Updates On 2 Bucs Waived Ahead Of Week 15

Retaining C.J. Brewer Helps The Bucs’ Interior Defensive Line Depth

C.J. Brewer clearing waivers is good news for the Bucs, as it allows them to hold onto a depth piece who has been a help to the interior defensive line when needed over the last few years.

Originally signed in May of 2023, Brewer, a Coastal Carolina product, was waived following training camp that year and re-signed to the practice squad. He was released that November, but he was re-signed to the practice squad less than a month later. In January of 2024, he signed a futures contract with Tampa Bay.

Brewer would miss the initial 53-man roster again after training camp in 2024, but he once again found a spot on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster in September. He played in 12 games for the Bucs last year and recorded the first two sacks of his career, with both coming in a Week 8 loss to the Falcons. On the season, he finished with 12 tackles (7a  solo), two sacks, three tackles for loss and three quarterback hits.

The same, familiar story played out for Brewer again this past August, as he missed out on the final roster before once again signing with the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in September and in five games this season, he has four tackles (two solo), a half-sack and a quarterback hit. Now, after being waived Wednesday, it sounds like he’ll be sticking around in Tampa back on the practice squad.

Ryan Miller Is A Tough Loss For The Bucs’ Depth, Special Teams

It’s unfortunate that as it stands, the last memory Bucs fans might have of Ryan Miller is a couple of poor moments in kick coverage in last week’s loss to the Saints. He landed on Pewter Report’s Most Disappointing list for Week 14 as a result, but all things considered, Miller getting claimed by the Giants does make for a tough loss.

On the one hand, the Bucs did a fantastic job finding a relative gem in Miller, who was an undrafted free agent out of Furman in 2023. A tight end in college, the 6-foot-2, 221-pound Miller converted to wide receiver and carved out a nice depth role at times for Tampa Bay. He only played in one game in 2023, but he stepped up in 2024 when the Bucs suffered a rash of injuries at receiver.

Over 11 games (three starts) in 2024, Miller caught 12 of his 20 targets for 128 yards (10.7 avg.) and two touchdowns. Seven of his 12 catches went for first downs and his background as a tight end showed well when he was tasked with blocking.

Miller then made the 53-man roster this past August and played in 13 games (three starts), with most of his action coming on special teams. However, he did bring in his third career touchdown catch in a Week 2 win over the Texans.

Miller finishes his Bucs career (for now?) with 14 catches on 24 targets for 162 yards (11.6 avg.) and three touchdowns over 25 games (six starts).