(via Tampa Bay Buccaneers Communications) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that the team has placed safety Justin Evans, linebacker Adarius Glanton, cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, tight end O.J. Howard and guard J.R. Sweezy on Injured Reserve.
Evans has played in all 14 games for Tampa Bay this season, starting 11. The Buccaneers’ second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Evans has recorded 65 tackles, tied for the third-most on the team and tallied three interceptions, tied for the team lead and the third-most among NFL rookies.
Glanton has played in all 14 games for the Buccaneers this year, with four starts, registering 36 tackles, one forced fumble, one sack and a fumble recovered for a touchdown.
Hargreaves has started eight-of-nine games he has played in this year, recording 41 tackles and five passes defensed.
Howard, Tampa Bay’s first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, has started all 14 games for the Buccaneers, catching 26 passes for 432 yards (16.6 avg.) and six touchdowns. Howard’s six receiving touchdowns are tied for the most by a rookie this season and are tied for the sixth-most in the NFL among tight ends. His 16.6 yards per reception is the eighth-highest in the NFL among players with at least 25 catches – and is the highest of any tight end.
Sweezy has also started all 14 games for the Buccaneers and, prior to Monday night’s game, had not missed an offensive snap all season. .
The Buccaneers have signed offensive lineman Adam Gettis and cornerback David Rivers, while promoting linebacker Nigel Harris, safety Isaiah Johnson and defensive lineman Channing Ward from the practice squad to the active roster.
Gettis (6-3, 315) originally entered the league as a fifth-round pick (141st overall) of the Washington Redskins in the 2012 NFL Draft. During his career, Gettis has played for the Redskins and New York Giants, while also spending time on the practice squads of the Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Iowa Hawkeye has played in 17 career games, with one start. Gettis, a Frankfort, Illinois native, will wear No. 72 for Tampa Bay.
Rivers (6-0, 185) re-joins the Buccaneers after spending Weeks 3-10 and Week 12 on Tampa Bay’s practice squad. A Miami native, Rivers played collegiately a Youngstown State. He will wear No. 27 for Tampa Bay.
Harris (6-2, 225), who was signed to Tampa Bay’s practice squad last week, originally entered the league as a college free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers this past offseason. This season he has spent time with the Chargers and the New York Giants, playing in seven total games, with one start, recording nine tackles and three special teams tackles. Harris, a Tampa native who played prep football at Hillsborough High School, played collegiately at South Florida. He wears No. 52 for Tampa Bay.
Johnson (6-0, 209) has played in two games for the Buccaneers this season, recording three special teams tackles, and has spent the rest of the season on the team’s practice squad. A native of Cary, North Carolina, Johnson played collegiately at South Carolina. He wears No. 39 for Tampa Bay.
Ward (6-4, 279) has been on Tampa Bay’s practice squad since Week 2. He entered the NFL as a college free agent with the Buccaneers last season, playing in five games, with one start, registering five tackles. A native of Aberdeen, Mississippi, Ward played collegiately at Mississippi. He wears No. 71 for Tampa Bay.
The team also announced that fullback Austin Johnson, wide receiver Devin Lucien and offensive lineman Avery Young have been signed to the practice squad.
Johnson (6-2, 240) played in one game for Tampa Bay last season and spent this past offseason and preseason with the Buccaneers. The Hickory, North Carolina, native originally entered the league as a college free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 2013, spending time on the team’s active roster and practice squad from 2013-15, playing in 17 games, with two starts, rushing 12 times for 31 yards and one touchdown, with seven catches for 45 yards and one touchdown. Johnson, who played collegiately at Tennessee, will wear No. 46 for Tampa Bay.
Lucien (6-2, 200) originally entered the league as a seventh-round pick (225th overall) of the New England Patriots in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Los Angeles native spent the 2016 season on New England’s practice squad and this season has spent time on the practice squads of the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs. Lucien, who played collegiately at Arizona State, will wear No. 15 for Tampa Bay.
Young (6-5, 326) played collegiately at Auburn and originally entered the NFL as a college free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 2016. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida native spent the 2016 season on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list and was with the Miami Dolphins this past offseason and preseason. He will wear No. 56 for Tampa Bay.
Photo Courtesy Of Getty Images