Started all 14 games he has played in, catching 26 passes for 432 yards (16.1 avg.) and six touchdowns.
His six touchdown receptions tied for the second-most among rookies and his 432 receiving yards were 11th-most among rookies.
His six touchdown catches are the fourth-most by a rookie in Buccaneers history.
His 16.6 receiving average was the highest among tight ends with at least 25 catches.
Against Chicago (9/17), made NFL debut, starting and playing 46 snaps on offense, recording one catch for 17 yards.
Caught one pass for 12 yards at Minnesota (9/24).
Caught a 58-yard touchdown pass in a win over N.Y. Giants (10/1), the longest touchdown reception by a rookie since 2012 (Doug Martin, 64 yards at Minnesota, 10/25/12) and the fourth-longest touchdown reception by a tight end in team history.
Started against New England on Thursday Night Football (10/5).
At Arizona (10/15), registered a 15-yard reception.
Caught six passes for a team-high 98 yards and two touchdowns, setting career bests in each category. His 98 receiving yards are the most by a Buccaneers tight end since 2015 (Austin Seferian-Jenkins, 110 vs. Tennessee, 9/13/15). He is the first Tampa Bay tight end to have multiple receiving touchdowns in a game this season (last: Cam Brate, vs. Los Angeles Rams, 9/26/16). He is the first tight end in the NFL to have multiple touchdown catches in a game since 2013 (PHI TE Zach Ertz, 12/1/13).
Had two catches for 16 yards against Carolina (10/29).
At New Orleans (11/5), had a six-yard catch.
Had three catches for 52 yards and one touchdown in a win at Miami (11/19).
At Atlanta (11/26), had three receptions for 52 yards, including a 29-yard catch.
Caught a 17-yard pass at Green Bay (12/3).
Against Detroit (12/10), had four catches for 54 yards and one touchdown.
On Monday Night Football against Atlanta (12/18), caught a 30-yard touchdown pass before leaving the game with an ankle injury. Howard now has six touchdown receptions on the season, the fourth-most by a rookie in team history.
Placed on Injured Reserve on Dec. 20.
