After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Dolphins 24-14 to finish the preseason with a 2-1 record, Tampa Bay began cutting down its roster on Sunday. All NFL teams have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 27 to trim their rosters from 90 to 53 players for the start of the 2024 regular season.
In past years, when there were four preseason games, there were multiple cuts in August. Now, there is just one cut-down day, when all teams must cut 37 players to get down to the required 53-man roster. Once the 53-man rosters are set on Tuesday, the Buccaneers and other teams can begin fielding 16-man practice squads the next day.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
After transitioning to one of the youngest teams in the league last season, adding Tampa Bay’s 2024 NFL Draft class and letting go of several veterans, the team has continued to make youth moves throughout the offseason. All seven of their draft picks are expected to remain with the team, along with several undrafted rookies.
Head coach Todd Bowles said Many difficult decisions remainand he spoke about them after the team’s final preseason game on Friday night.
“There was some upside to it at the bottom,” Bowles said of the players’ success in the bubble. “Look at the video. [are] “We will have some difficult decisions to make in the coming days. Of course, the better the team, the harder the decisions will be, but we had some players who made some plays. But we have to look at the whole picture.”
Buccaneers roster cuts
Below are the Buccaneers’ publicly announced cuts: This list will be continually updated as cuts are made through Tuesday.
WR Cephas Johnson and Latoriar Jones – Reporter Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report
*The firings of Rory Webb and Tanner Knud were first reported by Fox Sports’ Greg Auman (see below).*
#Buccaneers They will waive four WRs: Reilly Webb, Tanner Nuh, Cephas Johnson and Latoriar Jones.
— Pewter Report
(@PewterReport) August 25, 2024
Office Lady Xavier Delgado – Reporter Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report
#Buccaneers The team fired long-term player Xavier Delgado.
— Pewter Report
WR Tanner Knud – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers are waiving rookie receiver Tanner Nuh, a former walk-on at Eastern Michigan University who had a touchdown catch in Friday’s preseason finale. Tampa Bay will waive up to 13 players today.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
TE Sal Canela – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers are waiving tight end Sal Cannella, who joined the team after a successful UFL stint this spring. There are currently 12 players to be waived, but there are still 23 transfers remaining to get to 53 by Tuesday.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
TE David Wells – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers will be releasing veteran tight end David Wells, who made the opening day roster last year and recorded two catches, giving him some serious competition for tight end depth this season.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
RB Ramon Jefferson – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers are waiving undrafted rookie running back Ramon Jefferson, who played under Liam Cohen at Maine and Kentucky. The Buccaneers’ cuts today are at 10.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
OG Rian Johnson – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers waived guard Ryan Johnson, who added late in the preseason and played seven snaps in Friday’s final game, and Tampa Bay is set to make up to nine cuts.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
OLB Shawn Peterson – Reporter Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report
#Buccaneers OLB Shawn Peterson has been released.
— Pewter Report
DT Judge Culpepper – Reporter Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report
DL Brandon Matterson – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers waived defensive lineman Brandon Matterson, who joined the team as an injury replacement last week but did not play in Friday’s preseason finale.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
P Nolan Cooney – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers released punter Nolan Cooney, who they acquired to compete with Jake Camarda. Cooney punted 63 yards on Friday night. Bowles mentioned the possibility of keeping a second punter on the practice squad.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
ILB Karen DeLoch – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers released undrafted rookie linebacker Cullen DeLoach. DeLoach has been limited by a groin injury and missed Friday’s preseason finale. He will need several weeks of rehab, but the former FSU star could return to the practice squad once healthy.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
WR Reilly Webb – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers are waiving receiver Raylee Webb, who joined the team’s practice squad late last season in a tough battle for the final receiver position.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
CB Andrew Hayes – Reporter Fox Sports’ Greg Auman
The Buccaneers waived undrafted rookie cornerback Andrew Hayes, who had five tackles in Friday’s preseason finale.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 25, 2024
LS Zach Triner – Reporter Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times
#Buccaneers As cuts began, the team waived long snapper Zach Triner and hired former Duke long snapper Evan Dekkers.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 25, 2024
