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Josiah Trotter 3rd in tackles
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- Josiah Trotter 3rd in tackles
Josiah Trotter 's transition to the NFL has gone about as well as the Buccaneers could have hoped through the first two weeks of the season. The rookie linebacker has recorded 24 total tackles, which ranks third in the NFL entering Week 3. He has also led Tampa Bay in tackles in each of his first two games while quickly taking on a significant role in Todd Bowles ' defense. Trotter made an immediate impact in the season opener against Cincinnati , finishing with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception of Joe Burrow that he returned for a 38-yard touchdown.
The performance put Trotter in the NFL record book as the first player to record both a sack and a pick-six in his NFL debut. He was also nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. Trotter followed that performance with another productive game against Cleveland. He recorded 13 tackles, including six solo, despite briefly dealing with a shoulder injury during the game. His work in the middle of the defense helped Tampa Bay limit Cleveland to 44 rushing yards and just 1.9 yards per carry. Through two games, Trotter has 24 tackles, one sack, one interception, one pass breakup and a defensive touchdown. His 24 tackles trail only two players across the NFL, according to numbers highlighted by the league this week. His second performance also earned him another nomination for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week, giving him nominations in each of the first two weeks of his career.
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PFF has given Trotter a 78.0 overall grade through two games, placing him among the better-graded linebackers in the league. His 78.3 coverage grade has also been a positive development for a Tampa Bay linebacker group that entered the season with questions about its ability to defend the middle of the field, after failing with nearly every other linebacker placed next to Lavonte David since Devin White in 2019. There is still a long way to go in Trotter's rookie season, and maintaining this level of production over a full schedule will be the next challenge. Still, ranking third in the NFL in tackles after two games is an encouraging start for the 46th overall pick and gives Tampa Bay another young defender who appears capable of becoming the next great linebacker to wear red and pewter.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Josiah Trotter 3rd in tackles
