Buccaneers Waive RB Patrick Laird

Former Cal running back Patrick Laird got quite a bit of playing time in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first two preseason games, but apparently he did not do enough because the Buccaneers waived Laird on Tuesday.

Laird has NFL experience, so perhaps he can sign with another team. But he was the fifth running back on Tampa Bay's depth chart, so he had little chance of making the Bucs’ 53-man, regular-season roster.

Laird rushed for 8 yards on two carries in the Bucs’ first preseason game against the Steelers, and was the target of one pass that was incomplete.

In the second preseason game, Laird had three carries for 27 yards (including a 21-yard run) and one pass reception for 1 yard in a 26-20 win over the Ravens.

Laird last played in a regular-season NFL game in 2021, when he played in six games for the Miami Dolphins.

He arrived at Cal as a walk-on in 2014 and was a member of the Bears’ squad for five seasons. He rushed for 1,127 yards with 45 receptions as a junior in 2017 and he ran for 961 yards and had 51 receptions as a senior in 2018.

Laird signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and made the regular-season squad. He played in 15 games, including four starts, in 2019 and had 168 rushing yards and 23 receptions. He played 16 games the next season for Miami (no starts) and rushed for 72 yards. In 2021, Laird played in six games off the bench for Miami and had one carry for 4 yards and caught three passes.

Cover photo of Patrick Laird by Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports

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