The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today signed outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett and promoted punter Jack Browning to the active roster from the practice squad. Additionally, Tampa Bay activated wide receiver Kameron Johnson and safety Jordan Whitehead from Injured Reserve, and elevated linebacker Deion Jones and quarterback Michael Pratt from the practice squad for Tampa Bay's Week 17 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. It marks the first elevation of the season for Jones and the third for Pratt.
The Buccaneers have also waived linebacker Vi Jones.
Barrett (6-2, 250) rejoins the Buccaneers after a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins, having spent the 2019-23 seasons with Tampa Bay. The two-time Pro Bowler appeared in 70 games, all starts, for the Buccaneers and totaled 249 tackles, 45.0 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. His 45.0 sacks are the fifth-most in franchise history, and his 15 forced fumbles are the fourth-most. In 2019, Barrett set a Tampa Bay single-season record with 19.5 sacks, which led the NFL and was the most recorded by an undrafted player in NFL history.
The two-time Super Bowl champion began his career with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2014, spending four seasons there before signing with Tampa Bay. In 131 career games between the Broncos and Buccaneers, Barrett has amassed 383 tackles (73 for loss), 125 quarterback hits, 59.0 sacks, 22 forced fumbles, 18 passes defensed, five fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He has also appeared in 11 career playoff games, starting eight times and logging 14 tackles (four for loss), nine quarterback hits, 4.0 sacks and one interception. The Colorado State product will wear No. 56 for Tampa Bay.
Browning (5-11, 190) entered the league as a college free agent with the Buffalo Bills in 2024, spending time with the Bills and Baltimore Ravens before joining Tampa Bay's practice squad on October 23. He has appeared in Weeks 14-16 for Tampa Bay, punting seven times for a 43.9 gross average. He began his collegiate career at Grossmont College (2019-20) prior to playing three seasons at San Diego State (2021-23). He handled both punting and kicking duties in his final two seasons and earned All-Mountain West honors twice, in addition to being named the 2022 Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year. In 38 games for the Aztecs, Browning punted 122 times for 5,584 yards (45.8 average), while connecting on 35-of-47 field goal attempts (74.5%) and all 53 of his extra point attempts. The Lakeside, California, native wears No. 5 for Tampa Bay.
Johnson (5-10, 170) originally signed with the Buccaneers as a college free agent on May 10, 2024. He has appeared in four games for Tampa Bay this season, seeing action in Weeks 1-2 and 4-5. Johnson played collegiately at Barton College (2020-23), where he appeared in 37 career games and recorded 151 receptions for 2,316 yards and 19 touchdowns. He wears No. 19 for Tampa Bay.
D. Jones (6-1, 222) originally entered the league as a second-round pick (No. 52 overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2016 NFL Draft. Across eight NFL seasons between the Falcons (2016-21), Cleveland Browns (2022) and Carolina Panthers (2023), Jones has appeared in 109 games, making 91 starts and compiling 729 tackles (50 for loss), 53 passes defensed, 24 quarterback hits, 13 interceptions (five returned for touchdowns – tied for most among all active players), 12.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2017, when he tied or exceeded career highs in tackles (138), tackles for loss (10) and interceptions (three). The New Orleans native played collegiately at Louisiana State University (2012-15), where he played in 51 career games and tallied 165 tackles (22 for loss), 5.0 sacks, four passes defensed, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. He wears No. 45 for Tampa Bay.
Pratt (6-2, 217) was signed by Tampa Bay on Aug. 29, 2024. He originally entered the league as a seventh-round selection (No. 245 overall) by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL Draft. Pratt played collegiately at Tulane University (2020-23), where he appeared in 45 career games and completed 729-of-1,203 passes (60.6%) for 9,602 yards and 90 touchdowns compared to 26 interceptions for a passer rating of 148.0. Pratt was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Year following his final season in 2023 after completing 185-of-283 passes (65.4%) for 2,406 passing yards and 22 touchdowns compared to five interceptions. He concluded his time at Tulane ranking first in program history in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer rating and completion percentage, while also ranking third in completions and attempts. He wears No. 11 for Tampa Bay.
Whitehead (5-10, 198) originally entered the league as a fourth-round selection (No. 117 overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has appeared in 104 career games between the Buccaneers and the New York Jets, making 100 starts and compiling 553 tackles (31 for loss), 45 passes defensed, 11 interceptions, seven quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In 11 games for Tampa Bay this season, he has recorded 76 tackles (two for loss), three passes defensed and one quarterback hit. He wears No. 3 for Tampa Bay.
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