Bucs Nation
The Buccaneers made a rare special teams-oriented move Friday, signing former All-Pro J.T. Gray to the practice squad.
The 29-year-old Gray, an 8th-year safety who’s played 98 career games, will take the place of guard Karsen Barnhart, who was released in a corresponding move. Gray spent the first seven years of his career with the New Orleans Saints, with whom he earned one first-team nod (2021) and two second-team nods (2019 and 2024) as an All-Pro special teamer.
After being released after training camp due to injury, the longtime Saints captain bounced around to the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos, but he couldn’t stick at either spot and was released.
The Buccaneers will hope he can recapture his top-tier form from years past, as they’ve consistently been one of the worst coverage units in football. Tampa has permitted the fourth-most yards on kickoffs this year and is tied for third with the Steelers for most kickoffs of 30+ yards allowed (45).
The Bucs are just one week removed from allowing four 40+ kick returns in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. These coverage busts consistently put the defense in disadvantageous positions against superstar QB Josh Allen, who scored 6 touchdowns.
Gray, who has logged over 2,000 special teams snaps, has totaled 103 tackles, two QB hits, one pass defensed, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries during his career.
