The Bucs continue to deal with injuries in the secondary and particularly at safety, which has pushed them to making another move. Tampa Bay has signed safety Will Brooks, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports.
Dealing with injuries at safety, Bucs are signing rookie safety Will Brooks from Tennessee, who was a tryout player at rookie minicamp and also briefly with the Saints. Had four INTs in 2024.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 18, 2025
Brooks comes from the University of Tennessee where he recorded four interceptions last season. That type of production is exactly what Tampa Bay is looking for as they focus on creating turnovers. The Bucs have six interceptions through their first two preseason games.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
There’s a little familiarity with Brooks and the Bucs as he tried out for the team in during rookie mini-camp in May. The Saints also worked him out during the draft process. Brooks signed with the Chiefs as an undrfated free agent but was waived just three days after.
Hopefully the Bucs can find some luck with Brooks the same way they with corner JayVian Farr, who was also tried out with the Bucs and signed just last week. Farr has looked good through his first week of practices and a a game with the team. Maybe with Brooks they can find it again.
Bucs Are Hurt At Safety
Tampa Bay needed to add another safety after JJ Roberts was put on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. Starting safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has also missed the last week with a lower leg injury, putting Tykee Smith and Christian Izien as the starters in his absence.
However, Izien suffered an oblique injury in the Bucs’ preseason Week 2 win over the Steelers and his prognosis is not known yet other than Todd Bowles saying that he is sore.
Bucs GM Jason Licht & HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
That leaves Kaevon Merriweather, Rashad Wisdom and Shilo Sanders all competing for what is likely the last roster spot at the safety position with special teams being a factor. The addition of Brooks adds another player into the fold, although it’ll take a lot to get up to speed for this defense and play in next Saturday’s game.
With only a couple of weeks to go before the start of the regular seaosn, the Bucs are dealing with several injuries and the safety position has been at the forefront of their problems.
Matt Matera joined Pewter Report as an intern in 2018 and worked his way to becoming a full-time Bucs beat writer in 2020. In addition to providing daily coverage of the Bucs for Pewter Report, he also spearheads the Pewter Report Podcast on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel. Matera also makes regular in-season radio appearances analyzing Bucs football on WDAE 95.3 FM, the flagship station of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Last Preseason Game Is Most Important For 3 Bucs