Ko Kieft - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Seen participating in camp Kieft is on the field participating in the Buccaneers' training camp activities.

Impact Kieft injured his leg in Week 3 of the 2025 season and was unable to finish out the last year of his contract with the Buccaneers. He signed another one-year deal with the team in March and is ready to pick up where he left off as a supplemental tight end for both the offense and special teams.

JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Training Camp Goals: 2026 Buccaneers, Numbers 40-49 Rookie LB Josiah Trotter will be fighting for a starting spot in his first NFL training camp, while TE Ko Kieft is coming back from a season...

JULY 10 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Tampa Bay Watch: 2026 Schedule Release Captain Baker Mayfield, Bert Kreischer, Cody Mauch and Ko Kieft defend Tampa Bay's local beaches from tourists who support the Buccaneers' 2...

MAY 14 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Bucs Re-Sign TE Ko Kieft The Buccaneers re-signed tight end Ko Kieft on Monday, keeping the fifth-year player in Tampa Bay

MARCH 16 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Back with Bucs Kieft (leg) has agreed to terms on a contract with the Buccaneers, per General Manager Jason Licht. It is a one-year contract, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Kieft injured his leg in Week 3 of the 2025 season and didn't return. He'll be back with the Buccaneers for 2026 after playing in 53 regular-season games for the team since being drafted in the sixth round in 2022. Kieft has filled a depth role throughout his career, recording just eight catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

MARCH 13 • ROTOWIRE

2026 Buccaneers Free Agent Focus: Ko Kieft TE Ko Kieft quietly played an important role on offense for the Buccaneers and was also one of the team's core special teams players, but no...

FEBRUARY 20 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Plays just three games in 2025 Kieft (leg) didn't record an offensive statistic while logging 29 offensive snaps across three games in 2025.

Impact The Minnesota product sustained a leg injury in Tampa Bay's Week 3 win over the Jets that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. In the Buccaneers' first three games, Kieft was primarily used as a blocker and did not receive a target. He also contributed on special teams, logging 65 snaps and recording three total tackles. With Kieft's rookie contract expiring after the 2025 season, he's set to hit unrestricted free agency. Expect the 28-year-old to draw interest from teams in need of tight-end depth and special-teams help ahead of next season.

FEBRUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles says he's earned the right to return in 2026

Todd Bowles isn’t worried about his job security after a collapse by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

JANUARY 6 • Associated Press

Buccaneers hope to get injured players back soon as tough stretch awaits after a bye week

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers overcame several injuries to key players and kept winning games in the first half of their season

OCTOBER 30, 2025 • Associated Press

49ers visit Buccaneers in a matchup of 4-1 teams and NFC division leaders

The injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a matchup of a pair of 4-1 teams leading their respective divisions in the NFC

OCTOBER 9, 2025 • Associated Press

Former teammates, now productive QBs Mayfield and Darnold to face off when Bucs visit Seahawks

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in a matchup of quarterbacks who struggled with the teams that drafted them before reviving their careers

OCTOBER 2, 2025 • Associated Press

Bucs look to rebound from 1st loss, head to Seattle to face Seahawks

After becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to have a game-winning score in the final minute of the first three games, the Buccaneers fell short of a comeback against Phila...

OCTOBER 2, 2025 • Associated Press

Injuries are piling up at an alarming rate for the Buccaneers

Injuries are catching up to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

SEPTEMBER 29, 2025 • Associated Press

Baker Mayfield and Vic Fangio have mutual respect heading into Buccaneers-Eagles matchup

Baker Mayfield’s remarkable turnaround in Tampa Bay is no surprise for Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio

SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 • Associated Press

Could miss rest of 2025 The Buccaneers placed Kieft on injured reserve Tuesday due to a leg injury, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

Impact Kieft likely suffered the injury during the Buccaneers' 29-27 win over the Jets on Sunday. His placement on IR means he'll be forced to miss at least the next four games, but the injury could sideline the 2022 sixth-rounder for the rest of the season, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Kieft's absence opens the door for Devin Culp to serve as the Bucs' TE3 behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Serves exclusively as blocker Kieft did not see any targets across 17 regular-season games in 2024.

Impact After exceeding 200 snaps from scrimmage in his first two seasons, Kieft's participation on offense dipped to 102 snaps in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Additionally, after the 2022 sixth-round pick posted an 8-82-2 line 15 targets in his first pair of campaigns, Kieft was exclusively limited to blocking duties in 2024, and he'll head into the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 projected to serve in the same capacity now that Coen has been retained.

JANUARY 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Seeing few snaps behind Otton Kieft went without a target while playing six of the Buccaneers' 82 snaps on offense in Monday's 41-31 loss to the Ravens.

Impact With Cade Otton dominating the snaps at tight end for the Buccaneers through the first seven weeks, Kieft nor the team's other depth options at the position have been able to carve out much playing time. Though Kieft has suited up in all seven of the Bucs' contests, the six snaps he played Monday represented a season high.

OCTOBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Ready for Thursday night Kieft (ankle) has no injury designation ahead of Thursday night's matchup against the Falcons, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact Kieft was able to log a full practice Wednesday after estimating back-to-back limited sessions to open the Buccaneers' week of practice. The third-year pro is expected to serve as a depth piece in the team's tight end room while primarily playing on special teams during Tampa Bay's Week 5 divisional matchup.

OCTOBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Limited with ankle issue Kieft (ankle) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimation.

Impact Kieft was able to play through his ankle injury in the Buccaneers' Week 4 loss to the Eagles, tallying 22 total snaps (three offensive and 19 on special teams) without recording a stat. The third-year tight end is still expected to play in Thursday night's divisional matchup against the Falcons unless his participation is downgraded either Tuesday or Wednesday.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Suiting up Kieft (ankle) is active Sunday against the Eagles, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact Kieft started the week with back-to-back DNPs at practice but did get back on the field Friday, setting him up to take the field in Week 4. He should operate as the team's No. 3 tight end, behind starter Cade Otton and backup Payne Durham.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable for Week 4 Kieft (ankle) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Impact Kieft opened the week with back-to-back DNPs due to an ankle injury he sustained in Week 3 against the Broncos. The 2022 sixth-round pick has given himself a chance at playing Sunday after practicing in a limited capacity Friday. If Kieft cannot play in Week 4, then rookie seventh-round pick Devin Culp would serve as the Bucs' No. 3 tight end behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Barely sees action Sunday Kieft did not see any targets in the Buccaneers' 37-20 win over the Commanders on Sunday.

Impact Kieft wasn't even deployed as a blocker as much as he typically was in former coordinator Dave Canales' offense, with all but two of his 18 total snaps Sunday coming on special teams. Even if he does end up seeing an uptick in playing time on offense in coming weeks, Kieft is expected to remain a distant third pass-catching option at tight end behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Bucs Gift Peter Schrager a Ko Kieft Jersey The Tampa Bay Buccaneers gifted NFL Network's Peter Schrager a tight end Ko Kieft jersey.

DECEMBER 21, 2023 • BUCCANEERS.COM

If the end is in sight in Tampa Bay, do not expect Mike Evans to pout John Romano | The Bucs receiver is months away from free agency and his pride might be a little wounded, but Tampa Bay still can expect the...

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 • TAMPABAY.COM

Bucs' barefoot bunch: Why 3 Tampa Bay players take the field without shoes before games

Three Buccaneers players take part in an unconventional tradition before games: walking barefoot through the field. "We've just got to do it...

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

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