After a month of assessing rosters and getting things all set, the NFL season is nearly here. It's been over half a year since we've watched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play football that counts, but the last few weeks have been meaningfully spent trying to sort things out and make sure the right pieces are on the board.
That isn't exclusive to the 53-man roster. While thousands of players were released over the last few days, many have found their way back to their respective teams on the practice squad, which is an underrated part of weekly prep.
Last year the Bucs had guys like Jose Ramirez, J.J. Russell, and Keenan Isaac on the practice squad -- two of whom made the 53-man roster this year and the other was poached by the Panthers. There's no shame in being named to the practice squad, and the love Bucs coaches have for the guys they added this year has been apparent all offseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad roster for 2024 season
Position | Player |
|---|---|
Quarterback | Michael Pratt |
Running Back | D.J. Williams |
Wide Reciever | Cody Thompson |
Tight End | Tanner Taula |
Offensive Line | Luke Haggard |
Defensive Line | Mike Greene |
Linebacker | Daniel Grzesiak |
Safety | Rashad Wisdom |
Special Teams | Seth Vernon (P) |
One name that sticks out as unfamiliar is Michael Pratt, who will be carried into the season as Tampa Bay's emergency quarterback. He also arrives as someone who can simmer below the roster's surface as a developmental player, something the Bucs had designs on as far back as April.
Pratt was on the Bucs radar during the NFL Draft, but the Green Bay Packers swooped in and grabbed him first. He was part of Green Bay's roster cuts but surprisingly wasn't brought back on thepractice squad, opening the door for Tampa Bay to finally get their guy.
How he develops is the next step, but he's already replaced one quarterback -- John Wolford -- and could end up doing the same to Kyle Trask. Time will tell, but with Trask set to be a free agent at the end of the season, Pratt has a chance to develop this year and fight for the QB2 role next year.
Another notable name is Cody Thompson, who was a training camp darling and fan favorite who just missed the final roster cut. Last year we saw Isaac and Russell get promoted from the practice squad and suit up, which could be the case for Thompson this year. He proved himself in the preseason action he saw, and it doesn't feel like he's far off from making an appearance on Sundays.
What are the NFL practice squad rules and regulations?
Each team can carry 16 players on its practice squad, with one additional spot earmarked for an international exception. For the Bucs, that player is Lorenz Metz, who is on the practice squad but doesn't count against the total. This means the Bucs will be able to
Practice squads can hold up to six veterans (two vested veterans, i.e., players with at least two seasons).
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