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Have you gotten the picture yet? If not, there was also the comeback win over the Jets during the 2021 season in which Nelson had a key third-down sack in the fourth quarter before recovering a fumble on the final play of the game to seal the win. There was the pressure of Jalen Hurts that turned into an intentional grounding call for a safety in the team’s 32-9 Wild Card win over the Eagles two seasons ago as well. He also had a sack of Taylor Heinicke in the Bucs’ win over the Washington Football Team in the NFC Wild Card Round on their road to Super Bowl LV. And even as a rookie in 2019, Nelson forced a Cam Newton fumble to keep Tampa Bay ahead, 17-12, in a game it eventually won 20-14. So, yes, while Anthony Nelson hasn’t been a week-in, week-out starter throughout his career and isn’t going to be mistaken for the quick and powerful Haason Reddick while the veteran pass rusher is sidelined, it’s no surprise that the Bucs feel confident in his ability to step in as the quintessential “next man up.” Anthony Nelson: “Everybody Has To Do Their Job And Make Plays” Tampa Bay decision-makers have never made any secret about their love for and confidence in Anthony Nelson. When his rookie contract was up after the 2022 season, he was re-signed to a two-year deal. When that contract wrapped up after the 2024 season, he was rewarded with another two-year pact this past offseason that has him signed through the 2026 season. Nelson is a guy who fits the Bucs’ culture and has served as an important depth player for seven years now. Todd Bowles has referred to him as a “Steady Eddie” time and again for a reason, and now it’s time for him to step up and produce in a bigger role once again in the coming weeks. “First thing is it sucks to see somebody go down, especially when we have been working so hard the last couple of months,” Nelson said Thursday. “Every opportunity is so precious, so to see somebody that works so hard going to have to miss some time, it sucks, but it is part of the job. It is part of what we battled through this whole year. We have had injuries everywhere at some point, but that is part of the responsibility.
