The Bucs have brought back a pair of familiar faces as the team looks to bolster some depth at wide receiver, cornerback and on special teams. On Monday the team announced that it placed outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett on injured reserve and signed wide receiver Tyler Johnson and cornerback Ryan Smith to the team’s practice squad.

Barrett is done for the season after notching 31 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble in eight games before suffering an Achilles injury on Thursday Night Football in the Bucs’ 27-22 loss to the Ravens. The Bucs plan to start Anthony Nelson opposite Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to replace Barrett.

Bucs Bring Back Two Veterans

Bucs WR Tyler Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Johnson (6-1, 206) returns to the Bucs after spending the first seven weeks of the 2022 season with the Houston Texans, appearing in two games. He originally entered the league as a fifth-round pick (No. 161 overall) by the Buccaneers in the 2020 NFL Draft.

In two seasons with Tampa Bay, Johnson amassed 48 receptions for 529 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, Johnson appeared in six playoff games with the Buccaneers, including one start, recording seven receptions for 76 yards. The Minneapolis native played collegiately at Minnesota.

Smith (5-11, 189) spent his first five NFL seasons with the Bucs (2016-20) prior to signing with the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2021 offseason. Smith also spent time this season on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad from September 27 to October 25.

The veteran defensive back has played in 77 career games, including 17 starts, tallying 100 career tackles, 12 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. He has also played a significant role on special teams, notching 22 tackles over his career. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland, native played collegiately at North Carolina Central.

– Information from the Bucs communications department was used in this report