Jan 31 Updates
The NFL added a ninth Buccaneer to the NFC's Pro Bowl roster on Monday, as defensive lineman Vita Vea became the latest Tampa Bay player to get the call. That equals the 2000 team for the most Pro Bowl selections in franchise history. Vea will be making his first trip to the all-star game, which will be played Sunday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs' growing Pro Bowl party.
A week after signing 10 of their practice squad players to reserve/futures contracts for the 2022 season, the Buccaneers added five more to that group on Monday, including a trio of wide receivers: Travis Jonsen, Vyncint Smith and Austin Walker. Jonsen and the other two players on the list, punter Sterling Hofrichter and tackle Jonathan Hubbard, spent time with the Buccaneers during the 2021 season.
CLICK HERE for more details on the latest additions to the roster.
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Jan 26 Updates
The Buccaneers' Pro Bowl party grew significantly on Wednesday as wide receiver Mike Evans, inside linebacker Devin White and safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. were all added to the NFC roster. All three had originally been named first alternates when the initial Pro Bowl rosters were announced in December. It's the fourth all-star selection for Evans and the first each for White and Winfield.
CLICK HERE for more information on the Bucs' 2022 Pro Bowl contingent.
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Jan 24 Updates
Second-year tackle Tristan Wirfs, a 2021 first-team Associated Press All-Pro, was unable to play in the Bucs' Divisional Playoff game against the Rams due to an ankle injury he suffered the week before in the Wild Card round. Until his injury in the win over Philadelphia, Wirfs had played every offensive snap for the Buccaneers in his first two seasons. On Monday, after the Rams eliminated the Bucs with a last-second field goal, Bruce Arians addressed the media and noted that Wirfs is considering two different approaches to his recovery. One of the options is surgery, and Arians said Wirfs would not be back for OTA practices in the spring if he goes that route.
CLICK HERE to watch Bruce Arians' final press conference of the 2021 season.
With their practice squad contracts set to expire with the end of the Buccaneers season, 10 players who finished the season on that unit signed reserve/futures deals for 2022. They were: RB Kenjon Barner, K Jose Borregales, TE Codey McElroy, G John Molchon, OLB Elijah Ponder, DL Benning Potoa'e, DL Willington Previlon, CB Rashard Robinson, DL Kobe Smith and S Troy Warner to reserve/futures contracts for 2022.
CLICK HERE for more on the practice squad players who did and did not get futures contracts on Monday.
Center Ryan Jensen suffered an ankle injury in the Bucs' Wild Card win over Philadelphia but was able to take every offensive snap on Sunday in the Divisional Round. Jensen said on Monday that neither the ankle injury nor the shoulder ailment that cost him some practice time late in the season would require surgery. Due to become an unrestricted free agent in March, the 2021 Pro Bowl selection also reflected on his time with the Buccaneers so far and his future in the NFL.
"It's tough," said Jensen. "I've had a great four years. I love it here, it's home. We'll see what happens and figure out what's going on."
CLICK HERE to watch the entirety of Ryan Jensen's talk with the media on Monday.
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Jan 22 Updates
As anticipated, the Buccaneers activated running back Leonard Fournette from injured reserve on Sunday, making him eligible to return to action in the Divisional Round playoff game against the Rams on Sunday. To make room on the active roster, the Bucs waived running back Le'Veon Bell. The team also elevated wide receiver John Brown and quarterback Ryan Griffin from the practice squad on Saturday, making them eligible to play Sunday, as well.
Fournette missed the last three games of the regular season and the Wild Card playoff game due to a hamstring injury sustained in Week 15. He still finished as the team's leading rusher with 812 yards and he also caught 69 passes for 454 yards while scoring 10 total touchdowns.
CLICK HERE for more information regarding Saturday's roster moves.
