Buccaneers have their initial 53-man roster

No, this isn’t the final 53-man roster. This is the Buccaneers’ initial 53-man roster. More changes are coming and other signings will take place as those players who have been cut go through waivers before being signed to a practice squad. There’s always the possibility that the Bucs pick someone up off waivers, leading to a corresponding roster move.

Oh, yeah, and there’s that Leonard Fournette guy who hasn’t officially signed his deal yet. So that’s a change that’s coming.

As it stands today at the deadline to get rosters down to 53 players, here is what the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers look like;

Quarterback - Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Griffin

Running Back - Ronald Jones, LeSean McCoy, Ke’Sahwn Vaughn,

Wide Receiver - Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Justin Watson, Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson, John Hurst, Jaydon Mickens

Tight End - O.J. Howard, Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate, Antony Auclair

Offensive Line - Ryan Jensen, Ali Marpet, Tristan Wirfs, Donovan Smith, Alex Cappa, Joe Haeg, Aaron Stinnie, Zach Triner (LS), Josh Wells, John Molchon

Defensive Line - Vita Vea, Ndamukong Suh, William Gholston, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Pat O’Connor, Khalil Davis

Linebacker - Devin White, Lavonte David, Jason Pierre-Paul, Shaquil Barrett, Anthony Nelson, Jack Cichy, Cam Gill, Quinton Bell, Kevin Minter

Cornerback - Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Ryan Smith, Parnell Motley

Safety - Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead, Andrew Adams, Mike Edwards

Kicker - Ryan Succop

Punter - Bradley Pinion

Per Greg Auman of The Athletic, safety Justin Evans is being placed on the PUP/Reserve list which will give him six more weeks to heal. Of course, at what point is it time to look at Evans’ history and say enough is enough and cut ties?

As stated before - and as you all well know - more changes are on the horizon starting with the addition of Leonard Fournette. John Hurst will be placed on injured reserve for at least three weeks which will open up a roster spot.

Another notable absence is that of center A.Q. Shipley who was just recently brought in. It would not be surprising in the least if there was a wink-wink, nod-nod agreement with Shipley that he would not make the initial 53 but once they made a few corresponding moves following the first cuts that Shipley would be brought back.

Still, this roster is arguably the most talented in the history of the Buccaneers from top to bottom. And there’s still the opportunity to sign others after Evans freed up $9-million dollars by restructuring his contract early on Saturday.