Outside linebacker Randy Gregory was not among the Bucs veterans who reported to the AdventHealth Training Center on Tuesday ahead of the team’s first training camp practice on Wednesday. As a result, Tampa Bay has placed him on the Reserve/Did Not Report list.

#Bucs OLB Randy Gregory is a no-show for reporting day prior to the start of training camp. Gregory missed the OTAs and mandatory mini-camp.

— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) July 23, 2024

This is just the latest development of the Gregory saga, a saga that seems destined to result in the 31-year-old’s Bucs career ending before it ever began. Gregory signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay in April, but he didn’t show up for voluntary OTAs or the team’s mandatory mini-camp. His mini-camp absences were unexcused, and he was subject to more than $100,000 in fines.

Bucs OLB Randy Gregory – Photo by: USA Today

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles told JC Allen last week that he has not had any conversations with Gregory and that he expected to see him report for training camp when the veterans came back to One Buc Place, though he also said “we’ll see.” The Bucs’ first training camp practice is Wednesday, and assuming Gregory is still not in attendance, Bowles will certainly be asked what his status is with the team.

News broke in June that Randy Gregory was filing a lawsuit against the NFL over claims of discrimination by the league when he was fined over $500,000 last year for taking medicine that had THC in it. The report said Gregory was taking Dronabinol, which is a medicine that treats social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. While THC is no longer on the NFL’s banned substances list, players are still subjected to fines for positive tests. It is currently unknown whether Gregory’s continued absence is related to the lawsuit.

If the newly signed outside linebacker does end up reporting to camp, it’s fair to imagine that he’ll be well behind when it comes to Bowles’ defense. That will put him at a disadvantage within the room, as there are several worthy candidates for roster spots at outside linebacker. Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez have drawn rave reviews over the last couple of seasons and have been putting in the work with the Bucs defense this offseason, meaning both guys are going to have a leg up when it comes to the open spots behind Yaya Diaby, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson and rookie Chris Braswell.

So despite his seven years of experience in the NFL and 22 career sacks, it’s already feeling like Gregory is facing long odds to make the 53-man roster even if he does eventually report for training camp.

Aside From Randy Gregory, Bucs Make Other Roster Moves Ahead Of Training Camp

Bucs TE Tanner Taula – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In addition to placing Randy Gregory on the Reserve/Did Not Report list, the Bucs made two other moves on Tuesday. They placed both quarterback Zack Annexstad and tight end Tanner Taula on the Active/Non-Football Injury list. Both players will count toward the 90-player roster limit and can be activated at any time before the roster is cut down to 53 players at the end of training camp.

Annexstad signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent earlier this year after playing his college ball at Minnesota and Illinois State. He did not participate in the team’s OTAs or mini-camp, though he did attend those practices earlier this summer. The rookie is recovering from a shoulder injury that he suffered during the 2023 season at Illinois State. He is the fourth quarterback on the Tampa Bay roster right now, with starter Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask and John Wolford all firmly ahead of him.

Taula, another Illinois State product, was as an undrafted free agent signee in 2023. He spent last season on the practice squad and is also a candidate for the practice squad again this year given the team has Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft and rookie Devin Culp to choose from for their three or four tight end spots on the 53-man roster. The team said Tuesday that Taula is dealing with a leg injury suffered away from the football field.