Buccaneers sign former Pro Bowl linebacker to help make up for recent injuries

While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back in first place in the NFC South, there's still a ton of work that needs to be done before a playoff ticket is punched. Four games remain on the schedule and none of them will be easy with the pressure of what's at stake in each one.

Making matters even harder is how thin the Bucs are getting on defense.

Tampa Bay lost Antoine Winfield Jr. on Sunday, but his injury was just the latest in a string of bad breaks the team has needed to navigate. Todd Bowles' defense hasn't lived up to expectations, but being down to a practice squad inside linebacker as a starter is a good way to start coming up short. The scheme is one thing, and that needs to be fixed, but Bowles isn't playing with a full deck, and that's something the front office made a move to try and change this week.

Buccaneers sign former Pro Bowler Deion Jones after rash of injuries

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that the Buccaneers were adding former Pro Bowl linebacker Deion Jones to help try and make up for the slew of injuries the defense is dealing with right now.

Jones was added to the practice squad so it's unclear if he'll be ready to get elevated to the active roster by Sunday, but the move at least helps add some much-needed depth at linebacker. SirVocea Dennis is on IR, K.J. Britt is dealing with a sprained ankle, and J.J. Russell has a hamstring injury. Tampa Bay was down to Vi Jones and Antonio Grier for Sunday's game against the Raiders, which was less than ideal in more than a few ways.

Jones committed a pass interference penalty on third down that led to a Raiders score which helped cut a 14-point lead to less than a touchdown. Depth has been an issue all season for the Bucs, as the defense has been eaten alive by the injury bug and there seems to be no end in sight.

Antoine Winfield Jr. was added to the growing pile of players who are out after suffering a knee injury in Week 14. Getting Jones doesn't cancel out a loss like that, but it does bring in a former Pro Bowler who knows the NFC South well and at least does something to help.

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