Buccaneers Designate Edge Rusher For Return From Injured Reserve

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could get a player back in a room that hasn't quite produced this year.

Aug 10, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Markees Watts (58) catches a pass during warmups before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a bit of a hit to their edge-rushing depth against the New York Giants on Sunday, but thankfully, they'll have another option coming back to help.

Buccaneers edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka suffered an ankle injury that could keep him out for a bit against the Giants in a 30-7 win, but the Bucs announced on Wednesday that they've designated outside linebacker Markees Watts for return from injured reserve. Watts' last game was against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5.

Bucs have opened the 21-day practice window for pass rusher Markees Watts, who went to IR after tearing a quad.
— River Wells (@riverhwells) November 27, 2024

Watts has mostly played special teams during his time in Tampa Bay, but with Tryon-Shoyinka's status up in the air, he could see himself enter the team's edge-rushing rotation with the likes of Yaya Diaby, Chris Braswell and Anthony Nelson. Tampa Bay's edge rushers haven't contributed as much as they'd like this year, with only one of them (Nelson) netting more than two sacks on the year.

Watts, an undrafted free agent in 2023, has had four solo tackles and a sack so far with Tampa Bay.

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