The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today promoted linebacker Nick Jackson to the active roster from the team's practice squad, and signed outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul to the practice squad. Additionally, the club has placed guard Ben Bredeson on Injured Reserve.
Jackson (6-0, 235) has spent the entire 2025 season on Tampa Bay's practice squad, being elevated for Weeks 10-11 and recording one special teams tackle. He originally entered the league as a college free agent with the Buccaneers in May of 2025 after playing collegiately at the University of Virginia (2019–22) and the University of Iowa (2023-24), where he combined to appear in 73 career games – 60 starts – and record 555 tackles (33.0 for loss), 20 passes defensed, 17.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception. Jackson's 73 games played are the most in NCAA history, and 555 tackles stand as the second-most in FBS history, trailing only Troy's Carlton Martial (577 from 2018-22) and ahead of Boston College's Luke Kuechly (532 from 2009-11). Jackson posted four straight 100-tackle seasons from 2020-2023, receiving second-team All-ACC honors after the 2022 season and third-team All-Big Ten honors after the 2023 season. The Atlanta native wears No. 53 for Tampa Bay.
Pierre-Paul (6-5, 270) rejoins Tampa Bay after having spent the 2018–21 seasons with the team, during which he earned Pro Bowl honors and was a key contributor to the team's Super Bowl LV Championship team. Across his first stint with the Buccaneers, Pierre-Paul started 52-of-54 games he played in, amassing 171 tackles (35 for loss), 55 quarterback hits, 33.0 sacks, 14 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. His 33.0 sacks with Tampa Bay are tied for the 10th-most in club history.
In his 14-year career, Pierre-Paul has appeared in 182 games between the New York Giants (2010–17), Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens (2022), New Orleans Saints (2023) and Miami Dolphins (2023), making 150 starts and totaling 622 tackles (127 for loss), 167 quarterback hits, 94.5 sacks, 66 passes defensed, 21 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and five interceptions. Originally entering the league as a first-round selection (No. 15 overall) by the Giants in the 2010 NFL Draft, Pierre-Paul has earned All-Pro recognition and three Pro Bowl nods throughout his career. In addition to winning Super Bowl LV with Tampa Bay, he was also a member of the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI championship team.
Pierre-Paul played collegiately at College of the Canyons (2007), Fort Scott Community College (2008) and the University of South Florida (2009). In his lone season at USF, he garnered first-team All-America honors and first-team All-Big East recognition after appearing in 13 games and recording 45 tackles (16.5 for loss), 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception (returned for a touchdown). The Deerfield Beach, Florida, native will wear No. 91 for Tampa Bay.
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