Down half of their off-ball linebacking corps for their Week 14 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed rookie Antonio Grier to their active roster off the practice squad. The Buccaneers had an open spot on the 53-man roster after placing cornerback Troy Hill on injured reserve on Friday.
The Buccaneers ruled starting linebacker K.J. Britt out for Sunday's game due to an ankle injury he sustained the previous weekend against Carolina. In addition, J.J. Russell, who likely would have started in Britt's place, sustained a hamstring injury in practice on Friday and was added to the injury report. On Saturday, Britt was downgraded to out for the game, as were cornerback Josh Hayes and outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
Grier will give the Buccaneers a third available linebacker against the Raiders, along with Lavonte David and Vi Jones. Grier previously spent six weeks on the active roster in midseason and played in four games, logging 72 snaps on special teams and contributing one kick-coverage tackle.
Grier first joined the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent who spent his final collegiate season at Arkansas after five years at nearby USF. He started his rookie season on the practice squad but was promoted on October 1. After his six weeks on that unit, he was waived on November 23 and re-signed to the practice squad three days later.
