Here is how the Buccaneers moved their roster down to the 53-man max Tuesday:
Released:
- OLB Genard Avery
- QB Ryan Griffin
- S Logan Ryan (story)
- DL Deadrin Senat
Waived:
- OLB Andre Anthony
- K Jose Borregales
- T Dylan Cook
- S Chris Cooper
- CB Don Gardner
- WR Kaylon Geiger
- DL Mike Greene
- TE J.J. Howland
- G Sadarius Hutcherson
- WR Tyler Johnson (story)
- RB Patrick Laird
- CB Kyler McMichael
- C John Molchon
- DL Benning Potoa’e
- DL Willington Previlon
- ILB J.J. Russell
- WR Jerreth Sterns
- WR Deven Thompkins
- S Nolan Turner
- OLB Jordan Young
Waived/injured:
- OLB Elijah Ponder
Placed on IR:
Ryan is expected to return soon, Greg Auman of The Athletic tweets. His release — from a contract containing no fully guaranteed money — is likely connected to Ryan Jensen‘s impending IR trip.
The Bucs should also be expected to retain Griffin on their 16-man practice squad, which can include up to six vested vets. Griffin has gone through a lengthy career without much actual usage. A 2013 Saints UDFA, Griffin has been with the Bucs since September 2015. Odds are, after he re-signed to stay in Tampa again this offseason, the veteran QB is part of the initial 2022 Bucs P-squad. Griffin, 32, has played in two career games. He would be the Bucs’ fourth passer — behind Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask — if kept. So, the same arrangement as 2021.
The Bucs signed Avery last week. Avery spent the offseason with the Steelers but did not make their cut to 80; the Steelers have since traded for Broncos backup OLB Malik Reed. Borregales’ exit will give Ryan Succop the kicker job for a third straight year. After the Bucs went through several years of kicker instability, Succop has done well to inject reliability into the equation. Succop’s extension runs through 2023.