Injuries have crushed the Buccaneers this preseason on both sides of the ball. They could be without several starters to open the season, and that has left their roster somewhat depleted. And one of the positions that has taken the most hits is at safety.
The Buccaneers have lost several safeties due to injuries, and the status of Antoine Winfield Jr. is up in the air despite returning to practice this week. The hope is that he’ll be ready to go for Week 1 after missing time with a lower-body injury. However, his absence showed just how little depth Tampa Bay has in the secondary. That is why signing a veteran safety like Justin Simmons can’t be ruled out.
Simmons could solve Tampa Bay’s injury problems
The Buccaneers feel good about their starting safeties (Tykee Smith and Winfield), but it’s the rest of the unit that could use some work. Shilo Sanders and Kaevon Merriweather are the primary backups, but neither player is ready to be the third safety. That is why it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Buccaneers add a veteran safety ahead of Week 1.
The top safety available is Simmons, who started 16 games alongside Jessie Bates in Atlanta last season. Simmons has been a very durable player throughout his career, appearing in 134 games since 2016. While he is no longer an All-Pro caliber safety at this point in his career, he remains effective in coverage and is one of the most intelligent defensive backs in the league.
The Buccaneers don’t need a starting safety, but they need a high-end backup who can play both positions in a pinch. And with Winfield often sliding into the slot, Tampa Bay should have plenty of snaps available for Simmons this season. The price tag might be the reason why the Buccaneers stay away, but it’s hard to imagine him earning too much at this stage of his career and with the season just two weeks away.
Expect the Buccaneers to be active on the waiver wire, searching for safety depth. And if the right player doesn’t become available, Simmons seems like the perfect option to help solidify this secondary. Look for the Buccaneers to make some sort of move at the safety position over the next few days.