Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign veteran outside linebacker Sam Acho

Before their matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, another former player reunites with Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians, this time it is Sam Acho.

According to his older brother, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed veteran outside linebacker Sam Acho for the rest of the 2019 season. In order to make room for this roster move, tight end Antony Auclair was placed on injured reserve, ending his year.

Acho’s older brother Emmanuel, who played in the NFL for three seasons with both the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, is now an analyst with ESPN as he broke the news of his brother’s signing today. Sam played under the Bucs’ head coach Bruce Arians with the Arizona Cardinals for two seasons in 2013-2014.

He was a fourth round pick of the Cardinals, who the Buccaneers are set to face this week, back in the 2011 NFL Draft, and most recently spent time with the Chicago Bears after signing in the Windy City back in 2015. He played just four games last year and has been out of the league until just now in 2019 as well.

Now in his ninth season in the league, Acho has tallied 57 career starts for both the Cardinals and Bears, recording 17 career sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 44 hits on the quarterback, and even three interceptions. While Acho figures to be a strictly veteran piece and a mentor to the younger linebackers on the roster, this defense can take any additional coaching that it can get.

With Jason Pierre-Paul now back at outside linebacker for the Buccaneers, there does not seem to be much need for Acho. For the time being, the veteran pass rusher will wear the pewter and red and reunite with his old coaches in Arians and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.