With no players ruled out for Sunday's critical showdown with the Carolina Panthers, Head Coach Todd Bowles said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have some decisions to make regarding which 48 players will be active on Sunday. On Friday, the they did make one decision regarding what pool of 53 players they will choose from, promoting safety J.T. Gray from the practice squad to the active roster.
Rookie linebacker Nick Jackson was waived to make room on the active roster.
Tampa Bay signed Gray to its active roster on November 21, presumably to add punch to their special teams coverage units. A three-time Associated Press All-Pro selection as a special-teamer during his seven seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Gray earned first-team honors in 2021 as well as a Pro Bowl invitation in 2021. He was most recently a second-team choice last season.
Gray made his Buccaneers debut in Week 15 when he was elevated from the practice squad to play against the Atlanta Falcons. He saw action on 16 special teams snaps and pitched in with one kick-coverage tackle.
Jackson originally joined the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa this past May. In three preseason games he recorded a team-leading 14 tacklers along with two tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one interception. He started the regular season on the Buccaneers' practice squad and was elevated twice to play against New England and Buffalo in Weeks 10 and 11. He was then signed to the active roster on December 9 and started against the Falcons two days later. Jackson has recorded one tackle each on defense and special teams.
