One day after parting ways with inside linebacker Kenny Young, the Bucs have filled his roster spot with outside linebacker Genard Avery.

Elevated from the practice squad once already this season, Avery will make his biggest impact with the Bucs on special teams. In the season opener against Dallas, the former fifth-round pick played 16 special teams snaps, tying for the second most of any player. However, it appeared he was injured in that game and hasn’t been called up since. Now healthy, he joins the active roster.

Avery Offers Bucs Plenty Of Experience

The 27-year old linebacker signed with the Bucs at the tail end of training camp after being a surprise cut with the Steelers. Prior to signing with the Steelers, Avery spent the last two-and-a-half seasons with the Eagles. He played in 35 games during his stint in Philadelphia, with 12 starts coming last season. In 2021, he had 43 tackles and one sack with four tackles for loss.

Bucs OLB Genard Avery – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Entering the league in 2018 as a fifth-round selection out of Memphis, Avery had his most productive season his rookie year with the Browns. In five starts, he posted 40 tackles, five tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. For his career, he has 101 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

Avery has 418 career special teams snaps, including 98 snaps last season. Most of his snaps came on the field goal block unit, but he also has seen a lot of snaps on kick coverage units.

The Bucs have also signed inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert to the practice squad. The 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker originally entered the league as a sixth-round pick with the Steelers in 2019. He spent his first three seasons with Pittsburgh prior to being waived on Aug. 19. In 28 career games, Gilbert has tallied 21 special teams tackles and four tackles on defense.  

The Bucs (3-2) travel to Pittsburgh this week for a Sunday afternoon matchup with the Steelers (1-4).