Da'Quan Bowers shows up to Buccaneers workouts out of shape yet again

A second-round pick in 2011, Da'Quan Bowers has 45 career tackles and 5 1/2 sacks. (Cliff Welch/Icon SMI)

Last season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers was one of the biggest disappointments of the NFL preseason. Slated to be a pivotal starter on defense for then-head coach Greg Schiano, Bowers showed up to workouts out of shape and ultimately lost out on that opportunity.

You would think that would have been a lesson learned, but apparently not as the Tampa Tribune is reporting that Bowers has once again showed up to workouts not in the best of shape, which is not a good sign for the fourth-year player out of Clemson.

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“He’s not there yet,’’ Bucs defensive line coach Joe Cullen said of Bowers’ conditioning after a workout this week at One Buc Place. “He’s got to get into great shape to be able to do those things [he’s capable of doing].’’

What rubs a lot of people the wrong way about Bowers is that he has the skillset to become a defensive force in the league, and even Cullen agrees with that.

“I see a lot of signs that he can be what everybody thought he was going to when he was coming out of college,’’ Cullen said. “But again, a lot of that will depend on how he gets into shape and what happens in the preseason.’’

Bowers saw action in 13 games last season and only finished up with seven tackles and one sack.

Given how much attention new Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith gives to defense, Bowers had better figure out within the next few weeks how to get into the shape to live up to his expectations, or he'll soon be figuring out where he'll be working next.