The Bucs have introduced that they’re elevating two gamers from their apply squad upfront of their week 15 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Punter Jack Browning and security Ryan Neal have each been made accessible to play on Sunday. That is Browning’s second elevation after making his skilled debut final week in opposition to the Raiders. That is Neal’s first elevation of the yr after Tampa Bay signed him to the apply squad two weeks in the past.
Jack Browning Trying To Discover Consistency For Bucs
Bucs P Jack Browning – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Browning’s efficiency final week continued a pattern of poor play the Bucs have obtained from their punter place this yr. After inconsistency plagued former fourth spherical draft decide Jake Camarda final yr and into this yr Tampa Bay waived him in late October. The group quickly signed Trenton Gill from their apply squad, however he was equally underwhelming. That led normal supervisor Jason Licht to chop Gill as effectively.
Browning’s first crack at bringing competency to the place fell brief. He averaged simply 42.7 yards per punt with a 32.7-yard web common. Two of his makes an attempt had been returned for a complete of 30 yards and he positioned only one boot contained in the 20. Browning was additionally lackluster on kickoffs with the Raiders averaging a beginning discipline place of just about their very own 30-yard line.
Browning will possible have yet another shot to show he may be the Bucs’ punter for the remainder of the season after this week. He has only one extra elevation allowed earlier than the group must signal him to the lively roster or seek for an alternate possibility to complete out the 2024 marketing campaign.
Ryan Neal Seems for Redemption In Return
Payments TE Dalton Kincaid and Bucs SS Ryan Neal – Picture by: USA Right this moment
Neal performed 16 video games, together with the playoffs, for the Bucs final yr after signing a one-year take care of Tampa Bay late in the summertime. Tampa Bay hoped he may construct off of a top quality season with the Seahawks in 2023 by pairing him with eventual All-Professional Antoine Winfield Jr. Sadly, it was to not be. Neal was routinely victimized in protection as his lack of athleticism confirmed in poor angles whereas he additionally struggled to make appropriate reads in protection. He completed the season with 76 tackles, together with 4 for a loss. He didn’t intercept or protection a single move all season.
However accidents within the again seven have pressured a rekindling of the Neal-Bucs relationship. Beginning sturdy security Jordan Whitehead is at the moment on injured reserve with a pectoral harm. Winfield Jr. can also be out for this sport as he offers with a knee harm of his personal. Backup Mike Edwards has additionally been dominated out with a pulled hamstring. And jack-of-all-trades defensive again Christian Izien is coping with a groin harm and is questionable for the Chargers sport.
Add in accidents to linebackers Okay.J. Britt (out – ankle) and J.J. Russell (questionable – hamstring) and there’s a actual risk head coach might have Neal to log some significant snaps. Particularly if Bowles needs to make use of a few of his 5-1-5 dime seems to be that he employed final week in opposition to the Raiders. As a deep security Neal is a legal responsibility. However as a field dime backer, he may doubtlessly add some motion abilities Tampa Bay has lacked with their linebacking corps this yr.
On the very least, Neal’s elevation alerts Izien is probably going a no-go on Sunday.
Each gamers have one thing to show. Each gamers are coming off of disappointing performances the final time they had been on the sector for the Bucs. Each will search for redemption on Sunday.
