The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set for a house cleaning of epic proportions this offseason, and that’s going to happen no matter what happens in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Carolina Panthers.
That means moves big and small, including cutting bait on running back Josh Williams, who the team waived on Monday, December 29, after Williams served an NFL drug suspension.
“The Buccaneers have waived rookie RB Josh Williams,” Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith wrote on X. “Williams returned to practice last week following an NFL suspension and the Bucs had until Monday to either activate him to the 53-man roster or waive him.”
Williams Hit With Whopping 6-Game Suspension
The NFL announced it was suspending Williams for using PEDS on November 11, which meant he wasn’t eligible to play again until Week 17 — what turned out to b a 20-17 road loss to the Miami Dolphins.
“Bucs RB Josh Williams has been suspended six games without pay for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, the league announced,” Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account.
“Bucs rookie running back Josh WIlliams has been suspended for six games without pay for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account. “He has played in three games this season, with four carries for 11 yards.”
“Buccaneers’ RB Josh Williams is suspended six games without pay for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account. “Williams will be eligible for reinstatement on Tuesday, December 22, following the Buccaneers’ Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers.”
Williams Went Undrafted Out of SEC Powerhouse
Williams, 5-foot-9 and 210 pounds, wasn’t selected in the 2025 NFL draft out of LSU and made the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
It wasn’t much different than college, when Williams went from a walk-on at LSU to having 2,094 career yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns for the Tigers.
“Originally a walk-on at LSU, Williams spent five years with the program,” LSU Wire’s Alexis Yoder wrote after Williams made Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster in August. “His most productive season came in 2022 when he took 97 carries for 532 yards and six touchdowns. Last year, he took 117 carries for 482 yards and six touchdowns.”
The Buccaneers have had a mess of a season at running back, with starter Bucky Irving forced to miss 7 games due to an injury followed by a mental health issue — stemming from the injury — just one year after he rushed for 1,200 yards as a rookie.
Veteran Rachaad White leads the Buccaneer with 549 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns in 16 games. The Buccaneers are 20th in the NFL in rushing at 112.9 yards per game.
Buccaneers Facing Must Win Game in Week 18
The Buccaneers are 7-9 headed into the regular season finale against the Panthers, with the winner most likely becoming NFC South Division champion. Tampa Bay has lost 7 of its last 8 games.
There is a scenario in which the Atlanta Falcons defeat the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints in their final 2 games, which would clinch the NFC South for the Panthers even if they lose to the Panthers.
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