Buccaneers Bring Back Cornerback Brandon McDonald

Even though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers open the season in just a few days against the Carolina Panthers, they decided to make a roster move on Wednesday as they went out and brought back cornerback Brandon McDonald. McDonald was signed in August, but was let go when the team decided to bring in running back D.J. Ware this past weekend.

McDonald played 13 games for the Detroit Lions last season, and prior to that he was with the Cleveland Browns for a few seasons. To make room for McDonald on the roster the Bucs had to let go of offensive lineman Derek Hardman.

The Bucs also signed guard Julian Vandervelde to the practice squad, and let wide receiver Bert Reed was dropped from the practice squad to make room for Vandervelde.

For more on the Bucs, head to Bucs Nation and stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay. For all things pro football, head on over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Dolphins Roster Cuts: David Garrard Released By Miami

Miami Dolphins quarterback David Garrard is going to be let go, according to a FOX Sports Jay Glazer, who said he received a text message from Garrard on his release. This was not a huge surprise as the Dolphins have already named Ryan Tannehill as the starting quarterback, and they also have Matt Moore, who will be the team's backup.

The need to keep Garrard on as a third-string quarterback was not necessary, and it did not help Garrard's case that he suffered a knee injury earlier in camp prior to the teams preseason opener which cost him snaps while he was trying to get his knee healed.

With Garrard missing time and still not as healthy as Moore or Tannehill it was a move the Dolphins felt they had to make by letting Garrard go and not carry three quarterbacks on their roster.

For more on the Dolphins visit The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Jaguars Roster: Jacksonville Sign Colin Cloherty, Send Brett Brackett To IR

The Jacksonville Jaguars made some roster moves as they signed tight end Colin Cloherty and placed tight end Brett Brackett on the injured reserve list. The Jaguars signed Brackett last week to take the place of Zach Miller, who was placed on the injured reserve list after he cleared waivers.

Brackett injured his knee on the first day of practice on Monday, and the injury was severe enough that the decision was made to place him on the injured reserve list which ends his season.

To replace Brackett, the Jaguars brought back Cloherty, who was one of the players let go when the Jaguars were trying to trim their roster down to 53 players. Cloherty will be used more as a wide receiver than a tight end, and he will be able to create mismatches when he does line up in passing downs against linebackers.

Read more on the Jags at Big Cat Country and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Kellen Winslow, Tanard Jackson Moves Prove Beneficial For Bucs

The Bucs moved Kellen Winslow and Tanard Jackson in the offseason, and the decisions have proved to be correct.

Bucs Sign D.J. Ware

The Buccaneers signed running back D.J. Ware in attempt to add some depth to the running back position. It's clear that Tampa is going to place a lot of emphasis on the running game (call them old school), so the more ball carriers the merrier for the Bucs.

Here's some analysis from Bucs Nation:

With just 324 career rushing yards on 81 carries, Ware has not been a productive back as a runner -- but he was much more useful on passing downs. He has 37 career passes for 252 yards, with 27 of them coming last year. Current Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan should be familiar with Ware from his time with the Giants.

The addition of Ware brings the Bucs' running back total to four: Doug Martin, LeGarrette Blount and Michael Smith. Martin was recently named the starting running back over Blount, who was last year's starter.

Read more on the Bucs at Bucs Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NFL Cuts: Buccaneers Claim Corvey Irvin, Cody Wallace Off Waivers

The Buccaneers continued to use their high-waiver priority Saturday, claiming DT Corvey Irvin from the Jacksonville Jaguars and C Cody Wallace from the Houston Texans off waivers.

Irvin was a third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2009 but has played just six games in his NFL career, compiling only five tackles in the process. At age 27, it's not as if he's still a developing youngster so it's possible he wont stick in Tampa long.

Wallace was a fourth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers back in 2008 but he's spent the past two years with the Texans learning their effective zone-blocking scheme. Still, Wallace never got past the practice squad and has only played in one game in his entire career back in 2009 with the Niners.

The Bucs parted ways with defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry and tackle Bradley Sowell to make room for these newcomers.

For more information on Buccaneers football, head on over to Bucs Nation.

NFL Cuts: Bucs Claim Julian Vandervelde Off Waivers from Eagles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have claimed offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.

Tampa Bay did not have to waive any players to make room for Vandervelde on their roster.

Vandervelde, an offensive guard, played his college ball at the University of Iowa. He was a Second Team All-Big Ten player in 2010, as well as a four-time Academic All-Big Ten player. Vandervelde was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He appeared in just one game last season.

The news comes on the heels of two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Davin Joseph suffering a season-ending left patellar tendon injury. Joseph has underwent surgery Tuesday and was placed on the injured reserve list.

