games Otton might be sidelined for. Considering No. 3 tight Ko Kieft has all of one reception since the beginning of the 2023 season, such a scenario would leave Culp and Payne Durham as the only legitimate pass-catching options at the position to open the season. That was the case during Weeks 16-18 last season when Otton sat out with a knee injury, a span in which Culp flashed some downfield chops while recording a 5-88 line on six targets. The second-year pro also generated three first downs on his five preseason receptions this summer, including on a 22-yard grab in the exhibition finale against the Bills on Saturday night.

Culp secured all three targets for 33 yards and lost a fumble in the Buccaneers' 23-19 preseason loss to the Bills on Saturday night.

The athletic tight end played a position-high 20 snaps from scrimmage and made good use of his three targets, but his turnover late in the third quarter came in Bills territory. Nevertheless, Culp appears to be a virtual lock for the 53-man roster as a complementary pass-catching option alongside No. 1 tight end Cade Otton, following a solid training camp and preseason that have earned him accolades from new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.

Culp secured two of four targets for 13 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-7 preseason win over the Titans on Saturday night.

The athletic tight end carried over a bit of the momentum he'd been building during training camp practices, finishing as one of five Bucs players to record multiple catches on the night. Both of Culp's catches came in connection with Kyle Trask and occurred on the final drive of the first half, and given how much new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has talked up the second-year pro's potential, Culp is likely to see extended opportunity over Tampa Bay's two remaining preseason contests.

Culp, who showed some late-season promise as a rookie seventh-round pick in 2024, has stood out in the Buccaneers' early training camp practices, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Culp posted a 5-88 line on six targets over Weeks 17 and 18 of the 2024 regular season when Cade Otton sat out due to a knee injury, flashing some downfield chops with a pair of catches of 20+ yards. Despite his 6-foot-4, 237-pound dimensions, Culp's athleticism, which was on display with an acrobatic catch on the sideline in Thursday's training camp practice, is something that has Baker Mayfield excited for what it can bring to the offense. "Devin has taken a lot of steps," noted Mayfield. "He is a guy that is extremely athletic for his size and can really run, so just being able to have a guy like that [is huge]. Cade [Otton] is trustworthy and is more of our dominant meathead guy but having an athletic guy like Dev to stretch the field at the tight end position will create mismatch problems."

Culp brought in five of six targets for 88 yards across the five regular-season games in 2024.

The rookie seventh-round pick had played all of five snaps from scrimmage in Weeks 7, 8 and 16 when Cade Otton's knee injury afforded him additional opportunity over the last two regular-season games. Culp played 19 and 16 snaps in Weeks 17 and 18, respectively while operating as a complementary tight end alongside Payton Durham, and he generated all of his stats during that pair of contests. Culp displayed some downfield prowess during that span by tallying two receptions of 20-plus yards among his five grabs, and he should have plenty of opportunity to make his case for more playing time this offseason and in training camp as he heads into the second year of his rookie contract in 2025.

Culp (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday night's wild-card game against the Commanders, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Culp will be inactive for the first time since Week 15 as the Buccaneers attempt to advance to the NFC divisional round. Cade Otton and Payne Durham will operate as the team's two options at tight end versus Washington.

Culp secured both targets for 36 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday.

Culp once again made good use of his opportunities with Cade Otton (knee) sidelined, flashing his downfield chops with catches of 16 and 20 yards in the playoff-clinching win. The rookie has been impressive over the last pair of contests, but he may be relegated back to a minor role in Sunday night's wild-card home battle against the Commanders if Otton is able to return to action.

Culp (ribs) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

Culp was limited in the Buccaneers' first Week 18 practice due to the injury, but his ability to take every rep a day later clears the way for him to suit up in Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Saints. The rookie seventh-round pick played a season-high 19 snaps in last week's blowout win over the Panthers, finishing with three catches for 52 yards on four targets. With the Week 18 statuses of both Cade Otton (knee) and Payne Durham (quadricep) in flux with neither tight end having yet turned in a full practice this week, Culp could once again be headed for a meaningful role Sunday.

Culp was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a rib injury.

Culp presumably suffered the injury during Sunday's 48-14 won over Carolina, in which he caught three of four targets for 52 yards while coming off the bench behind Payne Durham, who missed Wednesday's practice with a quadriceps injury. With starter Cade Otton (knee) also not practicing, Culp has some chance at a significant role in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Saints.

Culp secured three of four targets for 52 yards in the Buccaneers' 48-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

With Cade Otton (knee) sidelined for a second straight week, Culp saw the first four targets of his career and made good use of them with gains of 26, 17 and nine yards on his trio of grabs. A rookie seventh-round pick, Culp displayed some solid pass-catching chops during his college days at Washington with a 66-711-4 line across 42 games over his last four seasons of eligibility. Culp logged 20 snaps in Sunday's lopsided victory, and although Payne Durham paced the position group comfortably with 59 plays from scrimmage, Culp's performance may have earned him more playing time in a Week 18 home matchup against the Saints.

Culp played one of the Buccaneers' 82 snaps on offense and wasn't targeted in Monday's 41-31 loss to the Ravens.

With Payne Durham (calf) sitting out the Week 7 contest, Culp got the chance to make his NFL debut as the No. 3 tight end behind Cade Otton and Ko Kieft. Otton (80 snaps) dominated the playing time, leaving few snaps left over for either Culp or Kieft (six snaps). Culp will likely return to the inactive list Week 8 against the Falcons if Durham is able to play.

Culp (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Culp, a seventh-round pick in the 2024 Draft, is listed as the fourth and last tight end on Tampa Bay's depth chart. The Washington product caught 16 passes for 208 yards during his final collegiate season in 2023.

Culp (head) returned to Saturday's game against the Bengals, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Culp was evaluated for a concussion at the end of the first half, but he appears to have passed the test and is back on the field for the third quarter. The rookie seventh-round draft pick is competing with Payne Durham and Ko Kieft for a backup tight end role behind starter Cade Otton.

Culp exited Saturday night's preseason game against the Bengals with a head injury and is being evaluated for a concussion, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

At the time of his exit, Culp led the Bucs with four first-half targets in the passing game, but he caught just one for six yards. Culp was a seventh-round pick out of Washington back in April and is vying for a job behind Cade Otton in Tampa Bay.