Bucs’ Payne Durham Avoids Serious Injury, Return Date Set?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers narrowly avoided a significant setback during their joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars when tight end Payne Durham suffered a knee injury. Durham was forced to leave the field on Day 1 of practice, prompting immediate concerns about the severity of the injury.

Head coach Todd Bowles quickly addressed the situation, stating that Durham would undergo tests to determine the extent of the damage. Fortunately for the Buccaneers, the results of the X-rays and MRI came back negative , indicating that Durham avoided a serious injury and should be able to return to action soon.

This positive news comes on the heels of a similar injury scare involving Buccaneers pass rusher Yaya Diaby earlier in training camp. Diaby, who was carted off the field after sustaining an injury, also received negative results from both X-rays and an MRI, alleviating concerns and ensuring that he remains on track to be ready for Week 1.

Durham’s return is particularly important for the Buccaneers as they prepare for the 2024 season. With tight end Cade Otton playing an extensive number of snaps last year, the team is looking to integrate Durham more heavily into the offense to share the workload.

Durham has shown promise throughout training camp, and offensive coordinator Liam Coen is eager to begin scheming ways to utilize his talents.

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As the Buccaneers continue their preseason preparations, the health and availability of key players like Payne Durham will be crucial to their success.

The team and its fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Durham is expected to recover quickly and contribute significantly to Tampa Bay's offensive strategy this season.