Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Thrives with extra opportunity
Rotowire
Thompkins secured all four targets for 45 yards and a touchdown, rushed once for 11 yards and returned one punt for seven yards in the Buccaneers' 26-9 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Thompkins made good on some extra attention from Baker Mayfield brought about by Mike Evans' early exit due to a hamstring injury. The speedy second-year wideout recorded his first NFL touchdown on a five-yard grab with 3:44 remaining as well, which gave the Bucs some valuable breathing room by extending a 17-9 lead. Thompkins has now exceeded his modest rookie-season totals of five receptions and 32 yards, as he's sporting an 8-61 line on 11 targets through four games. If Evans is unable to return for a Week 6 home showdown against the Lions following a Week 5 bye, Thompkins should be in line for extended opportunity once again.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Two catches in loss
Rotowire
Thompkins brought in two of four targets for six yards in the Buccaneers' 25-11 loss to the Eagles on Monday night.
Across 10 snaps, Thompkins notably garnered more of Baker Mayfield's attention than did fellow complementary wideout Trey Palmer in 34 plays from scrimmage. The second-year speedster's playing time was his lowest of the first three games, and his production and snaps are likely to both remain volatile unless multiple injuries strike in front of him on the receiving corps.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: No targets despite solid snap count
Rotowire
Thompkins rushed once for 11 yards and didn't log any targets in the Buccaneers' 27-17 win over the Bears on Sunday. He also committed a fumble recovered by Tampa Bay and returned two punts for seven yards.
Thompkins' lack of targets was disappointing considering he logged 32 snaps from scrimmage, yet that level of involvement is encouraging in its own right. The second-year speedster has been within a handful of snaps of No. 3 receiver Trey Palmer in both of the first two contests, but his game-to-game production will naturally be difficult to trust unless injuries strike Mike Evans or Chris Godwin.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Sees action on offense in win
Rotowire
Thompkins brought in two of three targets for 10 yards, returned one kickoff for 23 yards and ran back four punts for 29 yards in the Buccaneers' 20-17 win over the Vikings on Sunday.
Thompkins operated as the No. 4 receiver, with his 18 snaps from scrimmage sitting just behind No. 3 wideout Trey Palmer's 23. Thompkins encouragingly saw some work on offense right out of the gate after recording five catches across five games in 2022, and the 23-year-old also filled both returner roles as expected. The Utah State product could have occasional opportunities for chunk plays given his speed, especially on a wideout depth chart that's thin on proven options behind the top duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Should be primary kick returner
Rotowire
Thompkins secured a spot on the Buccaneers' 53-man roster as a reserve receiver and as the team's top kick returner, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The speedy Thompkins enjoyed a busy preseason during which he recorded four receptions for 22 yards, returned three kickoffs for 73 yards and ran back four punts for 12 yards. The second-year player could have a fairly meaningful role on offense in addition to his return duties, considering he's projected to open the campaign as the No. 4 receiver and could usurp rookie Trey Palmer for the No. 3 role at some point.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Limited to special-teams production
Rotowire
Thompkins failed to bring in his only target, returned one kickoff for 38 yards and ran back one punt for eight yards in the Buccaneers' 26-20 preseason win over the Ravens on Saturday night.
Thompkins looked good in his special-teams roles, even as he failed to make an impact on offense. The second-year speedster logged 19 snaps from scrimmage overall, and he did record four receptions for 22 yards over the Buccaneers' first two preseason games. Thompkins is considered the leader for both returner roles, per Scott Smith of the team's official site, so his roster spot is seemingly secure despite a crowded latter portion of the Buccaneers' wide receiver depth chart.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Tallies 33 all-purpose yards in win
Rotowire
Thompkins secured two of three targets for 13 yards, returned one kickoff for 16 yards and ran back two punts for four yards in the Buccaneers' 13-6 preseason win over the Jets on Saturday night.
Thompkins had a solid night overall while logging 20 snaps from scrimmage. The Utah State product is in a battle with several other young wideouts for a spot on the latter portion of the Buccaneers' depth chart, and he was outperformed by one of them, Rakim Jarrett, in Saturday's contest. Nevertheless, Thompkins' ability to also contribute as a returner ups his odds, and he should have another solid opportunity to make his case in Saturday night's home preseason finale versus the Ravens.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Making push with impressive camp
Rotowire
Thompkins, who's looking to secure a spot as a reserve receiver in addition to a potential returner role, has been making spectacular catches in nearly every training camp practice, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The diminutive Utah State product already clawed his way onto the active roster last season, going from training camp standout to the practice squad before getting into the last five regular-season games and the wild-card loss to the Cowboys. Most of Thompkins' touches came on special teams -- he posted 324 total return yards -- but he also logged 70 regular-season snaps from scrimmage and compiled a 5-32-0 line on 10 targets while also rushing twice for 26 yards. He's naturally still looking up at the top trio of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage on the wide receiver depth chart, but with veterans Julio Jones and Breshad Perriman off the roster, Thompkins appears to have a legitimate chance at earning the No. 5 receiver spot, at minimum, if his preseason play matches his training camp performances.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Limited to return duty in loss
Rotowire
Thompkins returned three kickoffs for 58 yards, ran back three punts for 34 yards and committed a fumble recovered by Tampa Bay in the Buccaneers' 31-14 wild-card loss to the Cowboys on Monday night. He finished the regular season with five receptions (10 targets) for 32 yards, two rushes for 26 yards, 263 kick-return yards and 61 punt-return yards across five games.
