The return of former Super Bowl-winning defensive back Sean Murphy-Bunting to the Bucs was a short one. Murphy-Bunting, who was on Tampa Bay’s practice squad, has signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on their active roster, per Tom Pelissero.

Murphy-Bunting reunited with the Bucs on August 31 after he was let go by the Arizona Cardinals at the end of training camp. He joined Tampa Bay’s practice squad, taking on a mentor role willing to help anybody that he could. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles had talked about his versatility with being able to play corner, safety and in the nickel, but Tampa Bay was never able to utilize that in a game.

Bucs CB Sean Murphy-Bunting – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

He was not elevated for any of the first four games of the Bucs’ season. The Bucs’ usage of defensive backs have been an interesting one. During Week 2, the team was without starting corner Jacob Parrish. The thought was maybe they would dress rookie corner Ayden Garnes for the first time in his career or elevate Murphy-Bunting, and yet they did neither.

Then two weeks later in Week 4 the Bucs knew they would be without Benjamin Morrison, who injured his quad in practice and was ruled out. This time they did elect to dress Garnes since he’s already on the active roster.

With the opportunity to get more playing time, Murphy-Bunting is off to Pittsburgh.

Bucs Play Against The Steelers In Two Weeks

Sean Murphy-Bunting won’t be away from Tampa for too long. The 2-2 Steelers travel to Tampa in Week 6 where it will be the Bucs’ fourth home game of the season already after an 0-4 start and three losses at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay will have some extra rest going into it as the team plays this week on Thursday Night Football.

Pittsburgh needed more depth at the cornerback position as another former Super Bowl winning Buccaneer, Jamel Dean, suffered an ankle injury and is set to be out for several weeks. The Steelers also just traded Joey Porter Jr. to the Cowboys after they couldn’t agree on a new contract extension.

Bucs CB Sean Murphy-Bunting and former Buc Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

This certainly puts the Bucs in a perplexing situation as Murphy-Bunting has been in all the defensive meetings and knows Tampa Bay’s defensive scheme. Of course, some of those state secrets will probably be given to Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and company going into the matchup.

Murphy-Bunting is listed as a fourth string cornerback on the Steelers depth chart. They have Dean and Asante Samule Jr. as the starters with rookie third round pick Daylen Everette up next. Plus, they have Jalen Ramsey as the nickel corner, so Pittsburgh could use him in one of those spots, too.

The departure of Murphy-Bunting won’t have too much of an on-field impact for the Bucs considering he hadn’t even played yet. They still have plenty of depth at corner behind Parrish and Zyon McCollum even if Morrison is out with Keionte Scott, Garnes and Kevin Knowles.

Bucs CB Keionte Scott – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Tampa Bay does not have any more cornerbacks on the practice squad, but still have two safeties with J.J. Roberts and Silas Walters. There’s a chance that maybe another corner is added with one spot on the practice squad open.