Buccaneers promote Pat O’Connor from practice squad

After sitting on the practice squad all of last season, defensive end Pat O’Connor will get his chance on the Buccaneers active roster.

Announced today, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have promoted third year defensive end Pat O’Connor to the active roster. The subsequent move made in order to clear the roster spot was backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert officially being placed on injured reserve with the injury he suffered in the Bucs’ third preseason game.

Now in his third season in the NFL after being selected as a seventh round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2017, O’Connor has not seen much playing time as a professional. After becoming a victim of cutdowns by the Lions the year he was drafted, O’Connor was signed by the Buccaneers and appeared in three games for them in the 2017 season, but did not record any numbers in statistical categories.

Pat O’Connor remained with the Buccaneers all of last season on the practice squad, failing to make an appearance on the active roster. After a strong preseason this summer, O’Connor initially made the final 53-man roster before waiver claims were made, but was waived after the Buccaneers claimed running back and kick returner T.J. Logan from the Arizona Cardinals.

Luckily for the Buccaneers, the former Eastern Michigan standout went unclaimed and they were able to stash O’Connor on the practice squad; four weeks later he has found his way back onto the active roster for the pewter and red. O’Connor just wanted to take the scenic route back to the Buccaneers’ active roster, that is all.

Pat O’Connor now joins a defensive line group of Vita Vea, Ndamukong Suh, William Gholston, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches; on run heavy downs, O’Connor can also play off the edge as well, but at 270 pounds, is more efficient from a three-technique look. It will be interesting to see if O’Connor will be active for the Buccaneers on Sunday as they take on the Los Angeles Rams and begin their six game road trip.