Tom

Crabtree

Aaron Rodgers found Crabtree wide open for the 72-yard catch-and-run score in the fourth quarter. Mostly a blocking tight end, Crabtree has just six receptions all season. Leave him on waivers during Green Bay’s Week 10 bye.

Crabtree found himself completely wide open on a fluky 48-yard score in the third quarter of Green Bay’s 42-24 blowout win. The touchdown was his second of the season, but with just five catches in six games, bigger days don’t appear to be on the horizon.

Green Bay’s No. 2 tight end is questionable to return.

A restricted free agent, the Packers wanted Crabtree back, but rolled the dice they could sign him for less than the $1.32 million low tender. They were wrong. The Pack have always been high on Crabtree’s talent, but to date he’s mostly blocked. He has just 18 catches in 46 career games. Crabtree could momentarily vault to the top of Tampa’s barren tight end corps, but it remains a need position.

The Packers would like to have Crabtree and Francois back, but didn’t deem either worthy of the low restricted free agent cost ($1.323 million). Their interest in retaining Zombo is “uncertain.” Crabtree is a useful blocker. Green Bay may step up efforts to re-sign him if it parts with Jermichael Finley.

The Bucs have not shown any inclination to bring back free agent Dallas Clark yet. That leaves them with Stocker and Tom Crabtree, two plodders that haven’t put much more than blocking on tape throughout their careers. Perhaps the Bucs will add some speed to their tight end room via the draft.

Crabtree is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain.

Crabtree had to be carted off the field in Thursday’s preseason finale. Beat writer Rick Stroud terms the sprain as “severe,” suggesting Crabtree could miss all of September. The injury further thins one of the league’s weaker tight end corps. The Bucs should be monitoring the waiver wire for help. Luke Stocker will start Week 1.

Crabtree is vying for the starting job with Luke Stocker. He’s also been playing some fullback this summer. The Bucs have arguably the weakest tight end depth chart in the league, so any amount of time missed by Crabtree will be felt.

Crabtree was carted off the field during Thursday night’s preseason finale. All this confirms is that the ankle isn’t broken. He’s likely dealing with at least a high-ankle sprain. Luke Stocker is the favorite to start Week 1.