The Bucs have announced that they are elevating two players from their practice squad in advance of their week 15 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Punter Jack Browning and safety Ryan Neal have both been made available to play on Sunday. This is Browning’s second elevation after making his professional debut last week against the Raiders. This is Neal’s first elevation of the year after Tampa Bay signed him to the practice squad two weeks ago.

Jack Browning Looking To Find Consistency For Bucs

Bucs P Jack Browning – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Browning’s performance last week continued a trend of poor play the Bucs have received from their punter position this year. After inconsistency plagued former fourth round draft pick Jake Camarda last year and into this year Tampa Bay waived him in late October. The team soon signed Trenton Gill from their practice squad, but he was similarly underwhelming. That led general manager Jason Licht to cut Gill as well.

Browning’s first crack at bringing competency to the position fell short. He averaged just 42.7 yards per punt with a 32.7-yard net average. Two of his attempts were returned for a total of 30 yards and he placed just one boot inside the 20. Browning was also lackluster on kickoffs with the Raiders averaging a starting field position of almost their own 30-yard line.

Browning will likely have one more shot to prove he can be the Bucs’ punter for the rest of the season after this week. He has just one more elevation allowed before the team will have to sign him to the active roster or search for an alternative option to finish out the 2024 campaign.

Ryan Neal Looks for Redemption In Return

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid and Bucs SS Ryan Neal – Photo by: USA Today

Neal played 16 games, including the playoffs, for the Bucs last year after signing a one-year deal with Tampa Bay late in the summer. Tampa Bay hoped he could build off of a quality season with the Seahawks in 2023 by pairing him with eventual All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Neal was routinely victimized in coverage as his lack of athleticism showed in poor angles while he also struggled to make correct reads in coverage. He finished the season with 76 tackles, including four for a loss. He failed to intercept or defense a single pass all season.

But injuries in the back seven have forced a rekindling of the Neal-Bucs relationship. Starting strong safety Jordan Whitehead is currently on injured reserve with a pectoral injury. Winfield Jr. is also out for this game as he deals with a knee injury of his own. Backup Mike Edwards has also been ruled out with a pulled hamstring. And jack-of-all-trades defensive back Christian Izien is dealing with a groin injury and is questionable for the Chargers game.

Add in injuries to linebackers K.J. Britt (out – ankle) and J.J. Russell (questionable – hamstring) and there is a real possibility head coach may need Neal to log some meaningful snaps. Especially if Bowles wants to use some of his 5-1-5 dime looks that he employed last week against the Raiders. As a deep safety Neal is a liability. But as a box dime backer, he could potentially add some movement skills Tampa Bay has lacked with their linebacking corps this year.

At the very least, Neal’s elevation signals Izien is likely a no-go on Sunday.

Both players have something to prove. Both players are coming off of disappointing performances the last time they were on the field for the Bucs. Both will look for redemption on Sunday.