The Bucs have elevated tight end Deon Yelder from the practice squad to the active roster for their Thursday night game on the road against the Eagles.

With Rob Gronkowski out for a third straight game because of rib injuries, that left only Cam Brate and O.J. Howard on the roster at tight end. Previously the Bucs brought up Codey McElroy the last two weeks, but the NFL’s rules state that you can only elevate a player from the practice squad for two games on the season in non-COVID situations.

Yelder signed to the Bucs after final roster cuts before the start of the regular season after he spent training camp with the Titans. He’s played in 27 career games, including 14 with the Chiefs last season and one start.

Tampa Bay also called up Yelder to the roster in Week 3 as a COVID exception, so it did not count as one of his two games. When McElroy was on the roster the last two weeks, he had a role on special teams, which we can expect Yelder to have as well. He played 14 special teams snaps in that game on the road in Los Angeles.

The Bucs will look to improve to 5-1 for the season on Thursday night at the Eagles with a couple of days off over the weekend following it.