Buccaneers rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter makes NFL history despite Week 1 loss

Tampa Bay’s season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals ended in defeat, but the Buccaneers may have uncovered a defensive cornerstone in the process. Rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter, a second-round pick out of Missouri, delivered a debut that no player in league history had previously matched.

Per Fox Corporation-owned FOX Sports reporter Greg Auman, Trotter became the first player in NFL history to record both a pick-six and a sack in his NFL debut. He added seven tackles to the stat line, according to Pro Football Focus, which highlighted the outing on social media as a “debut for the ages.”

The historic performance came in a losing effort. Tampa Bay’s defense surrendered 33 points to Cincinnati, and offensive turnovers compounded the difficulty of an afternoon for a team aiming to return to the postseason after missing the playoffs last year.

Still, the rookie showed why the franchise spent a second-round selection on him. Trotter demonstrated the instincts to impact the game in multiple facets, returning an interception for a touchdown while also getting to the quarterback — a rare combination of plays for any player, let alone one in his first professional game.

Division picture remains intact

The loss does not leave Tampa Bay in a precarious spot. Every other team in the NFC South also dropped its Week 1 contest, keeping the Buccaneers level within the division despite the result. Because Cincinnati is an AFC opponent, the defeat carries no conference tiebreaker implications.

One game, however historic, is a small sample. Trotter’s next test comes in Week 2, when the Buccaneers will look to translate individual promise into a team win.

What to watch

• Trotter’s snap count and usage in Week 2, which may signal how quickly Tampa Bay plans to expand his role.
• Whether the Buccaneers’ defense cuts down on the points allowed after giving up 33 in the opener.
• NFC South results in Week 2 as the division race takes early shape.
• Upcoming injury reports and roster moves around the Buccaneers’ linebacker corps.

Source: original release