The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a few moves on Saturday ahead of their Week 11 clash against the Buffalo Bills.
Down Bucky Irving to injury, the Bucs need reinforcements in the backfield. Sean Tucker and Rachaad White are perfectly healthy, but the offense’s third running back, Josh Williams, isn’t going to be able to suit up anytime soon. The league has suspended the undrafted rookie for six games for violating its substance policy.
In his stead, the Bucs are promoting Owen Wright from the practice squad to the active roster. Wright joined the Bucs in July, in the first week of training camp. He had an impressive preseason but did not make the roster out of camp and wasn’t offered a practice squad spot. When Irving went down, Wright was signed to the Bucs practice squad in October and was elevated that very same week against the 49ers and got in for one play. He was elevated once more against the Lions but did not get into the game. Wright spent last season with the Ravens on their practice squad and active roster, seeing action in one game, mostly on special teams.
In addition to Wright's promotion to the active roster, the Bucs have also elevated outside linebacker Mohamed Kamara and linebacker Nick Jackson. This makes the second straight week of elevations for the pair and the last for Kamara, as the Bucs will need to sign him to the roster to appear in another game. Jackson played in 16 snaps last week in his season debut for the Buccaneers, while Kamara has 20 special teams snaps and four on defense in his last two games with Tampa Bay. They will both likely play a similar role on Sunday against the Bills, although Kamara could get more opportunities on defense.
The Bucs are hoping to potentially have Irving back next week against the Los Angeles Rams, after he returned to practice this week. However, it's not a certainty as he still needs to take contact on his injured shoulder. Haason Reddick's timetable to return from his ankle injury is unknown. The veteran pass rusher has yet to practice for the Bucs since going down against the Lions. With Kamara out of elevations, Reddick's status next week could force the Bucs to promote him from the practice squad.
The Bucs desperatey need both players back as the offense has lacked creativity and big plays in the running game in Irving's absence. While the pass rush could use the boost Reddick brings. Affter notching 10 sacks in three games the Bucs managed just one last week against the most sakced quarterback in football. If the Bucs can get both players back they'll be in much better shape going into Sunday Night Football next week,