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Tampa Bay Buccaneers News & Rumors

NFL Injury Updates: Thomas, Colson, Otton

August 30th, 2025 at 5:59pm CST by Ely Allen

The Giants activated left tackle Andrew Thomas from the active/physically unable to perform list earlier in the month, and it was quite a journey to get him to that point. Thomas was working his way back from a Lisfranc injury that ended his 2024 campaign after only six weeks of play.

According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Thomas’ recovery timeline hit a bump when he underwent another surgery in April to have a screw removed from his foot. The screw had been put in as part of the initial October operation, and the doctors had informed him at the time that there was a 50-50 chance the screw would need to be removed. The screw reportedly was causing Thomas discomfort, so the second operation was performed, delaying his return just a bit.

Thomas also underwent a scope of his other ankle that was planned long before the screw removal in order to remove some scar tissue. That ankle is back to full health now, and Thomas will continue working his way back to 100 percent as the regular season approaches.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

  • In final roster cuts, the Chargers placed linebacker Junior Colson on season-ending injured reserve. No information was given on the injury, as teams don’t submit injury reports until the regular season, but per ESPN’s Kris Rhim, head coach Jim Harbaugh disclosed that Colson had undergone season-ending shoulder surgery. It’s a disappointing outcome for the second-year player out of Michigan.
  • Lastly, the litany of injuries to pass catchers in Tampa Bay may extend to the tight ends room. According to Buccaneers staff writer/reporter Brianna Dix, tight end Cade Otton could end up missing regular season time with a leg injury. Otton missed most of training camp because of a hamstring injury but returned in the closing days of the preseason. Now, the leg injury has held him out of the team’s last two practices and could indicate that he may be unavailable for some portion of the regular season.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/28/25

August 28th, 2025 at 9:12pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Teams around the NFL continued to adjust their practice squads as new players came free from Wednesday’s transactions. Here are all the latest updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Falcons

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, DE Andre Jones Jr.
  • Released: CB Daequan Hardy

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos:

  • Signed: TE Patrick Murtaugh (international exemptin)

Detroit Lions: 

Green Bay Packers:

Houston Texans: 

  • Signed: OT Reid Holskey, WR Josh Kelly

Indianapolis Colts: 

Jacksonville Jaguars: 

Kansas City Chiefs:

Los Angeles Chargers:

Miami Dolphins:

  • Signed: RB JaMycal Hasty

Minnesota Vikings:

New England Patriots: 

New York Giants: 

  • Signed: TE Qadir Ismail

New York Jets: 

  • Signed: OL Marquis Hayes, DB Korie Black

Philadelphia Eagles:

  • Signed: WR Britain Covey, OT Luke Felix Fualalo (international exemption)

San Francisco 49ers: 

Seattle Seahawks: 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 

Tennessee Titans: 

Washington Commanders: 

Signed: RB Donovan Edwards, CB Darius Rush

Ismail was one of 17 players to work out for the Giants on Thursday, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. He won the practice squad spot over more notable players like former Broncos safety Caden Sterns and former Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma also attended the workout, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, suggesting that the Giants might be looking for extra depth at the position.

Wallace worked out for the Vikings on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It must have gone well, as he was signed to the practice squad hours later as extra depth both in the secondary and on special teams.

Griffin returned to the Seahawks this offseason, eight years after they made him a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. He did not make Seattle’s 53-man roster, but as a vested veteran, he was able to re-sign to the practice squad without going through waivers.

Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin Likely To Miss First Month Of Season; Tristan Wirfs Could Return In September

August 28th, 2025 at 6:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers will be without wideout Chris Godwin and left tackle Tristan Wirfs to start the season. Both were moved to the active roster on Tuesday, though, meaning a return prior to Week 5 is a possibility in each case.

Shifting to the reserve/PUP list would have ensured either player missed the first four weeks of the season. That could still prove to be the case, but Tampa’s decision means Godwin and Wirfs could at least resume practicing in September. General manager Jason Licht provided an update on both players Thursday.

Appearing on 95.3 WDAE radio (audio link), Licht said Godwin may not be back until October. The Pro Bowler continues to rehab the fractured ankle which ended his 2024 season, and Week 2 was named earlier this month as the point at which he could return to practice. A cautious approach should be expected, of course, but missing Godwin for all of September would deal a blow to Tampa Bay’s passing game. Jalen McMillan is set to miss considerable time this year as well, so Mike Evans and first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka will be leaned on early in 2025.

Licht noted Wirfs is more of a candidate to see game action in September. The All-Pro underwent arthroscopic knee surgery early last month, setting up a rehab timeline including missed games in the regular season. The Bucs’ offensive line will receive a major boost whenever Wifrs is back in the fold, something which could take place relatively soon if his recovery does not encounter any setbacks.

