The Bucs announced they have promoted wide receiver Marquez Callaway and linebacker Vi Jones from the practice squad for Monday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa Bay.
Bucks HC Todd Bowles – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Players on the practice squad can be promoted to games up to three times during a season. This is the first time for each player. Callaway was signed to the Bucks’ practice squad on October 16 after spending the first four years of his career with the New Orleans Saints. He has 83 career catches for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns.
Jones has the opportunity to play in his first career game with Tampa Bay. He played in three regular season games as a Seahawks rookie in 2022. Ironically, his NFL debut came against the Bucks. Jones was on Tampa Bay’s practice squad in 2023 and was there for the entire 2024 season.
Are the Bucks missing other players?
Bucs WRs Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The decision to call up wide receivers and linebackers is an interesting one. We know the Bucs will be without receiver Mike Evans, and Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard are each questionable to play with hamstring injuries. McMillan, who has already missed several games with an injury, adjusted again on Saturday, while Shepard missed part of the final game with an injury.
According to Scott Reynolds of the Pewter Report, all players listed as questionable for the game include running back Bucky Irving and safeties Anton Winfield Jr. and Tykie Smith. We are all planning to play together. Having Callaway available is insurance in case something happens to McMillan, Sheppard, or anyone else. It’s unclear at this point how much use McMillan will have.
The call to Jones might be in case something happens to Lavonte David. David missed the first two practices with ankle and chest injuries, but was finally able to participate on Saturday. This leaves the Bucs with five available linebackers: David, Jones, KJ Britt, JJ Russell and Antoino Grier Jr.
Todd Bowles and Larry Foote were adamant that there was no replacement to platoon with KJ Britt after Sarvosia Dennis left midway through the season. The Bucs’ defense is already in a tough spot, but if something were to happen to David and Britt, the unit could find itself in dire straits right away. The Bucs will line up to face the Chiefs on Monday night at 8:15 p.m.
