Unsurprisingly, the Bucs have placed wide receiver Russell Gage on injured reserve after he suffered a season-ending knee injury during a joint practice with the Jets last Wednesday. Tampa Bay announced the move on Sunday night.

Bucs WR Russell Gage – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Gage, who signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Bucs as a free agent last offseason, was set to be the team’s No. 3 wide receiver behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Instead, that role is now up for grabs. Rookie Trey Palmer would seem to be the leader in the clubhouse after his strong training camp and impressive preseason.

Gage agreed to take a pay cut to stay with Tampa Bay after a rocky debut season in red, white and pewter. Last year saw him deal with a nagging hamstring injury, which impacted his speed and made him far less effective than he was in Atlanta. He finished the season with 51 catches for 426 yards and five touchdowns. His 8.4 yards per catch were a career-low.

The veteran receiver’s road to redemption got off to a slow start in the offseason, as he again had a hamstring injury that kept him out of offseason activities. But he had returned to training camp and was primed to play a big role for the Bucs’ new-look offense before his season came to an unfortunate end before it started.

Bucs Fill Gage’s Roster Spot By Claiming DB

Placing Gage on injured reserve was ultimately the Bucs’ corresponding move to an addition they made earlier in the day. The team claimed former Giants cornerback Rodarius Williams off waivers, according to the league’s transactions wire.

Williams was cut by New York on Saturday, but Tampa Bay swooped in and claimed him the very next day. The 26-year-old was a sixth-round pick by the Giants in the 2021 Draft, but his career has been full of injuries to this point.

He tore his ACL in his rookie season, then spent some additional time on injured reserve last year. In eight games over two years with New York, the 6-foot, 193-pound corner totaled 15 tackles and an interception.

Williams, who played college football at Oklahoma State, is the brother of Greedy Williams, who was released by the Eagles on Saturday.