Licht praised both players for their work so far in the rehab process, noting Godwin and Wirfs are considered week-to-week at this point. The status of each will be worth monitoring, but at least a few missed games are in store even if things go according to plan.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC South

August 27th, 2025 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints moves are noted below.

Atlanta Falcons

Signed to practice squad:

Carolina Panthers

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

New Orleans Saints

Claimed:

  • WR Trey Palmer (from Buccaneers), G Xavier Truss (from Broncos)

Signed to practice squad:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed to practice squad:

2025 NFL Waiver Order

August 27th, 2025 at 9:57am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Many of the players cut Tuesday were subject to waivers, giving teams a chance to pick them up (along with the rest of their contract). Teams can claim as many players as they want before the next team gets their remaining targets.

It’s also worth noting that relatively few players are claimed off waivers during final roster cuts each year. Waiver claims will be processed at 11am CT in the following order (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). In reverse order of the 2024 NFL standings, here is how the waiver priority sits:

  1. Titans
  2. Browns
  3. Giants
  4. Patriots
  5. Jaguars
  6. Raiders
  7. Jets
  8. Panthers
  9. Saints
  10. Bears
  11. 49ers
  12. Cowboys
  13. Dolphins
  14. Colts
  15. Falcons
  16. Cardinals
  17. Bengals
  18. Seahawks
  19. Buccaneers
  20. Broncos
  21. Steelers
  22. Chargers
  23. Packers
  24. Vikings
  25. Texans
  26. Rams
  27. Ravens
  28. Lions
  29. Commanders
  30. Bills
  31. Chiefs
  32. Eagles

NFL Minor Transactions: 8/26/25

August 26th, 2025 at 10:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Amongst a busy day of roster moves, here are some minor transactions outside of final roster cuts:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Green Bay Packers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Arizona, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay all made decisions to pull players off the active/physically unable to perform list in order to avoid them missing the first four games of the season. They may not be quite ready to start in Week 1, but their teams at least have confidence that they won’t be out for a month.

Franklin wasn’t a free agent for long. The former Panthers safety just finished out camp in Denver and was told that he didn’t make the Broncos’ initial 53-man roster. Hours later, he apparently came to an agreement with Buffalo and will head there to start his 2025 campaign.

Orzech has been the Packers long snapper for the past two years after similarly short stints with the Rams and Jaguars. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Green Bay gave him his first long-term deal. The 30-year-old will be under a three-year, $4.8MM deal that will make him the third highest-paid long snapper in the league.

Buccaneers Make Roster Cuts

August 26th, 2025 at 10:27pm CST by Rory Parks

Here is how the Buccaneers trimmed their roster to the 53-man limit Tuesday:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Waived/Non-Football Illness:

Sanders, the son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, signed with Tampa Bay in May after he went undrafted. Shilo, who had been competing for a spot at the back of the Bucs’ safety depth chart, was ejected from the club’s preseason finale on Saturday for throwing a punch following heavy pushing and shoving with Bills TE Zach Davidson. He was also flagged for pass interference in the game.

Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Sanders was headed to the waiver wire, and they hope their client will get claimed on waivers. A fresh start would likely be welcomed by all parties, although it will be interesting to see if any outside suitors put in a claim given the manner in which his Tampa tenure came to an end.

Jarrett, who joined the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2023, has recorded 13 catches for 184 yards in his brief time with the team. He will now hit the waiver wire. Provided no claim is made, a spot on the practice squad could be in store given Jarrett’s familiarity with the organization. The Bucs will hold P-squad spots for Jackson and Bazelak, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine and Fox Sports’ Greg Auman. Bazelak staying on would provide finality for Kyle Trask, whom the Bucs released earlier this week. Teddy Bridgewater will be Tampa Bay’s backup, and it looks like Bazelak — a rookie UDFA from Bowling Green — will be the third-stringer.

Weight issues stalled Watson’s practice work, and the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud indicates he ballooned to 470 pounds entering the offseason program. Weight trouble hindered Watson, who did not see any preseason action due to the issue. The Bucs opted to cut Watson, who would have been the heaviest player in NFL history had he played in a regular-season game, rather than stash him on the reserve/Non-Football Illness list. They will not hold a practice squad spot for him, Stroud adds.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Buccaneers To Release QB Kyle Trask

August 25th, 2025 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teddy Bridgewater‘s Buccaneers deal looks like it will lead to a relocation for the team’s previous backup. Kyle Trask has been informed he will be waived, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

This will come via an injury settlement or a waived/injured designation, per Fowler, as Trask has dealt with a shoulder issue lately. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that the shoulder issue is only considered “slight.”

