Buccaneers Rookie Has Locked in Starting Job, Todd Bowles Says
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Elijah Roberts has done enough to earn the starting job, head coach Todd Bowles said.
“He is really understanding the system and getting comfortable and then applying that to his ability in already knowing how to play. He is really settling in down there,” Bowles said at a press conference Friday. “(He is) using his hands a lot more, he is bringing his feet with him. He is one of our slipperiest guys down there.”
When asked whether he views Roberts as the Buccaneers’ starter now, Bowles gave a straightforward response:
“I do,” he said.
GettyTAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Elijah Roberts #95 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates his sack against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Elijah Roberts Has Put Up a Strong Performance This Season
When pass-rushing defensive tackle Calijah Kancey went down with a torn pectoral muscle, Roberts was called on to step up for the Bucs — and he’s done exactly that, and more. Now, his playing time reflects it.
Roberts, a fifth-round pick by Tampa Bay this year, has been productive from the start. Through seven games, he’s recorded 12 pressures, an 11.1% win rate, and a sack. He’s served as a rotational player alongside starter Logan Hall, but things appear to be shifting in Tampa Bay following abysmal performance against the Detroit Lions.
Roberts’ role took a notable turn against Detroit — he started on the defensive line and saw an uptick in snaps. According to Pro Football Reference, Roberts played 68% of the defensive snaps compared to Hall’s 63%. After his impressive performances in recent weeks, it appears Roberts has officially earned a starting spot for the Buccaneers.
With Bowles’ confirmation, it appears Roberts will take over as the starter ahead of Hall for the remainder of the season. That arrangement will continue into Week 8 on Sunday, when the Buccaneers face the New Orleans Saints in their final game before the bye week.
Bucs Lose Mike Evans for Possibly the Year
On the offensive side of the ball, in addition to a tough loss against the Lions on Monday, the Bucs also lost their star receiver for possibly the rest of the season.
Mike Evans, who had been approaching 13,000 career receiving yards, will be sidelined to near the end of the season with a broken collarbone.
“(The Buccaneers training staff) was looking at his right shoulder, but seeing him getting carted off should let you know he’s in excruciating pain,” ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutledge said during the broadcast. “They are finally carting him off because he was just having so much trouble just getting off the field on his own … the official word from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is he is out with a concussion and a shoulder injury.”
“WR Mike Evans suffered a broken collarbone and is out for most of the year, coach Todd Bowles announced,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Oct. 20. “Absolutely brutal.”
Evans, 32 years old, is tied with Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice for the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards with 11.
DWTS to bring in big changes next season including all-new ‘modern’ fan voting process
DANCING With the Stars plans on bringing some big shakeups to the ballroom next season – including a change that will give the show a more ‘modern’ spin, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
The big shift comes off of season 34’s historic year, which included a record-high number of over 50 million fans voting from home.
With the increase in voting, which was up 11% from the previous week, ABC executives have been weighing the options of how they can lean even more into the process.
Currently, the main way to vote for DWTS contestants and the pros is by texting the celebrity’s name to the code 21523.
However, production is looking into how they can implement more modern technology, such as social media, into the process.
“While this season has seen an increase in ratings and votes, execs are looking into how they can modernize their voting process.
READ MORE ON DWTS
“As of right now, they do it old school with texting a number to vote for a celeb.
“The execs have been adamant about integrating things like social media into the voting process, specifically TikTok.
“It hasn’t been ironed out yet, but they’re trying to make voting more accessible and want it to reach a wider audience for season 35,” the source claimed.
In addition to texting, viewers can also go to dwtsvote.abc.com; however, the majority of the votes still come from texting.
Currently, voting is limited to 10 votes per person and per method of voting.
Voting is also only allowed during the window the show airs live on the East Coast and varies by time zone, which is regularly encouraged by show hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro.
While voting has always been done primarily by text messaging, the time window is a more recent change to the show.
In 2019, DWTS implemented the current protocol of voting only being allowed during the live East Coast feed – meaning those in other time zones wouldn’t get to vote when their show aired.
DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba slammed by two furious pros for ‘unfair’ critiques after fans call for her to be fired
While the move was labeled as “unfair” by many, the show has continued with the method.
BALLROOM BUST?
The current season of DWTS has been a huge success for ABC and Disney – but it has not been met without its fair share of drama.
Throughout the season, the judging panel has been called out by both the pros and by viewers at home for low scores and harsh comments towards select contestants.
Fans have also accused judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough of “overscoring” their “favorite” contestants, including The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Whitney Leavitt.
Things have apparently gotten to the point where members of the show felt the need to confront production over the direction it’s heading.
“There are a handful of pros, both some who are still on the show and some who have already been eliminated, who are fed up with how they are being treated.
“Some feel the judges have been harsher than they needed to be to them, which not only impacts scores, but it also impacts how the at-home viewers see the season.
“It impacts who they vote for and who they want to watch week by week.
“Other pros like Alan and Pasha feel extra protective of their partners and feel the judges have been too harsh on them.
“Multiple pros have stepped up to meet with production over the judges’ bias and are demanding some kind of change and more fairness moving forward.
“What that change looks like is still to be determined, but they at least got the conversation rolling,” a source claimed.
Dancing With the Stars season 34 airs on Tuesdays at 8pm EST on ABC and is available to stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
