Projecting the Bucs’ initial 16-man practice squad
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have completed the arduous task of trimming their active roster down from 80 players to 53, making a flurry of moves ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
Now that they have their initial 53-man group (one that’s sure to have a few changes in the coming days, thanks to injury moves and waiver-wire action), next on Tampa Bay’s to-do list will be putting together their 16-man practice squad.
The Bucs will be hopeful that most of the young players they let go of in order to get under the roster limit will be able to clear waivers, allowing them to be signed back as practice squad members. Others, such as wide receiver Tyler Johnson or kicker Jose Borregales, seem likely to be grabbed by other teams on the waiver wire.
Taking that into consideration, here’s our best guess at which 16 players will be back at One Buc Place as members of the practice squad heading into the regular season:
WR Deven Thompkins
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
WR Jerreth Sterns
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
WR Kaylon Geiger
(Peter Joneleit via AP)
OLB Andre Anthony
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
S Nolan Turner
(AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
S Chris Cooper
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
LB J.J. Russell
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
CB Don Gardner
Syndication: The Tennessean
CB Kyler McMichael
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
TE JJ Howland
Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
OLB Elijah Ponder
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
OL John Molchon
(Peter Joneleit via AP)
G Sadarius Hutcherson
(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
DL Benning Potoa'e
(AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
DL Mike Greene
(AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
QB Ryan Griffin
(Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
