As the Buccaneers gear up for their second-to-last game of the regular season, a few roster tweaks are worth keeping an eye on-not just for this week, but for what they could signal about Tampa Bay’s future. The most notable move? Rookie running back Josh Williams is back with the team after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing policy.
Williams returns under the exempt/commissioner permission designation, which means he’s not currently counting against the 53-man roster. That gives the Bucs some flexibility as they evaluate whether he’s ready to contribute in the final two games.
Josh Williams: A Returner With Something to Prove
Williams came into the league as an undrafted free agent out of LSU and earned a spot on the roster out of training camp, primarily as a depth piece and a potential kick returner. While he was inactive for the first month of the season, he got his first taste of NFL action in Week 5 during Tampa Bay’s 38-35 win over the Seahawks.
He made an immediate impact on special teams, returning five kickoffs for 129 yards-showing the kind of burst that made him intriguing in the preseason. Unfortunately, a concussion sidelined him for the next two weeks.
When he returned in Week 8 against the Saints, he logged his first carries-four rushes for 11 yards in a game the Bucs ended up winning. In Week 10’s loss to the Patriots, Williams dressed but only saw the field on special teams, logging just four snaps.
Now, with two games left and the Bucs still in the playoff hunt, the question is whether Williams can carve out a role-particularly on special teams. Sean Tucker has been handling some of the kick return duties alongside Kameron Johnson, but Tucker hasn’t been heavily involved in the offense.
That opens the door for Williams to potentially reclaim that return role and give Tampa Bay a spark. Of course, after missing six games, he’ll need to shake off some rust before he’s ready to make an impact.
Nick Jackson Returns to the Practice Squad
Tampa Bay also brought back rookie inside linebacker Nick Jackson, signing him to the practice squad just a week after waiving him. Jackson, who’s already appeared in three games this season, has mostly contributed on special teams but did see 18 defensive snaps in the Thursday night matchup against the Falcons.
The Bucs are deep at inside linebacker right now, with veterans Lavonte David, Deion Jones, and Anthony Walker Jr., along with younger players like SirVocea Dennis and John Bullock. Walker, recently signed off the Colts' practice squad, could be active for the final two games, depending on how the Bucs shuffle the depth chart.
Realistically, Jackson is a long shot to get a game-day elevation at this point, especially with so many veteran options ahead of him. But his re-signing is more about the long-term picture than the immediate one.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Tampa Bay’s Linebacker Room
The linebacker room in Tampa Bay is heading toward a crossroads. Lavonte David, the heart and soul of this defense for over a decade, is expected to retire at 35.
Deion Jones and Anthony Walker Jr. are both 31 and on short-term deals. SirVocea Dennis, while promising, hasn’t locked down a starting job heading into the final year of his rookie contract.
That leaves the door wide open for young players like Jackson and Bullock to fight for a spot next season. Tampa Bay is likely to reload at linebacker through the draft and free agency, and the competition will be fierce. For Jackson, this practice squad stint might be the first step in a long offseason battle to stay on the roster.
Final Thoughts
These late-season roster moves may seem minor on the surface, but they offer a glimpse into how the Bucs are thinking-both in the short term and beyond. Josh Williams could get a chance to reestablish himself as a return threat, while Nick Jackson is quietly setting himself up for a bigger opportunity down the road. With the playoffs still in play and roster turnover looming, every snap-on special teams or otherwise-matters.