Bucs Make Some Moves: Blaine Gabbert to IR, Promoted DE to Active Roster, and Sign WR

Well, it looks like we won’t be seeing QB Blaine Gabbert for a while as his shoulder injury seems to be a stubborn one. Let’s face it; after his showing in the preseason, no one really wanted to see Blaine Gabbert backing up Jameis Winston. In fact, the majority of fans were more comfortable with the idea of Ryan Griffin playing back up. With Gabbert being placed on the IR, the Buccaneers only have Griffin on the active roster and Nick Fitzgerald on the practice squad. So, of course, they will weigh options and try out some QBs which they have recently done. None were signed, yet.

The Buccaneers bought in a bunch of players for tryouts, but so far have only signed one to the practice squad and that was the rookie wide receiver, Ishmael Hyman. Hyman out of the University of Kansas/ James Duke University started his post-college career in the AFF team with the Orlando Apollos. He saw minimal action in minimal league existence, catching 6 passes out of the 11 thrown to him for 68 yards with a long of 60 and 1 TD. During his collegiate career, he played in 46 games for JDU (2014-2017) catching 72 passes for 1,016 yards and 11 TDs. In 2013 for the University of Kansas, he was redshirted.

To make room for Ishmael Hyman on the practice squad, the Buccaneers sign DE Patrick O’Connor to the active roster. O’Connor, who was a 2017 7th round draft pick of the Detroit Lions was released shortly after the 2017 season started and picked up by the Buccaneers. O’Connor has yet to play in a regular-season game.

Among those trying out, were former USF QB/RB Quintin Flowers, QB Taryn Christion, QB Phillip Walker, DB John Franklin, WR Codey McElroy, WR Marcus Johnson, and Jaydon Mickens.