:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6E5NN4DQFNFSZOYWUZ2MLXJKVY.JPG "Count Jaydon Mickens, making a catch during a joint scrimmage against the Titans earlier this month, among the more prominent players to be released as the Bucs continue whittling their roster to the required 53 players by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.")
Veteran backup quarterback Ryan Griffin and return specialist Jaydon Mickens were among the Bucs’ most prominent final cuts as the team trimmed its roster to the NFL’s 53-player maximum Tuesday (see roster below).
The roster maneuvering, however, isn’t finished. Four players (defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, kicker Ryan Succop and offensive linemen Nick Leverett and Earl Watford) remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list and don’t count against the 53-player limit. When they’re cleared to return, others will have to depart.
Most of the released players must go through waivers. Those who clear waivers are eligible for the Bucs’ practice squad, which should be finalized later in the week.
The veterans no longer required to go through the waiver process (making them free agents immediately) are Mickens, Griffin, defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter, cornerback Antonio Hamilton, linebacker Joe Jones, tight end Jerell Adams and running back C.J. Prosise.
Other notable cuts were cornerback Herb Miller, praised for his limited action (four games, one interception) in 2020; promising tight end Codey McElroy and seventh-round draft pick Chris Wilcox, a cornerback from Brigham Young who missed part of training camp with an undisclosed injury.
Wilcox was the only member of the Bucs’ seven-player 2021 draft class to be released.
Mickens, 27, averaged nearly 25 yards on 14 kick returns and had seven catches during the 2020 regular season, his first full year with Tampa Bay. His departure indicates the Bucs have settled on fourth-round draft pick Jaelon Darden as a primary return specialist and additional slot weapon in their expansive receiver rotation.
The departures of Wilcox, Miller and Hamilton (among a handful of players cut Monday) were prompted in part by the August emergence of Dee Delaney. A Miami graduate transfer who began his career at The Citadel, Delaney (12 preseason tackles, two interceptions) joins a cornerback rotation that includes Carlton Davis III, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean.
McElroy’s departure (though he could join the practice squad if he clears waivers) leaves the Bucs with three tight ends — Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard — on the roster.
Elsewhere, receiver Justin Watson was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, while injured offensive lineman Brad Seaton was waived.
Bucs restructure Evans’ contract
As they did a year ago, the Bucs also restructured the contract of receiver Mike Evans to create more salary-cap space. Evans was scheduled to earn $16.637 million this season, and much of that could be converted into a bonus.
The Bucs had about $158,000 of salary cap space, according to Overthecap.com. The money will be used for injured reserve, the practice squad and signing free agents during the season.
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Explore all your optionsEvans is expected to sign the new contract when players return Thursday.
Bucs’ 53-player roster
QB Tom Brady
QB Blaine Gabbert
QB Kyle Trask
RB Giovani Bernard
RB Leonard Fournette
RB Ronald Jones
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
WR Antonio Brown
WR Jaelon Darden
WR Mike Evans
WR Chris Godwin
WR Tyler Johnson
WR Scotty Miller
OL Alex Cappa
OL Ali Marpet
OL Ryan Jensen
OL Robert Hainsey
OL John Molchon
OL Donovan Smith
OL Aaron Stinnie
OL Josh Wells
OL Tristan Wirfs
TE Cameron Brate
TE Rob Gronkowski
TE O.J. Howard
DL Khalil Davis
DL William Gholston
DL Steve McLendon
DL Patrick O’Connor
DL Vita Vea
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
LB K.J. Britt
LB Shaquil Barrett
LB Lavonte David
LB Cam Gill
LB Kevin Minter
LB Anthony Nelson
LB Jason Pierre-Paul
LB Grant Stuard
LB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
LB Devin White
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
CB Carlton Davis III
CB Jamel Dean
CB Dee Delaney
S Ross Cockrell
S Chris Cooper
S Mike Edwards
S Jordan Whitehead
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
K Jose Borregales
P Bradley Pinion
LS Zach Triner
Reserve/PUP list
WR Justin Watson
Reserve/COVID-19 list
OL Nick Leverett
PK Ryan Succop
DL Ndamukong Suh
OL Earl Watford
• • •
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