Buccaneers promote defensive end Josh Shirley, waive Reid Fragel

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have promoted defensive end Josh Shirley to the active roster, waiving the injured tackle Reid Fragel in the process. The latter will revert to injured reserve if he's not picked up off waivers.

Shirley is an undrafted free agent out of UNLV who's spent the offseason and preseason with the Oakland Raiders, but has been part of the Bucs' practice squad for the past few weeks. He did put up two sacks in the preseason, but is pretty undersized at 6'1", 235 lbs. That may not be a problem for the Bucs if he can use his speed to get to the passer.

Shirley was likely promoted to allow William Gholston to move inside to defensive tackle, where the Bucs need more help with injuries to Clinton McDonald and Tony McDaniel. That leaves the Bucs very light at defensive end, though, as the only two edge rushers with any significant NFL experience besides Gholston are George Johnson and Jacquies Smith.