Former Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley is hospitalized in Austin, Texas after an accident on his ranch.
In a statement released through the University of Texas, Shipley’s family said he was working on a machine that caught fire and caused “severe burns” to Shipley’s body. Shipley was taken to a local hospital and then flown to Austin for further treatment.
Shipley was in critical but stable condition at the time the statement was released on Tuesday night.
Shipley was a two-time All-American at Texas and is the school’s all-time leader in receptions. He was a Bengals third-round pick in 2010 and played in 17 games over two seasons with the team. He also played for the Buccaneers and Jaguars in 2012.
Buccaneers outside linebacker Yaya Diaby says the team’s disappointing season was due in part to practices that weren’t intense enough to prepare the team for the physicality of game day.
Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles used a lot of lower-intensity walk-through practices because so many players were injured, but Diaby says practices in the NFL can’t always be easy, or else the players aren’t ready for the rigors of a game.
“We had more walk-throughs this year than any other year,” Diaby said, via PewterReport.com. “I’m not going to lie. I’m a straightforward guy. That’s one of the things I do want to talk to Coach Bowles about, especially with me possibly being a captain next year. Just letting him know that has to change. We need to prepare the right way. We have to prepare to win. I know injuries are a big thing in this league, but being ready for a game is just as important as anything else. Me, I love practice. This whole year, the practices that we’ve had that we’ve actually run through, I take it super serious. His point is to have mental reps, and I understand the mental reps. But at the same time, football is a physical game. You have to be in it. You can’t just walk through everything. I feel like that’s the next step, especially with me being here three years and seeing what we’ve done good and what we’ve done bad. That’s the next step.”
After making the playoffs the last five years, the Bucs fell short this year. Something has to change, and Diaby thinks it’s the way the team practices.
The Colts claimed linebacker John Bullock off waivers, the team announced Monday.
The Buccaneers waived Bullock on Friday.
Bullock appeared in 15 games with the Buccaneers this season, playing five defensive snaps and 253 on special teams. He totaled 10 special teams tackles.
He originally signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent on May 9.
Bullock saw action in 47 career games at Nebraska and recorded 126 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, one interception and three forced fumbles. He garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in 2024.
Todd Bowles held his end-of-season news conference on Monday afternoon. He’s still the coach of the Buccaneers, but for how long?
Bowles was asked whether his presence is a sign that he is back in 2026.
“I just [am] thankful that I wake up every morning and I have a chance to go to work, so I can’t worry about other [NFL] coaches or what they do. I just know what my job is and what I try to do,” Bowles said, via Greg Auman of Fox Sports.
Bowles said he has not met with ownership but will later this week.
The Bucs are 35-33 in his four seasons, but this is the first season that they didn’t make the postseason under Bowles. The Bucs tied with the Panthers and Falcons for the NFC South title, but Carolina won the tiebreaker.
Bowles was asked what he would say to fans who don’t think he’s earned the right to return in 2026.
“All I can do is coach and be myself,” Bowles said. “I’ve earned the chance. I won three straight division titles. So that says a lot, as far as I’m concerned.”
Bowles said he, like ownership, fans and players, is “disappointed with the results” and takes accountability for the failure to make the postseason this season.
“It starts and ends with me,” Bowles said.
The Falcons won their final game of the regular season and the Panthers did not, but the Panthers will be going to the playoffs as the NFC South champions.
Kirk Cousins threw a touchdown pass to Drake London in the first quarter and Zane Gonzalez made four field goals to propel the Falcons to a 19-17 home win over the Saints. That pushed them to 8-9 on the season and put them in a three-way tie with the Panthers and the Buccaneers at the top of the division.
The Panthers lost to the Bucs on Saturday, but prevailed in the three-way tiebreaker thanks to having the best record in games against the other two 8-9 teams.
Atlanta never trailed after London’s touchdown, but the Saints made it interesting in the final minutes. Rookie Tyler Shough made his last argument for the offensive rookie of the year award by hitting Ronnie Bell for a 16-yard touchdown with 1:11 left to play. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Falcons, however, and that was enough to send the Panthers on to the postseason.
Cousins was 18-of-32 for 180 yards and he also threw an interception during the win. His return to the lineup after Michael Penix’s injury ended with four straight wins and their were enough positives in the veteran’s play to think that he will have suitors in the offseason if the Falcons decide against moving forward with him as at least a contender for the starting role.
The Saints have no such questions. They fell short on Sunday, but won more than they lost after putting Shough in the lineup. He was 23-of-35 for 259 yards on Sunday and also ran three times for 34 yards and a touchdown in an outing that only solidified his spot as the quarterback of the present and future in New Orleans.
