The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t done tinkering ahead of a season-defining game at the Carolina Panthers in Week 16 — a game in which the NFC South Division title could very well be on the line.
The Buccaneers signed 3-time NFL All-Pro safety and special teams standout J.T. Gray to the 53-man roster on Friday, December 19, after a month on the practice squad. Gray made his regular-season debut with the Buccaneers in a 29-28, Week 15 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Buccaneers are 7-7 overall and in first place in the NFC South by one game over the Panthers with 3 games remaining. That includes 2 games against Carolina, including the Week 18 regular season finale.
The Buccaneers are trying to win a fourth consecutive NFC South title.
“Buccaneers sign J.T. Gray to 53, waived Nick Jackson,” NFL reporter Aaron Wilson wrote on X on December 19.
“Bucs make a roster tweak — safety J.T. Gray has been promoted from practice squad to the 53, and rookie linebacker Nick Jackson has been waived,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on X. “Adding Anthony Walker, with Lavonte David and Sirvocea Dennis healthy, they had extra depth at LB.”
Crazy 2025 NFL Journey for J.T. Gray
This will be Gray’s fourth team this season following stints with the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos.
Gray, 29 years old, played for the Saints for 8 seasons.
“In seven seasons with the Saints, Gray played 98 games and became known as one of the NFL’s best special teams players,” Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith wrote after Gray signed to the practice squad in November. “In 2021, he led the NFL with 16 kick-coverage spots, earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer. He was also a first-team Associated Press All-Pro in that category in 2021 and earned second-team selections in 2019 and 2024. In his career, he has 103 tackles, one tackles or loss, two quarterback hits, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.”
The Buccaneers have had issues on special teams all year, which Gray has been brought in to help remedy in whatever way he can.
“J.T. Gray made his Bucs debut last week and had a tackle on special teams,” Auman wrote on X. “He and Rashad Wisdom are new additions to the coverage teams as they try to shore up issues there. If all goes right for Bucs, Nick Jackson clears waivers and is back on the practice squad Monday.”
From Undrafted to Becoming NFL All-Pro
Gray, 6-foot and 202 pounds, made the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018 after playing for Mississippi State.
New Orleans was forced to cut Gray in a salary cap move before the season.
“One of the more perplexing moves the New Orleans Saints have made in recent weeks was the decision to cut J.T. Gray,” Saints Wire’s John Sigler wrote on September 2. ” … anyone who has watched a lot of Saints games since Gray made the team back in 2018 can tell how important he’s been to their success … He was named a team captain for the first time before that breakout 2021 campaign and core the captain’s patch through 2022, 2023, and 2024. He’s regularly ranked among league leaders in tackles on special teams. There just haven’t been many players who can shed a block and get downfield to cover a punt or kickoff like him. So why cut him?”
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