The undrafted rookie didn't garner active status until Week 14 against the 49ers, and he had his busiest day by far in the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the Falcons when he brought in four of nine targets for 25 yards, rushed once for 17 yards and generated 36 total return yards. Thompkins was notably kept in the organizational ranks over 2021 fourth-round pick Jaelon Darden, who was released after the Week 13 win over the Saints, and he could therefore have a legitimate chance to compete for a spot on the latter portion of the wide receiver depth chart in training camp with Julio Jones, Scotty Miller and Breshad Perriman all unlikely to return.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Signed to active roster
Rotowire
Tampa Bay signed Thompkins to the active roster off its practice squad Friday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Thompkins is out of practice squad elevations, so Tampa Bay has officially signed him to the 53-man roster. The undrafted wideout has been operating as the team's primary punt and kick returner, but he also finished with 16 scrimmage yards in Week 15 while playing 13 offensive snaps, which was third most among Tampa Bay's wideouts.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Elevated to active roster again
Rotowire
Tampa Bay elevated Thompkins from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday for Sunday's matchup against the Bengals, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Thompkins was elevated for Week 14 and made his NFL debut. The undrafted product out of Utah State didn't see any playing time on offense but operated as the team's primary punt and kick returner, totaling two punt returns for 21 yards and five kick returns for 123 yards across nine special teams snaps. He figures to garner a similar role in Week 15.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Will suit up vs. Atlanta
Rotowire
Tampa Bay activated Thompkins from its practice squad Saturday ahead of Sunday's game versus the Falcons.
With both Julio Jones (knee) and Russell Gage (knee) listed as questionable for Week 5 versus Atlanta, the Buccaneers decided it's possibly time for Thompkins to suit up for his first NFL game. The undrafted rookie out of Utah State probably won't see much work Sunday, barring another injury.
... See More... See Less
Deven Thompkins: Lands on practice squad
Rotowire
The Buccaneers signed Thompkins to the practice squad Wednesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Thompkins rejoined Tampa Bay via the practice squad one day after failing to make the team's initial 53-man roster. The undrafted rookie out of Utah State will now work to continue his development while operating in an emergency depth role.
... See More... See Less
Deven Thompkins: Waived by Buccaneers
Rotowire
Tampa Bay waived Thompkins on Tuesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Thompkins flashed in the preseason, and though he couldn't land a spot on the initial 53-man roster, he could be a candidate to resurface on the practice squad. The undrafted rookie was prolific in his only full season at Utah State, having racked up 102 receptions for 1,704 yards and 10 touchdowns in 14 games as a senior in 2021.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Quiet in final exhbition
Rotowire
Thompkins brought in one of two targets for three yards and returned three punts for 13 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-10 preseason loss to the Colts on Saturday night.
Thompkins was making one last push for the final receiver spot Saturday night, but in fairness, he had limited opportunity, particularly on offense. However, the only one of the group thought to be in competition for the job who outperformed him was fellow UDFA Kaylon Geiger, who returned three kickoffs for 68 yards. Otherwise, Breshad Perriman (zero receptions on one target), Scotty Miller (one reception, minus-1 yard) and Jerreth Sterns (no targets over 16 snaps) did nothing to threaten Thompkins' standing, thereby still leaving him in play to stick on the final 53-man roster.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Deven Thompkins: Pair of grabs in preseason opener
Rotowire
Thompkins brought in two of three targets for 11 yards, returned one kickoff for 17 yards and ran back one punt for five yards in the Buccaneers' 26-24 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Saturday night.
The rookie put together a solid body of work overall in the preseason opener, and Greg Auman of The Athletic currently projects Thompkins to make the team as a No. 7 receiver due to his ability to contribute on special teams. Thompkins was also a prolific performer as a receiver during his one full season at Utah State, finishing with a school-record 102 receptions and 1,704 yards -- along with 10 touchdowns -- as a senior across 14 games in 2021.
