Given the incredibly bad-luck string of injuries the Bucs have sustained in their secondary this year, they are once again signing a former safety from the past.

Two weeks ago, Tampa Bay claimed Mike Edwards off of waivers after he was released by the Tennessee Titans. Earlier today the Bucs signed second-year safety Kaevon Merriweather from the Lions practice squad after it was revealed that Edwards would miss at least a week after sustaining a grade one strain of his hamstring.

That was originally reported by Jenna Laine of ESPN.

Bucs safety Mike Edwards suffered a grade 1 hamstring strain, source says. Expectation is he’ll likely be out for a week.

— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) December 3, 2024

Now Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times is reporting that the team is also signing Ryan Neal to their practice squad in the spot vacated by Merriweather’s promotion to the active roster.

#Bucs are signing former S Ryan Neal to their practice squad. He’s 28. Played for Tampa Bay in 2023. Also has been with the Eagles, Falcons and Seahawks.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) December 4, 2024

Bucs Dealing With Incredible String Of Injury Bad Luck

Bucs CB Bryce Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Mike Edwards is just the latest in a long line of injuries to the Bucs secondary. Here is a list of players and how many games they have missed.

• FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – four games (foot)
• SS Jordan Whitehead – one game and counting – currently on injured reserve (pectoral)
• NCB Tykee Smith – four games and counting (concussion, knee)
• CB Jamel Dean – four games (hamstring)
• S Mike Edwards – will miss next game (hamstring)
• DB Christian Izien – one game (elbow)
• CB Bryce Hall – 11 games and counting – out for season on injured reserve (broken leg)

That’s a collective 25 games and counting. The Bucs had tried to build depth in the secondary this offseason. They drafted Tykee Smith in the third round and signed Jordan Whitehead and Bryce Hall in free agency. Still nothing could prepare them for this.

Ryan Neal’s Disappointing 2023

Tampa Bay originally signed Ryan Neal last year to be their starting strong safety opposite Antoine Winfield Jr. He was to replace Mike Edwards who departed in free agency after 2022 and Jordan Whitehead the year prior. It was originally heralded as a low-key good move after Neal had a strong 2022 season with the Seahawks. He was Pro Football Focus’ highest graded safety that year.

But Neal was unable to maintain that level of play in 2023. He was often out of position leading to major coverage busts on deep vertical plays. He also struggled to take good lines in pursuit leading to big plays after the catch. Perhaps none were bigger than the catch and run he allowed to tight end Brock Wright in the NFC Divisional round game against the Detroit Lions.

Dial it up for Brock Wright on 3rd & 1.

📺: #TBvsDET on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/frRD38ClOq pic.twitter.com/yiL8CSNaFE

— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024

Neal finished the year with 76 combined tackles and four tackles for a loss.

How Can Ryan Neal Help Now?

Bucs SS Ryan Neal – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The obvious answer is that Ryan Neal provides a body familiar with Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme at a position where they just don’t have enough bodies to go around. Beyond that there is a world where he may provide a small boost to a defense that has struggled mightily all year. Two of Tampa Bay’s biggest issues this year has been their middle of the field coverage and tackling. The team has missed a combined 119 tackles on the year, good for a 14.3% missed tackle rate. Last year they missed just 138 all season at an 11.1% clip.

Neal has been a historically solid tackler, with a career missed tackle rate of 11.7%. And while he struggled as a deep safety last year, he most likely has more athleticism and movement skills than any of the young linebackers the Bucs have trotted out this season since they lost SirVocea Dennis in week four.

And that is something Tampa Bay is in sore need of. As a dime overhang player, he could be an upgrade over a group of unathletic linebackers who look like they are stuck in the mud as 34-year-old Adam Thielen runs by them.

Tampa Bay has been trying to get to dime looks on long and late downs for weeks now. But injuries have continually thwarted the best laid plans of mice and men. Neal provides them with an unlikely opportunity to once again try to get to that personnel grouping if they so choose.