The Buccaneers secondary and the safety position in particular is becoming a mash unit.
Justin Evans remains sidelined as he recovers from a toe injury and its beginning to look like he may not be ready to start the season as he has yet to practice at all in training camp.
Free agent safety D’cota Dixon was placed on the IR last week. Orion Stewart is also out for the season. MJ Stewart and Mike Edwards are out with injuries and will miss the preseason game against the Dolphins on Friday.
With the injuries mounting, the Bucs went shopping and signed safety Darian Stewart who was cut by the Denver Broncos last spring.
Stewart a 10 year veteran has 91 career starts and 11 interceptions in his career. Arians likes Stewart and commented on the signing after practice. “ He’s a strong safety, and he’s a great communicator, He’s a great fit for what we need right now.”
The Bucs also signed safety Micah Abernathy who last played with Tennessee.
The Bucs also continue to tweak the offensive line as they cut offensive lineman Evan Smith after the loss to Pittsburgh over the weekend.Smith missed all of the 2018 season after surgery on both hips. By cutting the five year veteran the Bucs will save about two million dollars against the cap.
It is not looking good for wide receiver Scotty Miller in his quest to make this Bucs team. Miller has been hampered by a hamstring injury the last week of training camp and missed the preseason contest against Pittsburgh last Friday Night and will probably be out this week against Miami.
Miller is competing with Spencer Schnell, Justin Watson, Bobo Wilson and Anthony Johnson for the fourth and fifth receiver spots.
Former Buccaneer quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is back in Tampa this week with the Miami Dolphins trying to win the starting job at quarterback. Fitzpatrick is in a battle with Josh Rosen last years number one pick of the Arizona Cardinals for the starting spot.
The Buccaneers and the Dolphins are holding joint practices this week ahead of Friday night’s preseason contest.
