Buccaneers Set 53-Man Roster
Following the retirement of Tom Brady, the Buccaneers will be facing a pseudo-rebuild in 2023. Before they get to a challenging regular season, the team was forced to cut down their roster to 53 players today:
Released:
- CB Anthony Chesley
- LB Ulysees Gilbert
- RB Patrick Laird
- WR David Moore
- DL Patrick O’Connor
- DL Deadrin Senat
Waived:
- WR Taye Barber
- LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle
- DL C.J. Brewer
- RB Ronnie Brown
- LS Evan Deckers
- T Silas Dzansi
- WR Kaylon Geiger
- G Luke Haggard
- CB Keenan Isaac
- WR Cephus Johnson
- S Richard LeCounte
- WR Ryan Miller
- G John Molchon
- G Michael Niese
- T Raiqwon O’Neal
- DL Willington Previlon
- OLB Jose Ramirez
- OLB Hamilcar Rashed
- LB J.J. Russell
- OLB Charles Snowden
- TE Tanner Taula
- S Nolan Turner
- WR Kade Warner
- CB Rodarius Williams
Waived/injured:
- TE Dominique Dafney
- CB Don Gardner
- S Kedrick Whitehead
Waived/failure to disclose physical condition:
- C Chris Murray
After sitting out the 2021 campaign, Deadrin Senat got into 12 games for Tampa Bay in 2022. The defensive tackle ultimately finished the campaign with 17 tackles, one sack, and a pair of QB hits. The former third-round pick got into 22 games for the Falcons to begin his career.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/18/23
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
- DB Myles Dorn
Minnesota Vikings
New England Patriots
Philadelphia Eagles
- DB Tristin McCollum
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- OT Michael Niese, LB J.J. Russell
According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter), there was a bit of competition for offensive lineman Kyle Hinton’s services. The 2020 seventh-round pick spent much of the season on the Vikings practice squad, and they looked to sign him to a reserve/futures contract. However, he ended up opting for the Falcons, who gave him an $100K signing bonus.
Buccaneers Activate C Ryan Jensen From IR
Just in time for tonight’s postseason game, the Buccaneers are receiving a significant boost to their offensive line. The team announced that center Ryan Jensen has been activated from IR, putting him in line to make his season debut against the Cowboys. In a corresponding move, special teamer J.J. Russell has been waived. 
Jensen suffered a major knee injury in late July, and his availability for the season was immediately called into question. It was long presumed that he would be sidelined for the entire campaign, something which substantially compounded the Buccaneers’ issues along the interior of their o-line. The retirement of Ali Marpet and free agent departure of Alex Cappa left the team without any of their 2021 starters at guard or center throughout the 2022 campaign.
To little surprise, then, Tampa Bay struggled mightily on the ground this season. The Buccaneers finished dead last in rushing yards per game, averaging only 77 yards in that department. The absence of a balanced attack weighed down the team’s offensive consistency despite their success through the air (270 passing yards per game, second-most in the league). Jensen’s return, assuming he is able to play close to his Pro Bowl level, could go a long way towards solving that issue.
The 31-year-old has been a mainstay in the middle of Tampa’s offensive front since signing with the team as a free agent in 2018. He had yet to miss a game during his time with the Bucs prior to this summer’s injury, making him a dependable member of the team’s decorated offense. It remained uncertain for much of the campaign when (if at all) Jensen would be able to return this year, but a comeback was confirmed to be a distinct possibility last month when he returned to practice.
Uncertainty still remains at the left guard spot for Tampa Bay heading into the final contest of the wild-card round, but with Jensen expected to start, their offense will be better-positioned to pull off an upset over Dallas. This move leaves the Buccaneers with three IR activations remaining for the postseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/22
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: G Wyatt Davis
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: DT Isaiah Mack (claimed by Seahawks)
New York Jets
- Designated to return from IR: OT Cedric Ogbuehi
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed off Giants practice squad: LB Tae Crowder
- Placed on IR: LB Marcus Allen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: LB J.J. Russell
- Placed on IR: T Josh Wells
Allen suffered a biceps injury in the Steelers win over Las Vegas, requiring surgery, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. With two games remaining and Pittsburgh in danger of elimination from postseason contention, Allen’s 2022 season has likely come to an end.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/22
Following the Saturday slate of games, we still have four more games this week. Here are the minor moves leading up to the three Sunday games on Christmas Day:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: DL Michael Dogbe
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Pharoh Cooper, CB Nate Hairston
- Placed on IR: CB Byron Murphy
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: RB Chase Edmonds
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Wyatt Ray, CB Lamar Jackson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: DE Earnest Brown IV
- Promoted from practice squad: DB T.J. Carter, DE Brayden Thomas
- Placed on IR: LB Jake Gervase
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: OT Kendall Lamm, WR Braylon Sanders
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: S Elijah Riley
- Released: CB Josh Jackson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB J.J. Russell, T Justin Skule
Murphy has missed the last five games for the Cardinals while dealing with a back issue, so while it’s not necessarily a further setback for Arizona, the transaction indicates that Murphy will miss the rest of the season before going into free agency. With Murphy absent, the Cardinals have started veteran Antonio Hamilton across from Marco Wilson.
