The NFL introduced the practice squad elevation option in 2020, allowing teams to activate up to two practice squad players for each game. The elevations of Browning and Neal give the Buccaneers 55 available men to play against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. 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 the second elevation for Browning and the first for Neal.
Browning will handle the Buccaneers' punting duties for the second week in a row after the waiver of Trenton Gill on December 2. In his NFL debut last Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, he punted three times for 128 yards with a long of 49, compiling a 42.7-yard gross average and a 32.7-yard net average. Browning also handled kickoff duties, hitting four of his five into the end zone to force three touchbacks, and was the holder on four successful extra point attempts.
Neal, who spent all of last season on the Buccaneers' active roster, was re-signed to the team's practice squad on December 4. He started 13 of the 15 games in which he played in 2023, contributing 76 tackles and four tackles for loss. He played the majority of his NFL career in Seattle after originally signing with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2018. In six seasons he has appeared in 62 games with 32 starts and has recorded 236 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three interceptions, 16 passes defensed and one forced fumble.
The Buccaneers needed reinforcements at safety after losing All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. to a knee injury against the Raiders. The team already has its other starter, Jordan Whitehead on injured reserve, and Mike Edwards will miss his second straight game due to a hamstring injury. In addition, safety Christian Izien was listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Los Angeles on the team's injury report due to a groin injury.
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.