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Jan 21 Updates
Head Coach Bruce Arians said on Friday that a decision about the availability of Pro Bowl offensive lineman Ryan Jensen and Tristan Wirfs on Sunday might not be made until 90 minutes before kickoff, which is the deadline for submitting the team's list of inactive players. Jensen and Wirfs were officially listed as questionable for the game on Friday's injury report due to ankle sprains. Also considered questionable: wide receiver Cyril Grayson (hamstring), cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (hamstring) and outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul (not injury related - personal). Grayson practiced on Friday for the first time since sustaining his injury in Week 18, albeit in a limited fashion. Murphy-Bunting was a full participant on Friday after being limited on Thursday.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at the Buccaneers' final injury report of the Divisional Playoff Round.
The Buccaneers could be getting RB Leonard Fournette back in the offensive mix on Sunday against the Rams after he missed the last four games with a hamstring injury. Fournette, who is currently still on injured reserve but is practicing with the team, was considered a candidate to come back last weekend but in the end it was determined that he still couldn't play at full speed without feeling the injury. After practice on Friday, Head Coach Bruce Arians painted a much more optimistic picture of Fournette's health and potential availability.
"Leonard Fournette? He looks fine," said Arians. "He looks good. He didn't have the setback he had last week, so we'll wait and see."
Arians also said that center Ryan Jensen and right tackle Tristan Wirfs, two of the Bucs' three OL Pro Bowlers in 2021, were "progressing nicely" from their ankle injuries and were able to work in individual drills on Friday. Arians indicated that the availability of both players for the Divisional round would likely be decisions made hours before kickoff on Sunday.
CLICK HERE to watch Bruce Arians' Friday press briefing.
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Jan 20 Updates
The Bucs held eight players out of practice on Thursday, although quarterback Tom Brady and defensive McLendon were simply given some rest. The other six were wide receivers Cyril Grayson and Breshad Perriman, offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs and Ryan Jensen, running back Ronald Jones and outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, however, improved from non-participation on Wednesday to limited work on Thursday.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at the Buccaneers' Thursday injury update.
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Jan 19 Updates
The Buccaneers' first injury report of the Divisional Playoff Round Week came out on Wednesday and was 12 players long, including seven who would not have practiced had the team gone full-speed. Among those were two players who also missed the last two games, running back Ronald Jones (ankle) and wide receiver Cyril Grayson (hamstring).
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at the Bucs' Wednesday injury report.
As has become customary late in the season, the Buccaneers replaced a full-speed practice with a walk-through on Wednesday, which doesn't provide much clarity on injured players. However, Head Coach Bruce Arians said after the field session that the following players would not have been able to practice: tackle Tristan Wirfs, center Ryan Jensen, wide receivers Cyril Grayson and Breshad Perriman, running back Ronald Jones, cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul. The Bucs will practice at full speed on Thursday but could still be without many key contributors, including two of their three Pro Bowl offensive linemen.
CLICK HERE to watch Arians' entire Wednesday press conference.
After bringing back Watson on Tuesday the Buccaneers re-signed the other player they cut from the active roster on Saturday, cornerback Rashard Robinson. Like Watson, Robinson rejoined the team on the practice squad. A strong special teams performer, Robinson played in seven games during the regular season.
CLICK HERE for more on the return of Rashard Robinson.
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Jan 18 Updates
The Buccaneers waived fourth-year wide receiver Justin Watson on Saturday when they needed roster spots to activate Lavonte David and Giovani Bernard from IR, but Watson wasn't out of the building for long. The Bucs re-signed him to their practice squad on Tuesday while also releasing punter Sterling Hofrichter and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson from that unit.
CLICK HERE for more on the Bucs' Tuesday practice squad moves.
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Jan 15 Updates
Inside linebacker Lavonte David and running back Giovani Bernard, two of three players who returned to practice this week while on injured reserve, were activated from IR on Saturday. The third, running back Leonard Fournette, remains on injured reserve. David and Bernard were added to the injury report with questionable designations but are now eligible to play Sunday against Philadelphia in a Wild Card game.
To make room on the active roster for David and Bernard, the Buccaneers waived cornerback Rashard Robinson and wide receiver Justin Watson. Tampa Bay also elevated running back Kenjon Barner and tight end Codey McElroy from the practice squad, making the available to play against the Eagles.
