Ko Kieft - Page 2 - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

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

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

No catches in wild-card loss Kieft failed to bring in his only target during the Buccaneers' 31-14 wild-card loss to the Cowboys on Monday night. He finished the 2022 regular season with seven receptions (10 t...

Impact The rookie tight end was primarily utilized as a blocker and on special teams, where he logged 271 snaps. Kieft was efficient with his few opportunities as a receiver, and he could be set to move up to the No. 2 role next season if veterans Cameron Brate and Kyle Rudolph (knee) aren't brought back.

JANUARY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Doesn't bring in only target Kieft logged 22 snaps on offense in the Buccaneers' 30-24 win over the Panthers in Week 17 but failed to bring in his only target.

Impact The rookie once again served primarily in a blocking role, and despite the fact Cameron Brate was a healthy scratch, Kieft was an afterthought as a receiver. After a seven-game stretch between Weeks 7 and 14 when he caught one pass apiece in six contests, Kieft has only logged Sunday's lone target over the last three games.

JANUARY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Records short reception in loss Kieft hauled in his lone target for an 11-yard gain in Sunday's 35-7 loss to the 49ers.

Impact For the third week in a row, Kieft drew a target in the passing game, but he remained a distant third in the pecking order at tight end behind fellow rookie Cade Otton and veteran Cameron Brate. Otton led the group with 44 snaps, while Brate and Kieft took the field for 28 and five snaps on offense, respectively.

DECEMBER 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Another catch in Week 13 win Kieft brought in one of two targets for 12 yards in the Buccaneers' 17-16 win over the Saints on Monday night.

Impact Kieft was able to once again make an appearance on the stat sheet with Cameron Brate (illness) sidelined, recording a catch for the fifth time in the last six games. Despite the frequent cameo appearances in the air attack, the rookie sixth-round pick is the Buccaneers' clear block-first tight end even when a pass-catching option at the position like Brate is sidelined.

DECEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cashes in on one catch Kieft brought in his only target for a five-yard touchdown in the Buccaneers' 23-17 overtime loss to the Browns on Sunday.

Impact The blocking tight end logged 16 snaps from scrimmage and came up with his first career touchdown midway through the third quarter. Kieft now has one catch in four of the last five games but remains a fantasy afterthought in all but the deepest of formats.

NOVEMBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

No targets in Week 10 win Kieft did not log a target over 23 snaps during the Buccaneers' 21-16 win over the Seahawks in Week 10.

Impact The blocking-first tight end had recorded a reception apiece over the prior three games, but with Cameron Brate returning from a neck injury Sunday, his minuscule pass-catching role disappeared altogether. Kieft will have negligible fantasy value as long as Cade Otton and Brate are healthy in front of him.

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Makes one grab in win Kieft brought in one of two targets for six yards in the Buccaneers' 16-13 win over the Rams on Sunday.

Impact The rookie tight end continued to operate primarily in a blocking capacity while logging 16 snaps. Kieft made an appearance on the stat sheet in the form of one catch apiece over the last three games, and he could once again garner active status in the Week 10 contest versus the Seahawks in Munich, especially if Cameron Brate (neck) remains out.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Drops injury designation Kieft (ankle) will play Thursday against the Ravens.

Impact Kieft was a limited participant in practice each of the last two days, but it appears he'll be good to go for Thursday against Baltimore. With Cameron Brate (neck) out, Kieft should operate as the team's No. 2 tight end, which could make him a worthwhile dart throw in single-game DFS contests. The rookie has two catches on two targets for 37 yards on the season.

OCTOBER 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Limited practice Wednesday Kieft (ankle) was listed as a limited participant Wednesday.

Impact Kieft has practiced in a limited capacity for two straight days after picking up an injury during the Buccaneers' Week 7 loss to the Panthers. The reserve tight end has recorded two receptions for 37 yards through seven games.

OCTOBER 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Upgrades to limited activity Kieft (ankle) was limited at Tuesday's walkthrough, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Impact After sitting out Monday, Kieft was back on the field in some capacity one day later and has one more opportunity to get back to full activity before the Buccaneers potentially gives him a designation for Thursday's contest versus Baltimore. Cameron Brate hasn't practiced since injuring his neck during the Week 6 game against Pittsburgh, so it looks as if Keift will once again operate as Tampa's No. 2 tight end behind Cade Otton should Brate eventually be ruled out for Thursday's matchup versus the Ravens.

OCTOBER 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sidelined in estimated practice Kieft (ankle) was listed as a DNP on the Buccaneers' estimated practice report Monday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Impact Kieft apparently picked up an ankle injury at some point during Sunday's loss to the Panthers, as he was unable to participate in Monday's walk-through sessions. However, the rookie tight end did manage to catch his lone target for 18 yards while playing 18 of his 33 snaps on offense in the contest, and the nature and severity of this issue are still unclear. Kieft will now have two more practices to improve his status before Thursday's game against the Ravens.

OCTOBER 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Impressive gain on first pro catch Kieft brought in his only target for 19 yards in the Buccaneers' 41-31 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night.

Impact The rookie tight end was impressive on his first pro reception, and he logged just nine snaps from scrimmage overall along with 17 on special teams. Kieft's catch aside, the sixth-round pick's primary role on offense will continue to be as a blocker unless injuries strike multiple players in front of him at tight end.

OCTOBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sixteen snaps, no targets in opener Kieft logged 16 snaps on offense but did not draw a target during the Buccaneers' 19-3 win over the Cowboys in Week 1.

Impact The rookie sixth-round pick garnered active status as the No. 3 tight end behind Cameron Brate and fellow first-year player Cade Otton, but his role was limited to blocking in the opener. That's very likely to be par for the course moving forward, considering both Kieft's 265-pound frame and the fact he was used in a very similar role during his college days at Minnesota (12 catches in four seasons).

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Ko Kieft Adds "Different Mentality" to Bucs' Offense Buccaneers’ sixth-round selection Ko Kieft demonstrates his level of comfort within the offense as a one-man wrecking crew

AUGUST 28, 2022 • BUCCANEERS.COM

Call him K-Train? Bucs rookie Ko Kieft restores fullback dimension to offense. TAMPA, Fla. — While the creamsicle jerseys and Bucco Bruce helmets won’t be recycled for a regular-season game until at least 2023, the Bucs...

AUGUST 16, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Goes to Tampa Bay in sixth round The Buccaneers selected Kieft in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 218th overall.

Impact Kieft comes to the league from Minnesota with 10 career receptions, so blocking will be his path to getting on the field in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers led off Day 3 of the draft by selecting Washington's Cade Otton, so Kieft has plenty of competition as it is. If Rob Gronkowski returns to Tampa Bay, Kieft is at risk of not making the roster.

APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

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