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Buccaneers Elevate Safety to 53-Man Roster Ahead of Week 18 Saints Rematch

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing safety Ryan Neal back to their 53-man roster.

River Wells

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Ryan Neal (23) reacts after Tennessee Titans place kicker Nick Folk missed a field goal during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Ryan Neal (23) reacts after Tennessee Titans place kicker Nick Folk missed a field goal during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. / Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are adding another defensive back to their 53-man roster after a Saturday injury will cause a starting safety to miss some time.

Bucs safety Jordan Whitehead suffered pectoral injury in Week 12 against the New York Giants, but returned for the first time in four weeks against the Carolina Panthers. He's been sidelined again, however, after being involved in a car accident Saturday morning, and he was placed on the team's non-football injury list.

Whitehead is expected to miss the rest of the season, should the Buccaneers have one by beating the New Orleans Saints and clinching the NFC South, so the team announced Saturday that it's elevating safety Ryan Neal from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of the team's Week 18 matchup.

Neal was a strong safety in 2023, but a poor campaign saw the Bucs declined to bring him back for the 2024 season. He's back with the team now, but his role should change a bit — safeties Kaevon Merriweather and Mike Edwards will likely start, and Neal can be used along with defensive back Tavierre Thomas as more of a dime back, much in the way he was utilized when he saw snaps against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15.

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River Wells
RIVER WELLS

River Wells is a sports journalist from St. Petersburg, Florida, who has covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2023. He graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Florida in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter @riverhwells.

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