Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-5, 265 lbs |
| Birthplace: Sioux Center, IA |
| Age: 28 |
| School: Minnesota |
| Experience: 5 |
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2026 Receiving
| STATS |
REC
Receptions
|
YDS
Receiving Yards
|
AVG
Average Yards per Reception
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TD
Receiving Touchdowns
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LNG
Longest Reception
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | — | — | — | — | — |
Top Ko Kieft News
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Good to go for TNF
Kieft (elbow) does not carry an injury designation into Thursday's game against the Cowboys, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kieft managed to fade an injury designation after practicing in full Wednesday, and the fifth-year pro has been cleared to return from a one-game absence due to an elbow injury. He's mostly contributed on special teams this season, but he will also provide depth at the tight end position behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Notches a limited practice
Kieft (elbow) was a limited participant in practice Tuesday.
Kieft was a limited participant in practice for the second straight day. The 28-year-old was unable to play in Week 4 against the Packers with an elbow injury likely suffered the game prior. His availability is unclear with the Buccaneers on a short week against the Cowboys Thursday night. He will likely need to notch another productive practice Wednesday to increase his chances of playing.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Won't play against Green Bay
Kieft (elbow) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kieft didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday with an elbow injury. With no upgrade in his practice status Friday, the 28-year-old is set to miss his first game of the season. Cade Otton and Payne Durham will continue to operate as usual.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Unable to practice Thursday
Kieft (elbow) did not participate in practice Thursday, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports.
Kieft was absent from practice for the second straight day with an elbow injury. It's unclear what his status will be come Sunday against the Packers, but he will likely need to practice in at least a limited capacity Friday for a chance to play. The 28-year-old tight end has played minimal offensive snaps through the first three weeks of the season while operating in his usual role as the blocking tight end behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Seen participating in camp
Kieft (leg) is on the field participating in the Buccaneers' training camp activities.
Kieft injured his leg in Week 3 of the 2025 season and was unable to finish out the last year of his contract with the Buccaneers. He signed another one-year deal with the team in March and is ready to pick up where he left off as a blocking tight end and special-teams asset.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Back with Bucs
Kieft (leg) has agreed to terms on a contract with the Buccaneers, per General Manager Jason Licht. It is a one-year contract, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kieft injured his leg in Week 3 of the 2025 season and didn't return. He'll be back with the Buccaneers for 2026 after playing in 53 regular-season games for the team since being drafted in the sixth round in 2022. Kieft has filled a depth role throughout his career, recording just eight catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Plays just three games in 2025
Kieft (leg) didn't record an offensive statistic while logging 29 offensive snaps across three regular-season games in 2025.
The Minnesota product sustained a leg injury in Tampa Bay's Week 3 win over the Jets that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. In the Buccaneers' first three games, Kieft was primarily used as a blocker and did not receive a target. He also contributed on special teams, logging 65 snaps and recording three total tackles. With Kieft's rookie contract expiring after the 2025 season, he's set to hit unrestricted free agency. Expect the 28-year-old to draw interest from teams in need of tight-end depth and special-teams help ahead of next season.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Could miss rest of 2025
The Buccaneers placed Kieft on injured reserve Tuesday due to a leg injury, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Kieft likely suffered the injury during the Buccaneers' 29-27 win over the Jets on Sunday. His placement on IR means he'll be forced to miss at least the next four games, but the injury could sideline the 2022 sixth-rounder for the rest of the season, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Kieft's absence opens the door for Devin Culp to serve as the Bucs' TE3 behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Serves exclusively as blocker
Kieft did not see any targets across 17 regular-season games in 2024.
After exceeding 200 snaps from scrimmage in his first two seasons, Kieft's participation on offense dipped to 102 snaps in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Additionally, after the 2022 sixth-round pick posted an 8-82-2 line across 15 targets in his first pair of campaigns, Kieft was exclusively limited to blocking duties in 2024, and he'll head into the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 projected to serve in the same capacity now that Coen has been retained.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Seeing few snaps behind Otton
Kieft went without a target while playing six of the Buccaneers' 82 snaps on offense in Monday's 41-31 loss to the Ravens.
With Cade Otton dominating the snaps at tight end for the Buccaneers through the first seven weeks, Kieft nor the team's other depth options at the position have been able to carve out much playing time. Though Kieft has suited up in all seven of the Bucs' contests, the six snaps he played Monday represented a season high.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Ready for Thursday night
Kieft (ankle) has no injury designation ahead of Thursday night's matchup against the Falcons, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kieft was able to log a full practice Wednesday after estimating back-to-back limited sessions to open the Buccaneers' week of practice. The third-year pro is expected to serve as a depth piece in the team's tight end room while primarily playing on special teams during Tampa Bay's Week 5 divisional matchup.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Limited with ankle issue
Kieft (ankle) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimation.
Kieft was able to play through his ankle injury in the Buccaneers' Week 4 loss to the Eagles, tallying 22 total snaps (three offensive and 19 on special teams) without recording a stat. The third-year tight end is still expected to play in Thursday night's divisional matchup against the Falcons unless his participation is downgraded either Tuesday or Wednesday.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Suiting up
Kieft (ankle) is active Sunday against the Eagles, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Kieft started the week with back-to-back DNPs at practice but did get back on the field Friday, setting him up to take the field in Week 4. He should operate as the team's No. 3 tight end, behind starter Cade Otton and backup Payne Durham.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Questionable for Week 4
Kieft (ankle) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
Kieft opened the week with back-to-back DNPs due to an ankle injury he sustained in Week 3 against the Broncos. The 2022 sixth-round pick has given himself a chance at playing Sunday after practicing in a limited capacity Friday. If Kieft cannot play in Week 4, then rookie seventh-round pick Devin Culp would serve as the Bucs' No. 3 tight end behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham.
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Buccaneers' Ko Kieft: Barely sees action Sunday
Kieft did not see any targets in the Buccaneers' 37-20 win over the Commanders on Sunday.
Kieft wasn't even deployed as a blocker as much as he typically was in former coordinator Dave Canales' offense, with all but two of his 18 total snaps Sunday coming on special teams. Even if he does end up seeing an uptick in playing time on offense in coming weeks, Kieft is expected to remain a distant third pass-catching option at tight end behind Cade Otton and Payne Durham.
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