Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Slight production uptick in '24
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Durham, who did not log any targets across 15 snaps in Sunday night's 23-20 wild-card loss to the Commanders, finished the 2024 regular season with 11 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns across 16 games.
Durham saw a significant increase in opportunity on offense during his second season, logging 417 plays from scrimmage after playing only 125 as a rookie in 2023. However, the Purdue product was likely on his way to potentially falling short of his meager 5-58-0 receiving line of a season prior before top tight end Cade Otton suffered a knee injury that caused him to miss the final three games of the regular season. That opened the door for Durham to serve as the No. 1 tight end from Weeks 16-18, during which he generated a 9-81-2 line on 12 targets despite position mate Devin Culp also showing some promise during that span and absorbing some targets in his own right. Nevertheless, Durham garnered active status over Culp for Sunday night's postseason game, although with Otton back in action, that didn't lead to any production. Durham will be heading into the penultimate year of his rookie deal in 2025 and profiles as the likely No. 2 option at the position again.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Gets into end zone Sunday
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Durham brought in both targets for 16 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 27-19 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Durham drew another start for Cade Otton (knee) and played on a robust 54 snaps (81 percent) in the close, playoff-clinching win. The second-year pro also recorded his second career touchdown on a six-yard pass early in the third quarter, which narrowed what had been a 16-6 halftime deficit. Durham has done a solid job over the last three games in Otton's stead, but the latter's ability to practice in a limited fashion on two occasions during Week 18 prep could be a sign he'll be ready to return for Sunday night's wild-card matchup against the Commanders.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Cleared, could start again
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Durham (quadriceps) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Saints.
Durham and Devin Culp (ribs) both avoided designations and should continue to play larger roles in the regular-season finale since Cade Otton (knee) is listed as doubtful. Over the previous two games Otton missed, Durham caught seven of 10 targets for 65 yards and one touchdown. Durham upgraded to full practice participation Friday to gain clearance for Sunday's win-and-in game after missing practice Wednesday and being a limited participant Thursday.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: First career TD in win
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Durham brought in two of three targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 48-14 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
The second-year tight end once again filled a lead role due to Cade Otton (knee) being sidelined and got in on the fun of Baker Mayfield's five-touchdown day. Durham secured a five-yard scoring grab with just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter for his first NFL touchdown, and his yardage total served as a new career high. Durham will reprise his role in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Saints if Otton remains sidelined.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Again set for expanded role
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With Cade Otton (knee) ruled out for the second straight game, Durham once again is set for an expanded role Sunday against the Panthers, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
With Otton out last Sunday against Dallas, Durham dominated the playing time at tight end for Tampa Bay, logging 92 percent of the offensive snaps. He turned in a useful 5-29-0 line on seven targets and now catches a Carolina defense that has struggled badly against tight ends in fantasy this season.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Blanked again in Week 15 win
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Durham did not draw a target across 30 snaps in the Buccaneers' 40-17 win over the Chargers on Sunday.
Durham's snap count was his second highest of the season, but he went without a single pass from Baker Mayfield for the third straight game. The second-year tight end, who has just two catches all season, remains a complete nonfactor on offense despite serving as Cade Otton's direct backup.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Making return Week 8
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Durham (calf) is active Sunday for a matchup against the Falcons, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers official site reports.
Durham missed Week 7 due to a calf issue, but he was able to log a full practice Friday after beginning the week with a DNP. The tight end entered the weekend deemed questionable for Sunday, but he'll be able to suit up against Atlanta. Durham has only one catch on one target for eight yards through six games in a backup role, but there's a chance he could be utilized more in the passing game with Tampa Bay's top wideouts -- Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) -- both out of action.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Could play Sunday
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Durham (calf) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Falcons.
Durham missed the Buccaneers' Week 7 loss to the Ravens due to a calf issue, but he was able to log a full practice session Friday, giving himself a chance to suit up Sunday. However, if Durham can't play through his calf issue in Week 8, expect Ko Kieft to serve as Tampa Bay's No. 2 tight end behind Cade Otton.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Practices Thursday after all
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Durham (calf) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Durham was unable to play Monday against the Ravens due to a calf injury, which kept him off the practice field Wednesday. He was initially spotted on the sidelines during Thursday's session, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports, but Durham managed to upgrade his practice participation, albeit in a limited capacity. Durham will have one more chance Friday to avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's NFC South clash against the Falcons.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Sits out practice again
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Durham (calf) is not participating in Thursday's practice, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Durham also sat out Wednesday's practice session, and his calf injury forced him to sit out Tampa Bay's loss to the Ravens in Week 7. The depth tight end's status again looks to be in question for Sunday's matchup against Atlanta. Ko Kieft and Devin Culp will be in line to again handle increased reserve work behind behind starter Cade Otton at the tight end position if Durham can't go.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Makes first catch of season
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Durham secured his only target for eight yards in the Buccaneers' 26-7 loss to the Broncos on Sunday.
