The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already trimmed their roster to 53, but the story isn’t over for the players who landed on the practice squad. Tampa Bay is carrying 16 players there now, and while most of them will spend their time helping the scout team, a few could be one call away from the active roster.
The name that stands out most is Sean Murphy-Bunting. Tampa Bay brought the cornerback back to the practice squad last week, and he arrives with real familiarity and a championship resume. Bucs fans know him from the Super Bowl run, when he picked off three passes in the 2020 playoffs.
He’s not that same player in the middle of his breakout anymore, but he still looks like one of the most useful depth options on the board. Murphy-Bunting played solid football for the Arizona Cardinals last season, finishing with three interceptions and two forced fumbles, and that kind of production gives Tampa Bay a reliable fallback if the team needs help.
There’s also the veteran angle: he’s been in the league since 2019, which makes him the oldest voice in a room that includes Zyon McCollum, Keionte Scott, Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. He played with McCollum in 2022, too, so there’s already some built-in familiarity there.
That’s why Murphy-Bunting feels like the most pro-ready player on the practice squad, and he may not stay there long once the regular season starts.
There are other names worth watching as well. Linebacker Caden Fordham was initially on the roster before being released and brought back to the practice squad, and he flashed on special teams while turning in some strong preseason moments. If Tampa Bay needs help in that phase of the game, he could be the next man up.
Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu is another possibility. The Buccaneers added him for depth, and even though he didn’t make the 53, the position is still thin enough that game-day elevations could be in play.
Then there’s tight end C.J. Dippre, whom Tampa Bay brought in from the New England Patriots after moving on from Devin Culp, the team’s 2024 draft pick. If Dippre can contribute on special teams, he could work his way into the mix during the season.
For now, the Bucs are set to open against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 on Sept. 13, and the practice squad will be waiting in the wings if the team needs reinforcements.
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