Buccaneers Announce Signing Before Trade Deadline

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed offensive lineman Luke Haggard back to their practice squad on Tuesday, hours before the NFL trade deadline.

Greg Auman of Fox Sports first reported the move.

Auman wrote , “Bucs are signing offensive lineman Luke Haggard back to their practice squad. He was cut last week when they claimed Trevor Keegan off waivers. Familiar depth — he’s in his fourth year in Tampa, with 13 games and four starts along the way.”

Haggard, a 2023 undrafted free agent out of Indiana, has spent his entire career with Tampa Bay. The 6-foot-7, 305-pound lineman was waived on Nov. 4 so the team could claim Trevor Keegan off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings.

Keegan, a Michigan product, had appeared in seven games for the Vikings this season, mostly on special teams. The Buccaneers added him to the 53-man roster and cut Haggard to create the spot.

To bring Haggard back to the practice squad, Tampa Bay released running back Barika Kpeenu. Kpeenu, a North Dakota State product, had been signed to the practice squad on Oct. 27.

Haggard has played in 13 career games with four starts, all for the Buccaneers. He spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons entirely on the practice squad before injuries forced him onto the active roster in 2025.

He started four games at right guard that year while Cody Mauch was sidelined. The team later moved him out of the starting lineup when healthier options returned.

This season, Haggard made the 53-man roster out of training camp. He appeared in two games and was inactive for the other six before being waived last week.

The practice squad now includes both Haggard and Keegan as offensive line depth options. Haggard did not have to clear waivers after his most recent release, allowing the quick return.

The Buccaneers enter their bye week at 3-6. They sit third in the NFC South, where Carolina and New Orleans are both 3-5 while Atlanta is also 3-6.

Offensive line play has been steadier than in 2025. Tristan Wirfs is healthy and performing better, Luke Goedeke missed only one game, and Graham Barton has settled in at center.

Cody Mauch has worked through early rust, and Ben Bredeson has not been a major liability. The unit has held up while the bigger issues have involved quarterback Baker Mayfield and the pass catchers.

Tampa Bay ranks near the top of the league in rushing yards per game but near the bottom in passing. That balance has the team focusing on internal depth rather than major external additions.

With a 3-6 record, the Buccaneers are unlikely to buy or sell heavily at the trade deadline. They remain in the NFC South mix, which makes selling less appealing even as buying looks risky.

The re-signing of Haggard gives the team a familiar option who has already started games when injuries hit. It is the kind of low-risk depth move teams often make around the deadline.