CLICK HERE for more on the Buccaneers' Saturday roster moves.
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Jan 14 Updates
The Buccaneers' injury report swelled to 19 players on Friday but was actively relatively encouraging. In addition to ruling out Cyril Grayson and Ronald Jones, the Bucs gave questionable designations to just three players: wide receiver Justin Watson and cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting. Among those who had no designations and are thus presumably ready to play Sunday were Shaq Barrett, Jamel Dean, Mike Evans, Ryan Jensen and Anthony Nelson. Davis was added to the list on Friday with a back ailment.
The injury report does not include Lavonte David, Leonard Fournette or Giovani Bernard because all three were still technically on injured reserve on Friday.
CLICK HERE for a closer look at the Bucs' Wild Card injury report.
Jan 14 Updates
After the Bucs' final practice of the week on Friday, Head Coach Bruce Arians ruled out only two players for Sunday's Wild Card game: wide receiver Cyril Grayson (hamstring) and running back Ronald Jones (ankle). Arians said there were about four players who would be evaluated on the field before the game to see if they could play, a group that includes linebacker Lavonte David (foot) and running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring).
CLICK HERE to watch Arians' Friday press conference.
Tackle Tristan Wirfs and quarterback Tom Brady were named to the 2021 Associated Press All-Pro first team on Friday, Wirfs landing on the first team and Brady on the second team. Wirfs is the first offensive lineman in Buccaneers history to earn first-team AP All-Pro honors, and Brady is the first Tampa Bay quarterback ever to make either team. Other Bucs who received All-Pro votes were guard Ali Marpet, center Ryan Jensen, defensive lineman Vita Vea, linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White and safety Antoine Winfield, Jr.
CLICK HERE for a closer look at the Bucs' 2021 AP honors.
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Jan 13 Updates
The Buccaneers' Thursday injury report was a bit more meaningful than their first one of Wild Card week because the team held a walk-through in lieu of a full-speed practice on Wednesday. However, there wasn't much change on Thursday in either direction. Two players did get upgraded, as outside linebacker Anthony Nelson (ankle) returned to practice in a limited fashion and wide receiver Mike Evans went from limited on Wednesday to full participation on Thursday. Head Coach Bruce Arians also gave Tom Brady and Steve McLendon the day off.
CLICK HERE for a more thorough look at the Bucs' lengthy injury report.
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Jan 12 Updates
The Bucs' first injury report of the Wild Card week is long, listing 14 players, and that does not include linebacker Lavonte David or running backs Leonard Fournette and Giovani Bernard because they are all still technically on injured reserve. Bruce Arians had noted earlier in the week that he had some concern about the availability this Sunday of cornerback Jamel Dean due to a hamstring injury, but it appears it will be necessary to keep an eye on cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting as well. He too is dealing with a hamstring concern, and both corners were listed as questionable on Wednesday's report.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed examination of the Bucs' lengthy injury report.
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The Bucs' first practice of Wild Card week was actually more of a walk-through, but Head Coach Bruce Arians said that three players would not have participated in a full-speed workout on Wednesday: wide receiver Cyril Grayson, running back Ronald Jones and outside linebacker Anthony Nelson. Arians indicated that it is doubtful either Grayson or Jones will be back in action in time for Sunday's game but that he had his fingers crossed regarding Nelson's availability.
CLICK HERE to watch Arians' entire post-practice press conference.
The Bucs started their week of practice for Sunday's Wild Card game against Philadelphia with some welcome news: inside linebacker Lavonte David and running backs Leonard Fournette and Giovani Bernard were all returning to practice. All three are currently on injured reserve, but now the Bucs have a 21-day window in which they can include them in practice and potentially activate them to the 53-man roster at any time.
CLICK HERE for a closer look at the return to practice of three key Buccaneers.
