On this episode of the Real Bucs Talk Podcast, the krewe looks at potential free agents for the Buccaneers. Free agent Edge rusher Joseph Ossai is only 24 years old and is coming a strong season with 5 sacks over 40 pressures along with 46 tackles… Ossai is starting to bloom into a solid player and could be a sleeper free agent target for the Bucs this off-season.
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Joseph Ossai’s NFL journey began when the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the third round (69th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, his rookie season was cut short due to a meniscus injury suffered in the second preseason game, landing him on injured reserve on August 31, 2021.
Ossai bounced back in 2022, earning the backup right defensive end spot behind Trey Hendrickson. He made his NFL debut in the Bengals’ regular season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers and went on to appear in 16 games, recording 3.5 sacks, 17 tackles, one pass defended, and two fumble recoveries. One of those recoveries resulted in a touchdown in a 27-16 win over the Baltimore Ravens. However, Ossai’s unnecessary roughness penalty on Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game proved costly, setting up a game-winning field goal for the Kansas City Chiefs.
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In 2023, Ossai resumed his role as a substitute defensive end, backing up Hendrickson on the right side. He notched his first sack of the season in Week 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ossai’s breakthrough season came in 2024, as he remained healthy and played in all 17 games, including his first three career starts. Filling in for the injured Sam Hubbard, Ossai played a career-high number of snaps and recorded impressive stats, including one deflected pass, two forced fumbles, five sacks, 26 tackles, four tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits.
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