Kenny

Bell

Bell was a fifth-round pick last year, but missed his entire rookie season with a hamstring injury. He was expected to compete for the Bucs’ No. 3 job this summer, but had a horrific preseason debut, was chewed out by coach Dirk Koetter, and ultimately got passed on the depth chart and is off the team.

Nothing is set in stone behind starters Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. While the Bucs want Bell to grab the No. 3 job, he’s facing competition from Louis Murphy (knee), Russell Shepard, and Donteea Dye. By most accounts, Bell has looked good at OTAs, but the real competition starts this summer.

Earlier this offseason it looked like Bell was primed to be the Bucs’ third receiver behind starters Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. Now he might be on the roster bubble. Adam Humphries and Russell Shepard have moved ahead of him on the depth chart, leaving Dye and Bell to battle for the fifth and final spot. Dye nabbed 11 catches for 132 yards in 2015 while Bell sat out with a hamstring injury. Bell’s best chance of making the team might be as a kick returner, though a strong camp will have him back in the mix for No. 3 duties.

“You take a guy like Kenny Bell,” said Koetter. “Two days ago, he looked like the MVP out there and then he disappeared yesterday.” The Bucs are hoping Bell can nail down their third receiver job, which may eventually go to Louis Murphy (ACL) if Bell doesn’t step up. The Bucs are hurting for receiver depth.

Coach Dirk Koetter named Adam Humphries as the No. 3 on Monday, leaving Bell to fight for the No. 4 job at best. Louis Murphy (ACL) should also be in the conversation. With Humphries primarily a slot receiver, Bell could still see snaps when Vincent Jackson occupies the slot, but he is an extreme long shot to return 2016 fantasy value barring multiple injuries on the depth chart.

The injury likely will not affect his Week 1 status, but that is only if he actually makes the team. Already on the roster bubble, this injury could spell the end. The 2015 fifth-rounder has been a profound disappointment this preseason.

It was the night from hell for the bubble wideout, who fumbled the opening kickoff before showing stone hands on his two targets and getting called for offensive pass interference. The 2015 fifth-rounder is now in grave danger of not making the team after missing his entire rookie year with injury.

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter downplayed Bell’s disastrous performance in the preseason opener, but it appears to have affected his position on the depth chart. Once thought to be competing for the No. 3 job, Bell might now be fighting for a roster spot.

Bell looks to be on the wrong side of the roster bubble. Beat writer Roy Cummings has Humphries and Shepard as the favorites for the Nos. 3 and 4 jobs, with Dye emerging as the candidate for the final receiver spot. Since a horrible preseason opener, Bell has been working with the threes in practice.

Bell was dreadful against the Eagles, failing to haul in either of his two targets while also contributing a lost fumble on a kickoff return and an offensive pass interference penalty. Despite the lackluster showing, Koetter said there’s “plenty of evaluation to go” and praised Bell for beating his man “several times” in coverage. Bell is firmly on the Bucs’ roster bubble and needs to bounce back Saturday against Jacksonville.