Durham was in on 21 percent of the snaps -- 12 plays total -- which represented a new low over his first three games. However, the second-year pro at least came away with his first reception of the season. Top tight end Cade Otton finally saw his production rise in new coordinator Liam Coen's scheme with a seven-catch outing, but Durham still doesn't have a very bright outlook as his backup considering he's primarily being used in a blocking capacity.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Blanked on 17 snaps in win
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Durham did not draw a target in the Buccaneers' 37-20 win over the Commanders on Sunday.
Durham saw a modest 17 snaps from scrimmage and wasn't afforded any opportunities to touch the ball. However, it was a down game for the Buccaneers' tight ends in general, as Cade Otton saw only two targets in his own right despite playing 52 snaps. Given new offensive coordinator Liam Coen's scheme is expected to frequently deploy tight ends as pass-catching options, Week 1 might ultimately prove to be an outlier. However, Otton is the clear top target at the position, meaning Durham will still be difficult to trust on a game-to-game basis even when he does start getting more involved.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Back in action
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Durham (knee) is practicing Tuesday, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Durham had been sidelined since suffering the injury last Wednesday during a joint practice with the Jaguars. His quick recovery should allow him to keep a firm grip on the team's No. 2 tight-end spot behind expected starter Cade Otton.
Durham suffered a knee injury about halfway through the Buccaneers' joint practice with the Jaguars on Wednesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
The severity of the second-year tight end's injury is still unknown, with head coach Todd Bowles confirming Durham would be undergoing tests Wednesday. Greg Auman of FOXSports.com reports the initial belief is that Durham's injury isn't serious, but until he can return to the field, the likes of Devin Culp, David Wells and Sal Cannella could all see more pass-catching opportunities behind No. 1 tight end Cade Otton.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Versatile role alongside Otton
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Durham is being utilized in diversified fashion alongside position mate Cade Otton in offensive coordinator Liam Coen's scheme, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.
Durham is being split out wide within several of Coen's personnel groupings, a development that dovetails well with the new coordinator's guiding principle of utilizing a plethora of methods to keep defenses off balance. Durham is seemingly a strong candidate to threaten as either a decoy or the intended target, considering he averaged 11.6 yards per reception on his five regular-season catches as a rookie in 2023 and recorded 126 catches and 21 touchdowns during a 36-game college career at Purdue. Scott Smith of the team's official site reports Durham seems much more comfortable over the first two weeks of his second training camp, noting the talented tight end feels the offseason work he put in taking hold and the game slowing down for him as a whole despite the fact he's learning a new offense.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Solid with limited opportunities
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Durham was active for 13 regular-season games in 2023, securing five of seven targets for 58 yards over 125 snaps on offense. He added an 18-yard reception on his only target over two postseason games.
The rookie fifth-round pick was the clear No. 2 pass-catching option at tight end behind Cade Otton, who was healthy for all 17 regular-season games and both postseason contests. However, Durham flashed some field-stretching ability with his sparse opportunities, recording double-digit yardage on three catches when factoring in his one postseason grab. Otton heads into the offseason with a clear grasp on the starting job, but Durham could earn his way onto the field more often in 2024 while working in a new offense, and potentially, a new quarterback.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Makes impact with one catch
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Durham secured his only target for an 18-yard gain in the Buccaneers' 32-9 wild-card win over the Eagles on Monday night.
The reserve tight end made a habit of making good use of the few times the ball came his way during the regular season, and he continued that trend in his first career postseason contest. Durham now has six receptions for 76 yards on eight targets since his Week 6 pro debut, and the rookie fifth-round pick could potentially see at least a couple of opportunities during Sunday's road divisional-round matchup against the Lions.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Big gain on one catch
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Durham secured his only target for a 25-yard gain in the Buccaneers' 30-12 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.
Durham's reception netted a career-high yardage total from both a single-catch and single-game perspective. The rookie fifth-round pick had gone the last three games without drawing so much as a target after posting a combined 3-25-0 line in Weeks 11 and 12. Therefore, he remains a fantasy non-factor ahead of season-long championship games and exclusively a tournament dart throw in DFS formats.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: On stat sheet for second straight
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Durham brought in his only target for 12 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-20 loss to the Colts on Sunday.
The rookie tight end was a healthy scratch for the first four games of his career before recording one catch for eight yards on three targets over his first five games with active status. However, after posting a 2-13-0 line on a pair of targets Week 11 against the 49ers, Durham was able to get back on the stat sheet again Sunday while logging 12 snaps for the second straight contest. Despite the very modest surge in production, Durham remains a distant No. 2 pass-catching option at tight end for the Bucs behind Cade Otton.
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Buccaneers' Payne Durham: Makes NFL debut
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Durham played six of the Buccaneers' 56 snaps on offense and hauled in his lone target for an eight-yard gain in Sunday's 20-6 loss to the Lions.
Durham was a healthy inactive for the Buccaneers' first four games of the season, but the rookie fifth-round pick out of Purdue got the chance to make his NFL debut Sunday following Tampa Bay's Week 5 bye. The Buccaneers kept him active as their No. 3 tight end over David Wells, with Durham ranking behind starter Cade Otton (54 snaps) and Ko Kieft (14 snaps) in playing time. The coaching staff values Kieft for his blocking skills, and though Durham brings more pass-catching upside to the table, he may not have much of an opportunity to move up to the second position on the depth chart.