Since losing starting running back Javonte Williams to injured reserve and waiving Melvin Gordon, the Broncos have utilized a combination of Marlon Mack, Latavius Murray, and a pinch of Edmonds. Edmonds was sent to Denver in a trade that sent star pass rusher Bradley Chubb to Miami. He only recorded four rushing attempts in two games with the Broncos before being placed on IR with an ankle injury. Edmonds will return to help back up Murray and Mack in the team’s final three games of the season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/22
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: G Will Hernandez
- Promoted: CB Nate Hairston, DL Manny Jones
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: LB Brandon Smith
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: TE Jake Tonges, WR Nsimba Webster
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: C Brock Hoffman
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: RB Devine Ozigbo, QB Jarrett Guarantano
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: RB Craig Reynolds
- Promoted: LB Jarrad Davis, QB Joshua Dobbs
- Waived: WR Tom Kennedy
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated off IR: TE Donald Parham
- Promoted: DL Christopher Hinton, S Raheem Layne
- Waived: WR Jason Moore
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: RB Malcolm Brown
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: WR Braylon Sanders
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: WR Kirk Merritt
- Waived: Nephi Sewell
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: OL Ben Bredeson
- Placed on IR: OL Joshua Ezeudu
- Promoted: LB Landon Collins, QB Davis Webb
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
- Promoted: S Will Parks, DL Tanzel Smart
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: LB Christian Elliss, P Brett Kern
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: LB J.J. Russell, WR Deven Thompkins
Washington Commanders
- Promoted: G Wes Martin
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: S Adrian Colbert
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Owen Carney, WR Tyron Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Tae Davis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DB Lamar Jackson
- Released: WR Kaden Davis, RB Tyreik McAllister
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Jarren Williams
- Released: WR Josh Johnson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Nick Guggemos
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Kenny Young
- Placed on IR: OL Drew Desjarlais
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Devery Hamilton, LB Quincy Roche, DB Trenton Thompson
- Released: WR Robert Foster
New York Jets
- Signed: S Kai Nacua, RB Jonathan Ward
- Released: WR Diontae Spencer, DL Marquiss Spencer
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: RB Kennedy Brooks, T Roderick Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DE Renell Wren
- Released: WR Josh Malone
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Kemoko Turay
- Released: CB Ka’dar Hollman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB J.J. Russell
- Activated from IR: CB Anthony Chesley
- Released: DL Khalil Davis, CB Quandre Mosely
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Reggie Roberson Jr.
Buccaneers Activate Giovani Bernard; Leonard Fournette Out
Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette exited the team’s game against the Seahawks in Munich due to a hip pointer two weeks ago and was unable to get right during Tampa Bay’s bye week. Fournette has been ruled out as the team comes back for a game in Cleveland this week, and Tampa Bay will activate running back Giovani Bernard from injured reserve, providing a little depth at the position, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Fournette started out the season as the Buccaneers’ top rusher. As the season has progressed, though, third-round rookie running back Rachaad White has earned more and more carries, slowly taking away from Fournette’s role. The trend has advanced to the point that White was named Tampa Bay’s starting running back when the team traveled to Germany. Fournette still contributed to the team’s win, rushing for 57 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown but was removed from the rotation due to the hip injury.
Bernard’s role has drastically diminished since his tenure in Cincinnati. In his first year with the Buccaneers last season, Bernard’s carries dropped from 124 in 2020 to only eight. Tampa Bay utilized the veteran solely as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Even that role seemed to diminish this season as Bernard only appeared on special teams during the two games before going on IR.
With Fournette out, White will remain unchallenged as the team’s starting running back this week. Third-year back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, whose role has also drastically decreased this season with the emergence of White, should serve as the No. 2 running back behind White with Bernard contributing as a potential third-down receiving back, if at all on offense.
In order to make room for Bernard on the roster, the Buccaneers has waived linebacker J.J. Russell. Their linebacker depth won’t be depleted, though, as practice squad linebacker Ulysees Gilbert will be a gameday elevation against the Browns.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/22
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: RB Darrel Williams
- Waived with injury settlement: K Rodrigo Blankenship
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from PUP: RB Kylin Hill
Houston Texans
- Released: DE Demone Harris
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Bills): WR Isaiah Hodgins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: OL John Molchon, LB J.J. Russell
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/27/22
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: DB Daryl Worley
- Promoted: LB Devon Kennard, NT Isaiah Mack
Detroit Lions
- Waived: DL Demetrius Taylor
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Jaleel Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: S Nolan Turner
- Promoted: CB Don Gardner, LB J.J. Russell