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Jan 11 Updates
Outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, making him eligible to return to practice with the team on Wednesday. Barrett has missed the last two games with a knee injury suffered in Week 16 but Head Coach Bruce Arians expressed confidence that the Bucs' leading sack producer could return for the start of the playoffs. The Buccaneers will not have CB Richard Sherman for the playoffs, as he was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
The Buccaneers also removed kicker Jose Borregales from the practice squad COVID list and re-signed WR John Hurst to fill the open 16th spot on that practice squad.
CLICK HERE for more on Tuesday's roster moves.
The Buccaneers used all four of their practice squad protection options to start the Wild Card Week, using two of them on a players they also elevated to play in last week's game, running back Kenjon Barner and tight end Darren Fells. Barner has actually played in each of the Bucs' last three games, filling in as the return man for two contests and getting four carries late in the regular-season finale. The other two protection spots were given to the kicking duo of punter Sterling Hofrichter and placekicker Jose Borregales.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at the Wild Card Week protection list.
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Jan 10 Updates
It appears that the Buccaneers will be getting some very valuable reinforcements on the depth chart just as the playoffs begin. On Monday, Head Coach Bruce Arians expressed confidence that running back Leonard Fournette was ready to come off injured reserve and that starting outside linebackers Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul were ready to return after each missed at least the last two games. Arians was less confident in his assessment of Lavonte David's status for the first week of the playoffs and also suggested that the Buccaneers have a new injury concern on defense after cornerback Jamel Dean left the regular season finale on Sunday with a hamstring injury.
"Leonard looks great. He's been working [well], and he should be back. Shaq and JPP should both be back. Lavonte, he will be the one that is the closest [call], but he is starting to move around pretty good, so we'll wait and see. I'm still waiting to hear about Jamel Dean. That's the one that has me concerned from this ballgame. Those guys that are on I.R. and had been out, I expect all of them to be back, maybe Lavonte cannot."
Arians also noted that the hamstring injury suffered by wide receiver Cyril Grayson on Sunday wasn't as bad as originally feared but that Grayson's availability this week would be in question.
CLICK HERE to watch Bruce Arians' entire Monday press conference.
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Jan 8 Updates
The Buccaneers made a round of roster moves on Saturday, the day before their preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers. Wide receiver Cyril Grayson, who has emerged in recent weeks as a key cog in the Bucs' offense, was promoted to the active roster after spending most of the season on the practice squad. In addition, guard Aaron Stinnie is available again after a five-game stint on injured reserve, as he was activated on Saturday.
The Buccaneers also flexed running back Kenjon Barner and tight end Darren Fells up from the practice squad to make them eligible to play against the Panthers.
CLICK HERE for more details on Saturday's roster moves and the players involved.
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Jan 7 Updates
The Buccaneers placed outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday. Barrett is the ninth Buccaneer to go on that list at some point over the last three weeks, though it currently only includes him and practice squad kicker Jose Borregales. Barrett was not expected to play in the regular season finale anyway due to the knee injury he sustained in Week 16.
CLICK HERE for more on Shaquil Barrett and Friday's move.
The Buccaneers' final injury report of Week 18 ruled out five players (as noted below), while eight were given no game-status designation, including Mike Evans, Mike Edwards, Bradley Pinion and Ke'Shawn Vaughn. In the middle were two players who could also miss Sunday's game: center Ryan Jensen, who is questionable with a shoulder injury, and cornerback Richard Sherman, who is doubtful with an Achilles tendon ailment. Jensen practiced in a limited fashion for hte second day in a row on Friday.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at the Bucs' final injury report of the week.
As expected, running back Ronald Jones will not play in Sunday's game against Carolina. After Friday's practice and in advance of the day's injury report being released, Head Coach Bruce Arians revealed the five Bucs on the active roster who have been ruled out for the game: Jones, outside linebackers Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul, cornerback Rashard Robinson and wide receiver Justin Watson. With Leonard Fournette on injured reserve, the Buccaneers will turn to second-year back Ke'Shawn to take the lead in the backfield on Sunday.
CLICK HERE to watch Arians' complete post-practice interview on Friday.
