The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated defensive lineman Mike Greene and wide receiver Sterling Shepard from the practice squad on Saturday, making both players eligible to play in Sunday's Week Three game against the Denver Broncos.
The NFL introduced the practice squad elevation option in 2020, allowing teams to activate up to two practice squad players for each game. By utilizing both options in Week Three, the Buccaneers have increased their game day roster to 55 players for their Week Two matchup with the Lions. They will be able to keep 48 of those player active for the game, naming seven inactives prior to kickoff.
Each player on the practice squad can be elevated up to three times during the regular season and an unlimited amount of times in the postseason. After the game, elevated players automatically revert to the practice squad without having to pass through waivers. This is already the third elevation for Greene, while it is the first for Shepard.
The Buccaneers are dealing with a rash of injuries along their defensive front, with Calijah Kancey already ruled out for Sunday's game, Vita Vea listed as doubtful and Will Gholston considered questionable to play. Logan Hall is also on the injury report but did not have a game status designation, which means he is expected to play. After his elevations in the first two weeks, Greene saw action on 36 snaps on defense and two on special teams. He played in 10 games for the Buccaneers last season and contributed six tackles.
Shepard's elevation is the result of rookie wideout Kameron Johnson being listed as doubtful on Friday's injury due to an ankle injury. He got in a limited practice on Wednesday but was not able to participate on Thursday or Friday. Shepard joined the Buccaneers after eight seasons with the New York Giants, during which he caught 372 passes for 4,095 yards and 23 touchdowns. Assuming Johnson is inactive and Shepard plays, the Buccaneers will have five receivers available against the Broncos.
The practice squad elevation option was introduced as part of the new collective bargaining agreement in 2020. The new rule was something of a compromise, as it did not expand the active rosters beyond 53 players but did give teams a few more options on game days, particularly in regard to dealing with injuries.
