The Bucs are fairly healthy entering the regular season, but their offensive line depth has taken some heavy losses this summer. Tampa Bay added another lineman to injured reserve on Sunday, activating guard Earl Watford off the COVID list to move him to IR. Watford was signed a couple weeks ago to help the team weather injuries on the offensive line.

Watford becomes the Bucs fifth offensive lineman added to the injured reserve list this offseason. OT Brad Seaton, OG Sadarius Hutcherson, OL John Molchon and C Donell Stanley are also on IR. The Bucs enter the season with their top nine offensive linemen on the roster, but every other lineman that opened camp with the team is now on injured reserve.

Watford played for Bucs head coach Bruce Arians in Arizona, before joining him in Tampa Bay in 2019. The veteran guard has been on and off the team for a couple years now. He’s capable of playing guard or center, and is a strong leader in the locker room. Because of new injured reserve rules, Watford is eligible to return to practice after the first three games.

DT Ndamukong Suh is now the only Bucs player remaining on the COVID list. Arians previously said that Suh should be activated by Monday.

The Bucs open the 2021 NFL season on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys.