Bucs Place Defender On IR, Make Roster Strikes
The Bucs proceed to make roster strikes as they take care of extra accidents early within the season. At this time they introduced they’re placing security Rashad Knowledge on Injured Reserve. Knowledge was a reserve defensive again particular teamer for Tampa Bay this yr, having made the roster for the primary time. He spent 2024 on the Bucs’ follow squad.
Knowledge impressed head coach Todd Bowles this preseason when he jumped in to play nickel within the group’s second and third preseason video games after accidents to Christian Izien and J.J. Roberts left the group shallow on depth chart. He had not cross-trained at nickel previous to being thrust into motion and performed nicely main Bowles to say following the sport in opposition to the Steelers, “Knowledge being on the follow squad final yr. Really, performed nickel within the second half cuz we had been down all the corners. And he did a heck of a job taking part in nickel, sturdy security and free security from a educated standpoint.”
Bucs S Rashad Knowledge and OLB Markees Watts – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Knowledge hasn’t had any alternatives on protection in the course of the common season however has performed 25 snaps on particular groups between week one in Atlanta and week 4 in opposition to the Eagles. He recorded two complete tackles on the season.
Changing Knowledge
The Bucs are changing Knowledge not from their very own follow squad, however from the follow squad of one in every of their preseason opponents who they obtained to see up shut and private throughout joint practices. Security Sebastian Castro is being signed from the Steelers’ follow squad on to the Bucs’ lively roster. Castro led the Steelers with 5 mixed tackles and two defensive stops in opposition to the Bucs earlier this yr and totaled 10 tackles within the preseason.
Castro performed 4 years on the College of Iowa earlier than signing with Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent in 2025. Over these 4 years he totaled 163 tackles, 14 for a loss, 2.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 14 passes defensed and 5 pressured fumbles.
Aug 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers security Sebastian Castro (29) tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers vast receiver Garrett Greene (85) in the course of the second half at Acrisure Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Barry Reeger-Imagn Photographs
Lance Zeirlein’s scouting report for Castro contains, “Scheme-dependent security who performs with chaotic vitality close to the road of scrimmage. Castro would possibly lack the man-cover expertise and athleticism to stay a giant nickelback within the execs. He performs with urgency from quick zone and rushes downhill to set a include edge and spackle lacking run suits as a run defender. Athletic testing might be key in projecting Castro’s utilization. An absence of versatility and his age (turns 25 in October) may work in opposition to him within the draft, however his physicality, subject demeanor and special-teams utility create roster worth in his favor as a down security.”
With Knowledge now on IR, Castro’s 296 collegiate particular groups snaps issue into the choice so as to add him to the roster.
Follow Squad Strikes
The Bucs made two different strikes associated to their follow squad immediately. They positioned Jayson Jones on Follow Squad/Injured Reserve and signed cornerback Damarion Williams to the follow squad. Jones was introduced on simply after the ultimate lower down day of the preseason after he spent the offseason with Baltimore. He introduced measurement and energy to a place the place the Bucs had trended lighter lately.
As a substitute of discovering one other defensive lineman to exchange Jones on the follow squad, Tampa Bay is as a substitute signing Williams, a defensive again. This can be a nod to the accidents the group sustained to that place group in week 4. Along with Knowledge taking place, each cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Ben Morrison left the sport with tender tissue accidents. Each gamers are getting MRI’s and Bowles didn’t have updates on the severity of these accidents or how a lot time they may miss at Monday’s press convention. Security Tykee Smith additionally left Sunday’s sport within the third quarter however returned to play shortly thereafter.
Williams is a former fourth-round draft number of the Ravens in 2022. He performed 225 defensive snaps his rookie season recording 24 tackles and two go deflections. He spent this offseason and preseason with the Seahawks.
