Training camp can be a time of uncertainty for NFL players, so it’s always nice when your head coach guarantees you a roster spot, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles did when talking about versatile defensive back Christian Izien on July 28.
“Rare when this happens, but Todd Bowles said today that DB Christian Izien has already made the team,” Tampa Bay Times beat reporter Rick Stroud relayed on Monday. Adding: “He does a lot for the defense and is very consistent.”
And it was really as abrupt a comment as Stroud made it seem.
“Oh, Izzy’s valuable. He’s going to be here,” Bowles responded at his July 28 press conference, when asked about Izien’s versatility and “value.”
“I can say he made the team,” Bowles continued with an uncharacteristic chuckle. “I can tell you he made the team.”
“He does so many things well for us, and he’s a football player,” the Buccaneers HC explained. “He comes to practice, he comes to play. You see the same guy every day, and he just loves to play. And the guys love him, so he’s just been great for the defense.”
Izien was called upon to start 10 games in 2024, but he’s really a key backup that can play both safety and nickel corner for Tampa Bay. The plan is to utilize him in that third safety and do-it-all defensive back role in 2025.
Christian Izien Expected to Make Buccaneers’ 53-Man Roster in Recent Training Camp Projection
In a recent July 23 53-man roster projection from Sports Illustrated beat writer JC Allen, the media member predicted that Izien would be one of the four safeties making the team after Buccaneers training camp.
But Allen listed Izien third on the depth chart behind Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith.
“Much will be made about Smith’s transition to safety this camp, and rightfully so,” Allen wrote. “However, one of the more interesting battles will be who lands the fourth safety spot. Aside from Winfield Jr., who looks to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2024 campaign, Izien is likely locked in as a tweener who can also play nickel corner. Beyond that, the Bucs are flush with young talent at the position.”
Allen predicted that the fourth safety would be undrafted rookie J.J. Roberts ahead of training camp.
“[Kaevon] Merriweather is the likely bet, as he’s started several games for the Bucs over the past two years and improved late towards the end of the last season, but he will be pushed,” the reporter noted. “Two undrafted holdovers from last year’s practice squad, [Rashad] Wisdom and [Marcus] Banks, will compete with [Shilo] Sanders and Roberts for Merriweather’s spot and the practice squad. Merriweather’s experience may prove to serve him well, but Roberts is a dark horse to unseat him with his versatility and speed on the back end.”
It should be an interesting roster battle at safety, but as you can see, Izien’s job wasn’t thought to be in doubt before camp. And now, after Todd Bowles’ comments, he’s practically a lock to make the Bucs’ Week 1 roster.
Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles Speaks Highly of Veteran CB Kindle Vildor
Speaking of the secondary battle at training camp, the Bucs’ head coach had more high praise for veteran cornerback Kindle Vildor.
“He takes very little reps, he takes great notes, he understands it one time when you tell him [something],” Bowles said of Vildor on July 28. “He can play either side, he can play nickel, [and] he’ll be valuable on [special] teams hopefully.”
“To have a guy that’s a jack-of-all-trades [that can] do that, it’s important for him trying to make the team,” the veteran coach went on. “And he does a lot of those things.”
“[Vildor] does everything right,” Bowles finally concluded. “You don’t ever notice him making a big splash, but when you look up, he’s always in the right place, and that’s important.”
It seems Vildor is quickly becoming a favorite of the Buccaneers staff, similar to Izien.
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