Bucs’ Russell Gage suffers season-ending injury in practice with Jets
The Bucs lost one of their playmakers for the rest of the year in their joint practice Wednesday with the Jets.
Wide receiver Russell Gage, 27, suffered a season-ending knee injury, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Gage made a catch on “relatively low” short pass from Baker Mayfield before seemingly being “routinely pushed to the ground” by a Jets defender, according to Joe Bucs Fan,
“We wish him the best,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles told reporters.
“I could tell that the way he was sitting on the truck that something pretty bad happened. Our hearts go out to him.”
Gage caught 51 balls for 426 yards and five touchdowns In 13 games last season in his first year with the Buccaneers.
He was Tampa Bay’s third wideout option last year for now-retired quarterback Tom Brady, behind Pro Bowlers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Gage had been battling back from a neck injury he suffered on a scary hit in January’s playoff loss to the Cowboys.
The Bucs are holding a quarterback competition in training camp between Mayfield and Kyle Trask, and Mayfield appears to have the inside track on being the team’s Week 1 starter.
Gage’s injury was the second piece of big news to come out of the joint practice.
Jets senior defensive assistant/cornerbacks coach Tony Oden was transported to the hospital after catching what head coach Robert Saleh described as “friendly fire” during a fight between the two squads.
“He’s doing fine. I’m not exactly sure what happened,” Saleh said. “I know it was during one of the altercations. I think he caught some friendly fire. He’s awake, he’s doing fine, he’s stable.”
Evans, now in his 10th season in the NFL, told reporters that Wednesday’s scuffles were the most he’s ever seen in a practice.
