This afternoon the Bucs announced a pair of roster moves ahead of their matchup against the Eagles on Monday night. They include placing Chase Edmonds on the injured reserve and promoting defensive lineman Pat O’Connor from the practice squad to the active roster.

The official release is here.

Bucs RB Depth Chart Takes A Hit

Bucs RB Chase Edmonds – Photo by: USA Today

As mentioned earlier in the week, Chase Edmonds being placed on the injured reserve with a Grade 2 MCL sprain was likely and now confirms the obvious – it makes the depth chart at running back even thinner and more inexperienced. Edmonds was supposed to be a change-of-pace backup running back after signing with the team in free agency, but he only had four carries for 20 yards this season before his injury.

Without the sixth-year back behind Rachaad White, it only leaves the undrafted rookie Sean Tucker and Ke’Shawn Vaughn behind him, while Patrick Laird remains on the practice squad.

The Bucs are seemingly high on Tucker’s potential after naming him the primary backup to White, but so far on the season he only has 13 carries for 22 yards – a 1.7 yards per carry average – and two receptions for nine yards. As for Vaughn, he has not played a snap this season and his lack of a role speaks to how the team does not view him as anything more than a depth option.

This could spark interest in making a move for an experienced backup running back, but the pickings on the market are slim. Kareem Hunt just returned to the Browns following Nick Chubb’s season-ending injury, and while Cam Akers could be had via a trade with the Rams, Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds recently wrote on how the Bucs do not seem interested.

A move could happen, but for now, it appears it will be White, Tucker, and Vaughn in that order on the depth chart until Edmonds’ potential return later in the season.

Bucs Bolster DL Depth With Open Roster Spot

Bucs DE Pat O’Connor – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With an available spot on the active roster, the Bucs have decided to use that hole by promoting veteran defensive lineman Pat O’Connor. For O’Connor, it marks his official return back on the roster. He has been one of the longest-tenured Buccaneers since first signing with the team back in 2017.

In that time, he has played in 58 games in Tampa Bay, tallying 20 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. What doesn’t show in the box score, and where he derives most of his value, is his special team’s prowess and leadership up front.

After being released and re-signed to the practice squad during roster cutdowns, he has a chance to now stick on the roster for the foreseeable future. With rookie Calijah Kancey still on the mend from his right calf injury, O’Connor could also receive a handful of snaps in some upcoming games.

In another corresponding move, the Bucs signed a familiar face in defensive tackle Deadrin Senat to the practice squad. He’ll take O’Connor’s spot with his call-up to the active roster.