Skip to main content
Advertising

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Presented by

Bucs Activate Ryan Smith

Fourth-year CB Ryan Smith will be eligible to play in Sunday's game in New Orleans after being activated from the exempt list on Friday…The Bucs waived OLB Demone Harris to make room on the roster

191002_TR_Practice_088

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have activated fourth-year cornerback Ryan Smith from the exempt list, which means he will be eligible to play against New Orleans this Sunday. It also means that Smith now counts against the 53-man roster limit, which necessitated a complementary move, in this case the waiver of outside linebacker Demone Harris.

Smith had been on the exempt list since Monday, when he returned from a four-game suspension levied by the commissioner due to a violation of the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. He could have remained exempt through next Monday but then he wouldn't have had the opportunity to play in New Orleans. The Bucs likely see Smith's presence as an immediate boost to their special teams, an area in which he has excelled the past two seasons, with two tackles and a forced fumble.

Smith also started 16 games at cornerback during those two seasons, recording 99 tackles, one interception, 11 passes defensed and three forced fumbles. In all, he has played in 45 games since being drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) in 2016.

Harris made the 53-man roster to start the season but has been inactive for three of the first four games. He saw action in Week Three against the New York Giants and also played in two games late last season.

Related Content

Latest Headlines

2025 Home Games

Titans vs. Buccaneers

Preseason Week 1

August 9

7:30 PM ET

Bills vs. Buccaneers

Preseason Week 3

August 23

7:30 PM ET

Jets vs. Buccaneers

Week 3

September 21

1:00 PM ET

Eagles vs. Buccaneers

Week 4

September 28

1:00 PM ET

49ers vs. Buccaneers

Week 6

October 12

1:00 PM ET

Patriots vs. Buccaneers

Week 10

November 9

1:00 PM ET

Cardinals vs. Buccaneers

Week 13

November 30

1:00 PM ET

Saints vs. Buccaneers

Week 14

December 7

1:00 PM ET

Falcons vs. Buccaneers

Week 15

December 11

8:15 PM ET

Panthers vs. Buccaneers

Week 18

January 4

Time TBD

Advertising