TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made 38 roster moves ahead of the 6:00 p.m. ET deadline Sunday, trimming their roster from 91 to the regular-season limit of 53 players in a wave that included quarterback Jake Browning, 2024 draft pick Chris Braswell and two other members of last year’s class.
The cuts leave rookie Jalon Daniels as the only active backup to starter Baker Mayfield after the team waived quarterback Connor Bazelak and terminated the contract of Browning, a vested veteran who becomes an immediate free agent. Long snapper Scott Daly and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu were the other two vested veterans whose contracts were terminated, making them free agents not subject to waivers.
Of the 33 players waived, three carried injury designations — outside linebacker Mohamed Kamara, cornerback Pepe Williams and safety Xavier Williams — and would revert to the Buccaneers’ injured reserve list if unclaimed. The team used its maximum two injured-reserve-with-return designations on cornerback Josh Hayes and wide receiver David Sills V, both of whom must miss at least four games before returning to the active roster.
Braswell, an outside linebacker taken in the 2024 draft, headlined a group of three players from that class who were let go. Guard Elijah Klein and tight end Devin Culp were also waived. All seven members of the Buccaneers’ 2025 draft class were retained on the initial 53-man roster.
The 33 waived players are subject to waiver claims over the next 24 hours. Those who clear waivers will be prime candidates for the practice squad, which can hold 16 players — or 17 in Tampa Bay’s case if the team brings back tackle Paul Rubelt, a German native who carries a roster exemption through the NFL’s International Players Pathway program.
The Buccaneers’ practice squad is expected to take shape over the coming days, with game-day elevation options allowing the team to use those players frequently throughout the season.