The Bucs have announced that they have elevated wide receiver Marquez Callaway and linebacker Vi Jones from the practice squad for Tampa Bay’s game on Monday night football against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Players on the practice squad can be elevated for games up to three times in a season. This is the first time for each player. Callaway signed to the Bucs’ practice squad on October 16 after previously spending the first four years of his career with the New Orleans Saints. He’s made 83 career catches for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns.

Jones has an opportunity to make play in his first career game for Tampa Bay. He played in three regular season games as a rookie for the Seahawks in 2022. Ironically, his NFL debut came came against the Bucs. Jones spent time on Tampa Bay’s practice squad in 2023 and has been there for all of the 2024 season.

Bucs Missing Some Other Players?

Bucs WRs Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The decision to call up a wide receiver and linebacker is an interesting one. We know the Bucs are without Mike Evans at receiver and that Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard are each questionable to play with a hamstring injury. McMillan, who’s already missed a couple games with said injury tweaked it again on Saturday while Shepard missed part of last game with it.

According to Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, all the players listed as questionable for the game, which also included running back Bucky Irving and safeties Antone Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith are all going to play. Having Callaway available is insurance in case anything to McMillan and Shepard or anyone else. To what extent McMillan can be used isn’t known at the moment.

Calling up Jones might be in case something happens to Lavonte David. After missing the first two practices with an ankle and chest injury, David finally was able to participate on Saturday. This will give the Bucs five available linebackers with David, Jones, K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell and Antoino Grier Jr.

Todd Bowles and Larry Foote were adamant that they don’t have any replacements that can platoon with K.J. Britt after SirVocea Dennis went out for the season. The Bucs’ defense is already in a tough situation, but if something were to happen to David and Britt, the unit might be in dire straights after. The Bucs will lineup and face the Chiefs at 8:15 PM on Monday night.