Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage (knee) is now a free agent. When the team reworked his deal last year, it included an option for the 2024 season, and the team has declined to pick it up. The move clears what would have been $10 million in salary, but the Bucs will take on roughly $6.9 million in dead money from old restructures. Gage signed a three-year, $30 million in free agency before the 2022 season to give quarterback Tom Brady another weapon in the passing game. He did have a career-high five touchdowns in 2022, but he also had a disappointing 51 catches for 426 yards and didn't play at all last year due to a torn patellar tendon that he suffered in training camp in August. The 28-year-old should resurface with another team, but coming off a major knee injury, it's unlikely that he'll be able to make much of a fantasy impact wherever he lands.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed wide receiver Russell Gage (knee) to a three-year, $30 million deal in 2022 to give then-quarterback Tom Brady another weapon, but he has struggled to stay on the field ever since due to injuries. Gage took a pay cut last offseason and then missed all of 2023 after tearing his patellar tendon in training camp last summer. His contract calls for a $13.35 million salary cap hit this year, and the Buccaneers can save $6.45 million by cutting him. It was believed that the team would decide to cut him before March 1, when he was scheduled to earn a roster bonus. Even if the 28-year-old sticks around, he'll merely be receiver depth for Tampa behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Trey Palmer.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage (knee) has officially been placed on the injured reserve on Sunday. Gage will miss the entire 2023 campaign after suffering a torn patellar tendon during Wednesday's joint practice with the New York Jets. The 27-year-old dealt with multiple injuries last season that limited him to 13 games. He finally looked healthy during training camp, but unfortunately suffered this season-ending injury. Gage will now sit out his third and final year of his contract with Tampa Bay. The Bucs already have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin locked into the first two receiver spots. However, the third wideout job is completely wide open right now. It'll be interesting to see if someone is able to set themselves apart during the final preseason game.
Russell Gage Feared To Have Suffered Season-Ending Injury
Updating a previous report, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage (knee) suffered a non-contact knee injury during Wednesday's joint practice with the New York Jets, and the belief heading into exams is that the severe injury will end Gage's season before it even began. It's possible that the 27-year-old suffered a torn ACL while backpedaling at practice on Wednesday. It's a huge blow for Gage and Tampa's receiver depth behind starters Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in 2023. With Gage now likely missing all of this year, Deven Thompkins could have a clear path to being the team's No. 3 wideout in 2023. In his first year in Tampa in 2022, Gage caught 51 of his 70 targets for 426 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 13 games (four starts).
Russell Gage Carted Off The Field After Non-Contact Injury
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage (leg) was carted off the field on Wednesday after suffering an apparent leg injury during a joint practice with the New York Jets, according to multiple reporters on the scene. Gage was apparently in tears as he exited the field, and the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud noted it was a non-contact injury as Gage was backpedaling. Non-contact injuries are usually never good, but we'll have to wait for more word on the seriousness of Gage's injury. The 27-year-old caught 51 passes for 426 yards and five touchdowns in his first year in Tampa in 2022. If Gage is forced to miss significant time with this injury, Deven Thompkins could emerge as a starter in the slot for the Bucs alongside starters Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage (leg) was idle at the start of training camp last week with a leg injury, but he's now getting repetitions in full-team drills. Gage still has plenty of time before the start of the regular season to work his way back to 100 percent health, and he appears to be well on his way. The 27-year-old will see plenty of work out of the slot in 2023 as the No. 3 wideout behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but he'll also move to the perimeter at times. In his first year in Tampa in 2022, he disappointed with 51 receptions for 426 yards, although he caught a career-high five TD passes. Unless Evans or Godwin miss time in 2023 with an injury, Gage will probably be nothing more than a bench receiver in 12-team fantasy leagues.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage (leg) joined his teammates at training camp practice on Sunday, and although he wasn't involved in full-team periods, the sixth-year wideout took part in individual position drills. Gage didn't suffer any setbacks and took another step forward on Monday, taking part in individual drills and the first receiver-defensive back one-on-one drills of camp. "He's getting back to normal," said head coach Todd Bowles. "We're working him in gradually. It's good to see him out there." The 27-year-old should be Tampa's No. 3 wideout in 2023 behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but with quarterback Tom Brady now retired, Gage is going to go undrafted in most standard-sized fantasy leagues.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage (leg) practiced on Sunday. The 27-year-old suffered a leg injured during the offseason and hadn't been practicing, although he didn't need to begin training camp on the PUP list. After playing in Atlanta for four seasons, Gage appeared in 13 games for Tampa in 2022, totaling 51 catches for 426 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. However, he had more than five catches just twice and never really found his stride. The Bucs still have Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to serve as the top wideouts, so Gage is hard to trust heading into the 2023-24 campaign.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said wide receiver Russell Gage (leg) is dealing with a leg injury that he sustained in the offseason. However, Gage is improving and didn't need to start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which is an encouraging sign. The 27-year-old missed the team's minicamp last month with his leg injury, and he's not fully past it. But as long as he doesn't suffer a setback during camp this summer, it seems likely that he'll be ready for Week 1. Gage won't carry much fantasy appeal as the No. 3 wideout behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa now that quarterback Tom Brady is retired.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wide receiver Russell Gage reworked his contract on Sunday to create additional salary cap space for 2023, taking his base salary this year from $10 million to $7 million, which is now fully guaranteed. Gage also has a chance to hit reasonable incentives and earn it back, according to sources. The 27-year-old was expected to break out with Tampa in 2022, but that was before they signed veteran Julio Jones last summer. Although he had a career-high five touchdowns, Gage had a limited role in the Bucs' pass-happy offense, catching 51 of his 70 targets for 426 yards in 13 regular season games (four starts). With quarterback Tom Brady now retired, Gage will most likely fade into obscurity in fantasy.
