The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today elevated safety J.J. Roberts and quarterback Easton Stick from the practice squad to the active roster for the team's Week 5 game against the Dallas Cowboys. It marks the first elevation of the season for Roberts and the second for Stick.
Roberts (6-0, 195) originally signed with Tampa Bay as a college free agent on May 9, 2025 and spent the entire 2025 season on Injured Reserve. Roberts played collegiately at Marshall University (2023-24) and Wake Forest University (2020-22), appearing in 55 career games, with 28 starts, and totaling 213 tackles (6.0 for loss), 25 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and three interceptions. He earned first-team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2024 after recording a career-high 94 tackles and 14 passes defensed across 13 games, with his 14 passes defensed tying for the second-most in the FBS. The Ona, West Virginia, native wears No. 36 for Tampa Bay.
Stick (6-1, 224) was signed to Tampa Bay's practice squad on September 1. He was previously elevated for Tampa Bay's Week 4 matchup against Green Bay, but did not appear in the game. Stick has appeared in six career games for the Los Angeles Chargers, making four starts and completing 112-of-175 passes (64.0%) for 1,133 yards and three touchdowns against one interception for an 85.7 passer rating. He originally entered the league as a fifth-round selection (No. 166 overall) by the Chargers in the 2019 NFL Draft and spent six seasons with the organization before joining the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 and Indianapolis Colts during the 2026 offseason. He played collegiately at North Dakota State University (2014-18), starting 52-of-55 games and finishing as the FCS's all-time winningest quarterback with a 49-3 record as a starter. Stick concluded his career as NDSU's all-time leader in passing yards (8,693), passing touchdowns (88), total offense (11,216) and touchdowns responsible for (129). He helped the Bison win four FCS national championships, including three as the starting quarterback. The Omaha, Nebraska, native wears No. 16 for Tampa Bay.
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