Buccaneers announce signing Jeff Demps, Mike Kafka, four others to practice squad

The first six players on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2014 practice squad are quarterback Mike Kafka, tight end Cameron Brate, running back Jeff Demps, linebacker Brandon Magee, defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo and wide receiver Solomon Patton. All of these players were cut yesterday as part of the team's effort to establish an initial 53-man roster.

The Bucs have four more spots to fill on their practice squad, which they should later today or tomorrow.

In addition, Buccaneers have claimed offensive guard Garrett Gilkey off waivers from the Cleveland Browns, reports Greg Auman. Gilkey was a seventh-round draft pick for the Browns out of tiny Chadron State last year, when current Bucs offensive line coach George Warhop was with Cleveland. That connection presumably explaisn their interest in the guard.

It's official..I'm a Buccaneer.

— Garrett Gilkey (@gagilk73) August 31, 2014

Gilkey actually started one game last year, which is pretty unusual for a seventh-round rookie, and was supposedly competing for a starting job at the start of training camp. But according to Dawgs By Nature, he looked horrible in preseason, which explains why they waived him. It's not yet clear who the Bucs cut to make room for Gilkey.

Update: Add cornerback Brandon Dixon to the practice squad, per Rick Stroud. He was a sixth-round pick for the New York Jets this year and played his college football at Northwest Missouri State.