Bucs To Place Blaine Gabbert On IR
The Bucs are placing Blaine Gabbert on the injured reserve list, per a club announcement. Gabbert has yet to see real action this year after dislocating his non-throwing shoulder in the club’s preseason contest against the Eagles. 
Initially, the Bucs did not believe that Gabbert would be ticketed for an extended stay on the sidelines. However, things appear to have changed after a closer look from team doctors.
For the moment, the Buccaneers will proceed with Jameis Winston as their starter and Ryan Griffin as his sole backup. However, Mississippi State product Nick Fitzgerald is also on their practice squad, so he could conceivably get a call up to the 53-man roster.
Next up for the Buccaneers and Winston – a Sunday tilt in Los Angeles against the Rams. After that, they’ll face the Saints, meet the Panthers in London, and take their bye week before resuming to take on the Titans in Tennessee.
Injury Notes: 9/20/19
Here are the latest significant injury-related notes from around the league:
- Marshall Newhouse, whom the Patriots signed last week, will serve as the club’s starting left tackle until Isaiah Wynn returns, per Doug Kyed of NESN.com (via Twitter).
- As expected, Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson will not play in Week 3, but the club is still optimistic about the availability of Alshon Jeffery and Dallas Goedert, as Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com tweets.
- Buccaneers LB Devin White will not play this weekend, per Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link).
- Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard is out of the concussion protocol and will play in Week 3 per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (via PFT). Rookie QB Daniel Jones will be making his first start, so Shepard’s presence will be especially helpful.
- The Seahawks are getting closer to full strength, as both WR David Moore and defensive end Ezekiel Ansah are expected to play in Week 3, per Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk. We had already heard that Ansah was likely to make his Seattle debut this weekend, but Moore’s return is earlier than expected, even after we learned at the end of August that he would avoid IR.
- Top Jets defenders C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams are not expected to play this week, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. The Week 3 outlook is also bleak for WR Demaryius Thomas and LB Jordan Jenkins.
- Tyler Kroft‘s Bills debut may be put on hold for awhile longer. Kroft was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, but as Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk writes, Buffalo HC Sean McDermott told reporters that Kroft injured his ankle in Thursday’s practice and will undergo further evaluation.
NFC Notes: Ramsey, 49ers, Zimmer, White
With another busy day of football news winding down, let’s take a look around the NFC:
- The 49ers are “not in” on Jalen Ramsey, a source tells Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. San Fran isn’t interested in trading for the cornerback because of the level of compensation that the Jaguars are requesting (two first-rounders) and the sizable extension Ramsey will expect to sign.
- Jason Verrett, who has dealt with health issues throughout his career, has yet to make his debut for the 49ers and the cornerback hasn’t ruled out requesting a trade. Maiocco (as he relays in a separate piece) asked Verrett if he would ask for one if he continues to be inactive for games and the CB responded with “We’ll see what happens.”
- In an interview on NFL Network, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he wants to coach until he’s 70-years-old. Zimmer turned 63 in June.
- Buccaneers LB Devin White continues to sit out of practice, as Josh Alper of PFT relays. White injured his knee during the team’s TNF game against the Panthers last week and coach Bruce Arians insinuated that White would not be out long. Now, it’s looking like his status for Tampa Bay’s Week 3 contest is in doubt.
Jameis Winston Dealing With Foot Issue
- Jameis Winston is now battling a foot injury. The Buccaneers quarterback, who is in a contract year, appears on the team’s first Week 3 injury report with this issue. Winston joins Drew Brees and Cam Newton as injured NFC South quarterbacks, but his malady doesn’t appear to be nearly as severe. Winston practiced fully on Wednesday and appears in line to face the Giants.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: OG Parker Ehinger
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Jordan Chunn
- Released: RB Darius Jackson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Mark Fields
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Amara Darboh
- Released: WR Emanuel Hall
NFL Workout Updates: 9/16/19
We’ve got another batch of workout updates from the past few days, all via veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer on Twitter (unless otherwise noted):
Detroit Lions
- OT Caleb Benenoch, OL Justin Evans, CB Alexander Myres, CB KeiVarae Russell, OT Zach Sterup
Houston Texans
- OT Caleb Benenoch (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter)
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Curtis Akins, S Corrion Ballard, S Briean Boddy-Calhoun, DT Carl Davis, DT Deon Simon, RB David Williams (via Wilson)
Miami Dolphins
New Orleans Saints
- LB B.J. Bello, LB Andrew Dowell, LB Connor Strachan
Oakland Raiders
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- WR Amara Darboh, WR Ryan Davis, WR Ishmael Hyman (via Wilson)
Devin White Avoids Serious Injury
Devin White left Thursday night’s game before the lightning delay hit, but the rookie Buccaneers linebacker appears to have dodged a long-term injury. Bruce Arians said (via ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine) the No. 5 overall pick suffered a grade 1 MCL sprain. While it would seem White is in danger of at least missing the Bucs’ Week 3 game against the Giants, Arians would not rule out an immediate return.
Here is the latest from the South divisions, moving first to the Bucs’ Week 2 opponent:
- Ron Rivera denied Cam Newton is experiencing issues with the foot he injured during preseason play or his surgically repaired shoulder. The Panthers have now lost two home games, and Newton has not played especially well in either. He completed 48% of his passes on Thursday and did not fare well against Bucs blitzes. Prior to Newton’s shoulder injury last season, he had the Panthers on track for another playoff berth and was on a better statistical run than his 2016 or ’17 slates. Now 0-2, the team will have an uphill battle to make it back to the postseason. The 30-year-old passer is signed through the 2020 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/11/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Dax Raymond
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds
- Released from IR via injury settlement: QB Jeff Driskel
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Kyle Kalis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR River Cracraft
- Placed on IR: WR Tim Patrick
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB David Williams
- Waived: QB Chad Kanoff
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: S Rolan Milligan
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Ahmad Thomas
New York Giants
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Alex Wesley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Craig James
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Richard Rodgers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/10/19
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived from IR: LB Alvin Jones
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Alex McGough
- Waived: CB Cornell Armstrong
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: WR Byron Pringle
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived/injured: DB Dominique Hatfield, C Aaron Neary, LB Trevon Young
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: TE Brandon Dillon
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: DL Mitchell Loewen
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: TE Alex Ellis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OLB Jayrone Elliott
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: CB Parry Nickerson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Andrew Adams
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Hroniss Grasu
- Waived: RB Dalyn Dawkins
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL T.Y. McGill, CB Simeon Thomas
- Waived: TE J.P. Holtz
- Waived/injured: CB Greg Stroman
Buccaneers To Waive OL Caleb Benenoch
A 16-game starter for the Buccaneers last season, Caleb Benenoch did not open with Tampa Bay’s first unit on Sunday. He will not be with the team in Week 2, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reporting (via Twitter) the fourth-year blocker will be waived.
Benenoch joined the Bucs as a fifth-round pick three years ago but struggled in his first full-season audition. He allowed 10 sacks and finished with one of Pro Football Focus’ lowest guard grades. The Bucs intend to sign former Jaguars lineman Josh Wells.
One year remains on Benenoch’s contract. With linemen consistently generating interest (and, as Rapoport notes, various former Benenoch Tampa Bay coaches residing with other teams), the Nigerian may have a new team by Tuesday.
Second-year guard Alex Cappa started at right guard Sunday, while Benenoch saw action on special teams. The Bucs also added Earl Watford, a former Bruce Arians charge with the Cardinals, in free agency and brought in Zack Bailey as a rookie UDFA.