The Bucs have lost another offensive lineman for the year due to injury. Silas Dzansi, who was entering his second season in Tampa Bay after spending last year on the practice squad, injured his knee during 11-on-11 drills on Saturday’s practice. The team placed him on injured reserve on Thursday as Tampa Bay finalizes preparation for its 2024 preseason opener at Cincinnati against the Bengals on Saturday night.

Dzansi, who signed with the Bucs last year as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech, had made noticeable improvement this offseason and was vying for one of the reserve offensive line roles in training camp. The former Hokies star played left tackle in college but had shown the ability to play both left and right tackle at the NFL level in practice.

The Bucs lost guard Sua Opeta for the year to a torn ACL injury the first week of training camp. Opeta, who came to Tampa Bay by way of Philadelphia this offseason in free agency, was competing with fellow newcomer Ben Bredeson for the right to start at left guard. Bredeson had been winning that competition, but the Bucs were hoping Sua would increase the level of competition in the preseason.

Bucs Sign Guard Ryan Johnson

Bucs OT Silas Dzansi and OLB Anthony Nelson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs had been giving Brandon Walton some reps at guard over the past week with the season-ending injury to Sua Opeta. Walton, who is primarily a reserve right tackle with the flexibility to kick inside to guard, will be used primarily at tackle now that Silas Dzansi has been placed on injured reserve. To lessen Walton’s burden playing guard the Bucs have signed Ryan Johnson to take Dzansi’s roster spot.

The 6-foot-2, 306 pound Johnson originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots on May 13, 2024, before being released on June 17, 2024. Johnson played collegiately at Duquesne University (2019-20) and Youngstown State University (2021-23), where he appeared in 32 career contests.

In his final collegiate season in 2023, he started 10 games for the Penguins and helped running back Jaleel McLaughlin claim MVFC Offensive Player of the Year honors with an average of 144.4 rushing yards per game. Johnson will wear No. 65 for Tampa Bay and won’t play in the Bucs’ preseason opener in Cincinnati. Instead he’ll likely make his debut in Monday’s practice.