Will Cutdowns Be Finished Today?

August 25th, 2025

Decisions.

So yesterday a few Bucs were given notice they won’t make the 53-man roster. Will the Bucs complete that task today?

Tomorrow is the deadline to get down to the NFL-mandated 53. It’s not the final 53 for Week 1 necessarily, as the Bucs likely will do some wheeling and dealing.

It would not shock Joe at all if the Bucs bring in new backup offensive linemen. Bucs fans better work on a rosary for the health of the offensive line. The current backups just aren’t up to the task, outside of Charlie Heck.

Speaking after the final worthless preseason game Saturday night, the Backup Bowl, Bucs coach Todd Bowles left the door open to sift through the newly unemployed for some help.

“[It is] still hard to tell,” Bowles said about whittling the roster down to 53 today. “You still got the waiver wire to look at and weigh the pluses against the minuses about keeping your own guys and what we need and who we like.

“That’ll be a tough decision to say we will or we won’t” wrap up the 53 today.

Last week Bucs assistant general manager Rob McCartney said all the scouts were in Tampa and everyone was breaking down tape of guys they think may be available this week.

So it sounds like if a player or two (or three?) catches their eyes, the Bucs will be ready to pounce.

33 Responses to “Will Cutdowns Be Finished Today?”

  1. adam from ny Says:

    there’s a glaring hole at ILB…

    knock on wood if you’re with me………..hehe

  2. adam from ny Says:

    wait where is sua opeta

    did he get hurt again…i thought he was back………..?

  3. Noclu4u Says:

    We definitely need depth at the O-line and linebacker positions. Still holding out hope for Elijah Klein.There is some talent there. He needs to improve his pass blocking and pulling ability. He is a beast in run blocking. I did see some better play by Braswell in preseason. He had multiple pressures in the Steelers game. One of which was very close to a sack. We better hope Reddick comes through and stays healthy though because I saw a lot of the same old same ole in those preseason games.. At least Reddick will be going up against falcons 3rd string tacles in game one
    As always Go Bucs!!

  4. Fred Says:

    Is Dean injured yet?

  5. Hodad Says:

    Joint practices must help scouting other teams players. The Steelers are one team that always drafts tough O, and D lineman.

  6. First Last Says:

    We need to find an edge rusher that looks better than Braswell.

  7. Beeej Says:

    Not on the waiver wire

  8. ocala Says:

    I agree with Joe, Bucs biggest weakness regarding depth is OL.
    Although it looks like the Bucs got a major steal in Benjamin Chukwuma(he had a 87.2 pass blocking grade against the Bills).

  9. BucU Says:

    “”wait where is sua opeta
    did he get hurt again…i thought he was back………..?””

    Haven’t heard a syllable from 1 Buc Place about Sua’status. Why they resigned him is beyond me.

  10. BucU Says:

    Braswell has shown NOTHING as far as I’m concerned. Very very likely another valuable 2nd round pick down the drain.

  11. 813bucboi Says:

    need rushers…

    trade a 4th & 7th to the bengals for TH

    GO BUCS!!!!

  12. Baking with Grizz Says:

    Opera was in the sidelines with uniform on Saturday. Fyii

  13. Baking with Grizz Says:

    Opeta^

  14. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    @ Fred, lol not yet. First he’s got to start the game, drop a pick that hits him on his face mask, get beat deep and then on the fourth play of the season he’ll get injured.

  15. buc4evr Says:

    Still think ILB and OLB needs help. Really need another Edge rusher as I am not sold on Braswell. A real OT would also help.

  16. Aqualung Says:

    Too bad we can’t pick up Robert Saleh or Brian Flores on wavers for our weak defense.

  17. BD Says:

    Said it before,Braswell= Noah Spence….

  18. miken Says:

    I see the Eagles have made three trades for quality back ups and do this commonly…. that is the way to go.

  19. StickinUp4Centers Says:

    Both the overall roster and game-day rosters need to expand. It affects the quality of product when a team:

    A. Has players that are injured but not long enough to go on the PUP/IR (Wirfs/Godwin)

    B. has bubble players that spent two months learning the playbook but can’t be retained go on to other teams, only to find later in the season injuries hit that position and they have to go grab someone sitting on their couch who has no familiarity with the play book.

    C. Has rookies that draft capital was invested in who might not be ready but make the cut over a player who might be a better player for the team earlier in the season.

    All this talk about player safety, but keeping the rosters small doesn’t help.

  20. buc4evr Says:

    @BD, or JTS version II.

  21. Lt. Dan Says:

    “final worthless preseason game” color Lt Dan triggered!

  22. KABucs Says:

    BA’s Red Pen Says:

    @ Fred, lol not yet. First he’s got to start the game, drop a pick that hits him on his face mask, get beat deep and then on the fourth play of the season he’ll get injured.

    Dean has to hold up long enough for Morrison to be back. Maybe they can take turns being injured and the two of them can make one CB. LOL Want Morrison to get enough experience you get his feet wet in the NFL… without hurting us defensively of course.

  23. VAbucs fan Says:

    this is a way too early look at the most recent waiver wire players that are available as of today 8-25-25 In the incoming weeks as more cuts continue the quality of available players will increase.
    in no particular order
    1. Keenan Isaac CB
    2, nic needham S
    3, Jamin Davis LB
    4. k’von wallace S
    5. isaiah bolden CB
    6. Ronnie perkins EDGE
    7.

  24. DrunkInYbor Says:

    Braswell has looked way better since that first preseason game. He looks like a project but a worthwhile one. At least I can see why they drafted him now. When he knows what he’s doing he can be ferocious. He is thinking way too much and that’s on the coaches. Don’t tell me what he can’t do or struggle with. Tell me what he can do. Is basically what B
    b. Was saying.

  25. RBUC Says:

    Oline help is a serious need – Elijah Klein & Jake Majors as #2 backups ain’t gonna cut it! Klein was getting pushed all over the field against Buffalo ALL NIGHT LONG!!!

  26. LakelandBuc Says:

    This team desperately need Linebackers

    Inside and Outside

  27. Iamgusswayze Says:

    Bucs are going to scape the trash pile as soon as cuts are made are made across the league. I trust Jason licht. Fire the cannons, and go Bucs!

  28. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Joe,

    How did you determine our lack of depth?
    Did you just happen to guess or did you make that decision after watching…….

    MEANINGLESS PRESEASON GAMES?
    🤔

  29. snookman Says:

    i would keep Belzeak over Trask.

    That kid has way more upside

  30. heyjude Says:

    Agree with snookman. Connor did pretty good out there.

  31. yut Says:

    Stop the run at all costs again?

  32. unbelievable Says:

    “trade a 4th & 7th to the bengals for TH”

    You’re delusional if you think the Bengals are taking anything less than at least a 1st + 2nd rounder for Trey Hendrickson…

  33. Gipper Says:

    The pre-season defense looked familiar. Get it that this was 2nd and 3rd string players. Does Todd Bowles system forbid tight coverage and solid tackling? Everyone knew that Bucs defense needed a major overhaul. This defense still needs a lot more than Reddick who has been oversold on these pages. We are going to find out very soon that the defense will be less than average in 2025. Nothing against Ebuka who will be a nice player, but Bucs needed an impact defender at 19.

 

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