The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed defensive tackle John McCargo. The roster spot was opened when the team placed defensive end George Johnson on the injured reserve list.

Johnson, who played four games with the Buccaneers this season and had two tackles, was placed on IR because of a knee injury that occurred during Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans on special teams. The first-year player from Rutgers spent most of last year and the first part of the 2011 season on Tampa Bay's practice squad. Johnson played both end and tackle this year and led the Buccaneers in preseason sacks with three.

McCargo, who originally entered the NFL with the Bills in 2006 as the team's first-round pick, is back for his third stint with the Bucs this year. He spent the preseason with Tampa Bay before being released during final camp cuts. He was then re-signed by the team on Nov. 8 after Gerald McCoy injured his bicep and wound up on injured reserve, but was released a day later when the Buccaneers claimed Albert Haynesworth on November 9.

Back in August after signing with the Buccaneers, McCargo spoke with PewterReport.com.

“I’m definitely more comfortable in a 4-3,” McCargo said. “I didn’t really play that much in Buffalo in the 3-4, so I didn’t really feel it was a scheme to fit me. I like the defense here. I like the coaching staff. I think it's a great situation with me just coming down here, getting in shape and getting used to the heat because Buffalo is a lot different. [I] just want to go out here and make some plays. I’m used to this 4-3 defense.”

– Scott Reynolds contributed to this report