Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4 Position battles to watch vs. Jaguars
By Ryan Doyle
Linebacker
The linebacker position has been a tough nut to crack so far. Early on, it looked like Adarius Taylor and Devante Bond was going to be the short-term replacements until Kendell Beckwith returned.
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However, Beckwith could be out for longer than expected. The PUP list could be where he lands, which will force him to miss the first six games of the season. Bond has also been dealing with injuries in the preseason and may not be a factor either.
The injuries have opened the door for a few players. Jack Cichy, Nigel Harris, Riley Bullough and Cameron Lynch are all candidates for jobs at linebacker.
Cichy should make the 53-man roster as he looks healthy and ready to make an impact on special teams immediately. The trio of Harris, Lynch, and Bullough have spent time with the Buccaneers over the past few seasons and could slide onto the roster with the injuries ahead of them.
Depth is an issue at linebacker and having the extra bodies is a smart move for head coach Dirk Koetter and general manager Jason Licht.