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Jan 6 Updates
The Buccaneers saw several players on their Week 18 injury report make progress on Thursday. Wide receiver Mike Evans, who was limited for Wednesday's workout was upgraded to a full participant on Day Two, as was rookie wideout Jaelon Darden, who is returning from a two-game stint on the COVID list. Evans missed one game with the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 15 but was able to play 56 snaps last Sunday against the Jets after being limited all week in practice. Center Ryan Jensen also improved from no work on Wednesday to limited participation on Thursday.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at the Bucs' long injury report.
Rookie kicker Jose Borregales was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday. Borregales, the 2020 Lou Groza Award winner as the nation's top kicker at the University of Miami, has spent the entire 2021 season on Tampa Bay's practice squad.
CLICK HERE for more on Borregales' status.
The Buccaneers released wide receiver Antonio Brown on Thursday. Brown had left the team shortly after halftime on Sunday in the Bucs' Week 17 game at the New York Jets, and Head Coach Bruce Arians later said that Brown was no longer a Buccaneer. That became official with Thursday's move, which the Bucs accompanied with a statement that noted, in part, that the team had "attempted, multiple times throughout this week, to schedule an evaluation by an outside orthopedic specialist, yet Antonio has not complied."
CLICK HERE for more on the termination of Antonio Brown's contract.
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Jan 5 Updates
Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen was one of seven players on the Buccaneers' active roster who did not participate in practice on Wednesday, as he is dealing with a shoulder injury. Jensen has started every game this season and helped Tampa Bay allow the fewest sacks in the league. The others who were held out on Wednesday were Antonio Brown (not injury related - personal), OLB Shaq Barrett (knee), RB Ronald Jones (ankle), OLB Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder), CB Rashard Robinson (groin) and WR Justin Watson (quadriceps).
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at the Bucs' first injury report of Week 18.
While RB Ronald Jones was in a walking boot on Wednesday to help with his ankle injury, RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn was deemed "fine" by Head Coach Bruce Arians after he left last Sunday's game in the fourth quarter with a ribs injury. Vaughn, who had a 55-yard touchdown run when the Bucs played the Panthers just two weeks ago, is in line for a much bigger workload in the rematch with Carolina. Leonard Fournette and Giovani Bernard remain on injured reserve - though an activation of Bernard this week is possible - and Jones may not be ready by the weekend.
CLICK HERE to watch Arians' entire post-practice interview on Wednesday.
Guard Aaron Stinnie returned to practice on Wednesday as the Buccaneers began their preparations for the regular-season finale against Carolina. Stinnie was placed on injured reserve on December 1 after suffering a knee injury in his first career regular-season start while filling in for injured left guard Ali Marpet at Indianapolis. The Buccaneers have a 21-day window in which Stinnie can practice with the team without counting against the active roster.
The Buccaneers also activated punter Bradley Pinion from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Pinion was placed on that list on December 31 and was unavailable against the Jets last weekend. He has also been dealing with a right hip injury, which caused him to miss the Bucs' Week 16 contest at Carolina.
CLICK HERE for more information on Wednesday's roster moves.
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Jan 4 Updates
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden came off the COVID list on Tuesday after missing two games. Darden had served as the Bucs' primary kick returner for the bulk of his rookie season, with practice squad running back Kenjon Barner taking over those duties in his absence. With Darden's activation, the Buccaneers had just one player, punter Bradley Pinion, left on the reserve/COVID-19 list as of Tuesday.
CLICK HERE to read more about Darden's season and Tuesday activation.
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Jan 4 Updates
The Buccaneers made a flurry of roster moves and announcements on Saturday in the hours before their plane departed for New Jersey. First, the team announced that Head Coach Bruce Arians and Wide Receivers Coach Kevin Garver, who had been isolating at home due to positive COVID tests for most of the week, were returning to their posts and would coach at the game on Sunday. Cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting were also activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list but were not allowed to travel with the team on Saturday. Finally, the team elevated four players from the practice squad to make them available to play against the Jets: RB Kenjon Barner, WR Cyril Grayson, P Sterling Hofrichter and OLB Elijah Ponder.
CLICK HERE for a more detailed look at Saturday's roster moves.
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