The quick week has stored the Bucs busy with their roster. After already waiving defensive sort out Ben Stille and signing huge receiver Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay made extra roster strikes.
Sadly, certainly one of them was that the Bucs positioned inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve. To take his place, they signed inside linebacker Antonio Grier Jr. from the observe squad to the energetic roster. With a observe squad spot open, Tampa Bay signed inside linebacker Kalen DeLoach to it.
Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Impression On Bucs’ ILB Room
SirVocea Dennis was having a very good season platooning with Ok.J. Britt. Dennis had recorded 22 tackles and one sack by way of 4 video games, though he exited very early in Sunday’s 33-16 win over the Eagles. Dennis injured his shoulder after 5 snaps on Sunday.
He additionally missed a number of the preseason with a shoulder challenge, although it’s not none if it’s the identical one. Dennis should miss at the very least the subsequent 4 video games, but it surely seems like he could also be out even longer.
Antonio Grier Jr. performed most of his school soccer in Tampa at USF from 2018 to 2022, then went to Arkansas in 2023. Grier signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent and spent all of coaching camp with Tampa Bay. He was waived throughout roster cuts in late August however signed to the observe squad two days later.
Kalen DeLoach was a excessive profile undrafted free agent signing by Tampa Bay as properly as a result of he performed at Florida State. He was additionally waived throughout roster cuts however was not introduced again in any capability till immediately. That leaves DeLoach and Vi Jones as the one inside linebackers on the observe squad.
Who’s Enjoying Third Down?
Bucs ILB Ok.J. Britt and DT Calijah Kancey – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
How the Bucs need to go about formulating their protection at inside linebacker will probably be fascinating. We all know Lavonte David goes to play each single down, however what’s going to they do with Ok.J. Britt? He’s been averaging 41.5 snaps on protection, however sometimes SirVocea Dennis would play on third down as he’s completed higher in move protection.
The Bucs will both need to belief Britt to play all three downs or they might elect for J.J. Russell or Antonio Grier to take up that duty. An alternative choice that Todd Bowles and the Bucs might go together with is to make use of a dime bundle, which would depart simply David with a number of defensive backs on the play.
Whichever Bowles’ chooses, he’ll need to provide you with it quickly. The Bucs have a Thursday evening sport on the street on the Falcons. It’s a very great place to prolonged their lead as Tampa Bay sits in first place.
