Following a 19-14 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bucs announced on Sunday afternoon that they have waived three players. WR Josh Pearson, TE De’Quan Hampton and CB Cameron Kinley were the first three players cut as the team works to get the roster down to 85 by Tuesday’s 4PM deadline. The Bucs now have 87 players on their training camp roster.

Pearson played 19 snaps against the Bengals, but dropped his only two targets. One was a gorgeous deep ball from Kyle Trask that could have been a pivotal play. Pearson flashed at times in camp, but his lack of speed and burst was always going to be an issue. If he wasn’t bringing elite ball skills to the table, he had no shot in Tampa Bay.

Hampton’s athleticism is for real. The way he moved with his frame is definitely enticing, but he never had a chance with the Bucs. Hampton barely got onto the field in practice 11v11s, and played just three snaps against the Bengals. He’s an interesting project for a team looking for a move tight end, but the Bucs have no interest in another non-blocker at that position.

Of the three cuts, Kinley will be the one that resonates the most with fans. After receiving an exemption from the Navy which allowed Kinley to compete for a roster spot this summer, the big cornerback struggled in training camp against better competition. His lack of speed and ball skills was apparent too often, especially with several Buccaneer cornerbacks posting impressive performances against the Bengals.

Tampa Bay still needs to waive two more players by Tuesday afternoon. The Bucs return to practice on Monday at 2:15 PM.