Tanner Hudson shines in Bucs’ voluntary workout

TAMPA — Play after play, quarterback Ryan Griffin dropped back, surveyed the field and fired a strike to sure-handed tight end Tanner Hudson on Tuesday.

It was the first day of organized team activities, but Hudson — going up against mostly rookie linebackers — ran precise routes and caught everything hurled his direction.

In fact, Griffin and Hudson were so in synch that the quarterback completed a no-look pass to Hudson.

When asked who stood out following the workout, coach Bruce Arians didn’t hesitate.

“Tanner Hudson always does,” Arians said. “He is always making plays down the middle.”

The 6-foot-5, 238-pound Hudson has caught only 12 passes for 67 yards in 20 games for the Bucs the past two seasons.

He has been a key member of the special teams unit, but playing time is hard to come by when you’re buried on a depth chart behind Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. Hudson decided to attend organized team activities to improve his overall game.

“Just getting into my playbook, knowing what to do when I get out there and also working on my blocking, trying to improve that as much as I can and just continue to run routes well and do what I can to make a play,” he said.

Hudson said it was important for him to work against a defense, even if it included mostly rookies and first-year players.

“I really enjoy it, because they’re new here, they’re trying to make a name for themselves and they’re going to give it their best every single play, which only makes me better,” Hudson said. “So it’s really fun to compete out there with them.”

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