A former second-round pick, Trask has spent his entire professional career in Tampa Bay. His first two campaigns saw him as a deep-depth-chart option behind Tom Brady, and he’s spent the past two years serving as Baker Mayfield‘s primary backup.

Considering his backup status, Trask hasn’t gotten much of a look during the regular season. In total, he’s appeared in seven career games, completing four of his 11 pass attempts for 28 yards. The QB previously showed his ability during his time at Florida, where he tossed 69 touchdowns in 27 games. This included a 2020 season where he threw 48 touchdowns en route to a second-team All-SEC nod.

While Trask can’t point to an extensive NFL resume, he has worked under a pair of former coordinators-turned-coaches in Dave Canales and Liam Coen, so perhaps he could find a gig in either of those spots. Fowler also mentions the Raiders as a potential option considering Trask’s connection to GM John Spytek coupled with Aidan O’Connell‘s recent injury. Temporarily, he may have to settle for a practice squad job.

With the move, Bridgewater has secured his spot as Tampa’s QB2. The organization is also rostering UDFA Connor Bazelak.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Buccaneers To Release LB Anthony Walker

August 25th, 2025 at 11:46am CST by Adam La Rose

Anthony Walker‘s brief time with the Buccaneers is coming to an end. The veteran linebacker is among Tampa Bay’s roster cuts, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Walker signed with the Bucs in March, seemingly setting him up for a spot with his latest team. The 30-year-old has 99 appearances and 83 starts to his name, but those totals will not increase with Tampa Bay. Walker was injured through all of training camp, Greg Auman of Fox Sports notes. This move takes the place of a reserve/NFI list designation as part of the Buccaneers’ roster moves.

Per Schefter, Walker is now healthy. That could prove to be a key factor in determining his future. The former Colts, Browns and Dolphins contributor has topped 100 tackles three time in his career, and last season he added 68 stops to his total while logging eight starts. While his first-team role in Miami was lost midway through the campaign, Walker could offer expected production at the second level of an interested team’s defense.

The practice squad represents an option in Walker’s case, depending on his Tampa Bay views his health status. Once his release is official, he will be free to sign elsewhere if no Bucs agreement is reached. This move will create $530K in cap space while generating a dead money charge of $668K.

Tampa Bay’s linebacking corps will once again be led by Lavonte David in 2025. With Walker out of the picture, fellow veteran Deion Jones remains on track to play at least a part-time role. Younger options on the depth chart are also now in a stronger position to survive the team’s remaining cuts.

TE Cade Otton Would Stay In Tampa Long-Term If Offered

August 22nd, 2025 at 10:35pm CST by Ely Allen

Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton is set to play out the 2025 NFL season on a contract year. Tampa Bay’s top tight end for the past three years, Otton expressed hope for an extension in a recent media appearance (via FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz and Greg Auman), though he seemed to indicate that the feeling may not be mutual.

As a rookie fourth-round pick out of Washington in 2022, Otton immediately surpassed long-time backup Cameron Brate for the top tight end honors in the wake of Rob Gronkowski‘s second retirement. With Gronk out of the offense, quarterback Tom Brady didn’t look often to his tight end group to move the ball, so it didn’t take much, but Otton’s 42 catches for 391 yards and two touchdowns were all team highs at the position.

He and fellow rookie Ko Kieft — picked two rounds after Otton — were the only two returning tight ends in 2023. Kieft played much more of a blocking tight end role, earning more starts than Otton in 2022 but recording far fewer yards. Kieft was joined in that role by a sixth-round 2023 draftee, Payne Durham. With Kieft and Durham in blocking situations most of the time, Otton once again quietly led the group with 47 receptions, 455 yards, and four touchdowns.

For the third year in a row, the Buccaneers spent another Day 3 pick on a tight end in 2024, using a seventh-rounder to bring in Otton’s former Huskies teammate Devin Culp. Once again, Kieft, Durham, and Culp remained mostly nonfactors in the passing game, leaving Otton to post a career-best receiving line of 59-600-4, despite missing three games.

The reason Tampa Bay hasn’t come forward to discuss an extension yet may be the same reason they’ve been taken flyers on late-round tight ends each year. Sure, they’ve been appreciative of Otton’s contributions as the leading tight end, but every year there’s been an expectation that he might take off. Yet, despite the lack of a serious competitor, instead of taking leaps, Otton has merely continued taking steps forward. He’s improved each year but not to the level of a clearcut TE1.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that this is Otton’s last year in pewter and red (and, occasionally, Creamsicle). While he has his sights set on his future, Otton has 17 games ahead of him in which he can give Tampa Bay every reason why they should extend him as their tight end of the future. Otherwise, the Buccaneers may just go back to the draft for the position in 2026.

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