Analysis

Making his return from a three-game absence due to a knee injury, Otton finished tied with multiple teammates for second in receptions and targets while checking in third in receiving yards. Despite the three absences to close out the regular season, Otton still recorded a career-best 59 receptions, 600 receiving yards and 87 targets across 14 games, while also tying a career best with four touchdown grabs. The 2022 fourth-round pick also finished with a career-high 10.2 yards per catch with the help of a new personal best of seven grabs of 20-plus yards. With the final year of his rookie contract on tap in 2025, Otton may be a prime candidate for an extension this offseason.

Analysis

Though Otton was deemed a full practice participant Thursday and Friday, he approached the Buccaneers' postseason opener listed as questionable. In his return from a three-game absence, Otton should reclaim his role as a key pass catcher for QB Baker Mayfield alongside WRs Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, with fellow TEs Payne Durham and Ko Kieft also on hand to mix in. Prior to sustaining his knee injury, Otton made his mark from a fantasy perspective by recording a 59/600/4 receiving line (on 87 targets) over the course of 14 games.

Analysis

Otton is on track to return from a three-game absence following full practice participation Thursday and Friday, although coach Todd Bowles stopped short of promising the tight end will play. Bowles did confirm that Otton is trending in the right direction, per Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site, which means Payne Durham and Devin Culp likely will fall back to minimal roles after making significant contributions to Tampa Bay's passing game over the final few weeks of the regular season.

Analysis

This marks the first time Otton has been listed as anything other than a DNP or limited on Buccaneers practice reports since showing up with a left knee injury during Week 16 prep. He's missed the last three games as a result, but following up Wednesday's capped walkthrough with a full session one day later puts him on a path to return to action for Sunday night's wild-card game against the Commanders. There's a chance he may share TE reps with Payne Durham and even Devin Culp if the Buccaneers opt to ease Otton back into action.

Analysis

The Buccaneers held a walk-through session rather than a more strenuous practice, and they'll presumably list Otton as a limited participant on their first official injury report of the week. He missed the final three games of the regular season due to the knee injury, allowing Payne Durham to step in as the starter while Devin Culp took on some of the passing-down snaps. An every-down player when healthy throughout his NFL career, Otton might have a somewhat lesser role if he makes it back for Sunday's wild-card matchup with Washington.

Analysis

Otton will thus miss his third consecutive game as a result of the knee injury. The Buccaneers will enter the postseason as the NFC South champion with a victory over the Saints on Sunday, so the hope will be that Otton is recovered sufficiently to participate in a wild-card matchup next weekend. In the meantime, Payne Durham and Devin Culp will once again serve as the top pass-catching options at tight end for the Buccaneers after combining for a 5-88-1 line in a Week 17 win over the Panthers.

Analysis

Otton was a limited practice participant Thursday and Friday but apparently didn't show enough for the Bucs to be confident in his Week 18 availability. The good news for Tampa Bay is that fellow tight ends Payne Durham (quadriceps) and Devin Culp (ribs) both made enough progress throughout the week to avoid injury designations. Durham figures to start and get the most snaps, with Culp subbing in some for passing situations.

Analysis

This marks Otton's first on-field work since a limited session on Friday, Dec. 20, so there's a chance he's fighting to make an appearance in the Buccaneers' regular-season final Sunday against the Saints. At the very least, he may have to maintain his activity level Friday in order to be listed as anything more than questionable for that contest. Fellow TE Payne Durham (quadriceps) also was limited Thursday, while rookie Devin Culp (ribs) upgraded from limited to full, so the latter appears as if he could be the biggest beneficiary if either or both of Otton and/or Durham are inhibited or out this weekend.

Analysis

A left knee injury has sidelined Otton the last two games, and an absence from practice to kick off Week 18 prep isn't exactly a great sign that he'll be available Sunday against the Saints. Payne Durham and Devin Culp have filled in for Otton during that span, but Durham also missed Wednesday's session due to a quadricep issue, while Culp was a limited participant due to a rib concern. As such, the state of the Buccaneers' tight-end group is in flux heading into Sunday's regular-season finale against the Saints.