In his absence, the Bucs had been searching for some offensive line help, and it appears that Vandervelde fits the bill. Vandervelde is more likely to provide line depth than start.

For more on the Buccaneers, check out our blog Bucs Nation or SBNation Tampa Bay.

NFL Cuts: Jaguars Keep 4 UDFA's On Their Way To 53

In the midst of their roster cuts to trim the team down to 53 players, the Jaguars elected to keep four undrafted rookie free agents on their roster. That's the most undrafted rookies to make the roster in franchise history. The group features:Mike Brewster, DB Antwon Blake, WR Kevin Elliott and LB Julian Stanford.

Here's a complete list of the Jags cuts, via Big Cat Country:

Courtney Greene, Corvey Irvin, Rod Issac, Trumaine McBride, Richard Murphy, Jordan Palmer, William Robinson, Leigh Torrence, Demetrius Williams, Daniel Baldridge, Colin Cloherty, Odrick Ray, Will Ta'ufo'ou Kendrick Adams, Lee Barbiasz, Mike Brown, Ryan Davis, Antonio Dennard, D.J. Hall, Joshua Jones, and J.K. Schaffer.

The Jags also placed offensive guard Will Rackley on the injured reserve list due to an ankle injury he's been dealing with. Since Rackley was placed on IR and not on the 53-man roster, he won't be available to play in 2012.

Read more on the Jags at Big Cat Country and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Jaguars Place Will Rackley On Injured Reserve

The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed offensive guard Will Rackley on injured reserve according to a Big Cat Country report. Rackley has been dealing with an ankle injury which prompted the move although he had returned to practice prior to Jacksonville's final preseason game.

The Jaguars placing him on the IR will make the second year player unavailable this season:

Rackley is not eligible to come off of the IR list mid-season, despite the new IR rules for the 2012 season because he did not make it to the 53-man roster. In order to be eligible, he would have had to be on the 53-man roster and be placed on IR after Sept. 4, per the new rule.

For the latest on the Jacksonville Jaguars, be sure to check out Big Cat Country and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

Miami Dolphins Roster Cuts: Miami Reaches 53 Man Roster

The Miami Dolphins have made the cuts required to reach a 53-man roster, parting ways with a number of players Friday night. Here is a complete list of the cuts, via the Sun-Sentinal's Omar Kelly.

The following players were waived:

• DT Isaako Aaitui
• CB Vince Agnew
• DT Ryan Baker
• OT Will Barker
• OG Chandler Burden
• LB Cameron Collins
• WR BJ Cunningham
• OG Ray Feinga
• WR Jeff Fuller
• WR Clyde Gates
• WR Chris Hogan
• CB Quinten Lawrence
• LB Shelly Lyons
• OT Andrew McDonald
• OT Lydon Murtha
• S Anderson Russell
• WR Roberto Wallace
• LB Jamaal Westerman.

Buccaneers Roster Update: Tampa Bay Cuts WR Tiquan Underwood Despite Strong Preseason

Wide receiver Tiquan Underwood has been cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times. This move comes as a surprise after Underwood's performances in camp and in the Buccaneers' preseason games. Underwood had nine catches in the Bucs' four preseason games, collecting 158 yards but scoring no touchdowns.

Underwod is a three-year veteran of the NFL. Drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL draft, his 2010 season was his best. He collected only eight receptions for 111 yards but shined on special teams, gaining 561 yards returning 24 kicks, an average of 23.4 yards per return. He played for the New England Patriots in 2011, appearing in six games and collecting three receptions for 30 yards and returning no kicks.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage as teams cut down to the 53-man roster. For all things Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation. For complete coverage of all 32 teams across the National Football League, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

NFL Cuts: Colin Cloherty Released By The Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have released tight end Colin Cloherty, who announced the decision on his personal Twitter feed.

Cloherty was used as a part time player over the last two years with the Jaguars, playing in just six games between the 2010 and 2011 seasons, but he looked impressive during training camp this year and made the most of his start against the New Orleans Saints, catching three passes for 39 yards.

Alfie Crow at Big Cat Country thought Cloherty did enough during training camp to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster, but Cloherty's departure likely means that Zach Miller will most likely make the final roster.

Miller has been injured during training camp with a calf injury and missed most of the 2011 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. New head coach Mike Mularkey must think that Miller will be ready to go when they start the regular season on Sept 9.

For more on the Jacksonville Jaguars, make sure to head on over to Big Cat Country.

NFL Cuts: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Release Cody Grimm

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have cut safety Cody Grimm according to a report from Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Grimm has had a pretty poor preseason for the Buccaneers, but seemed like a decent bet to make the 53-man final roster. Grimm showed some promise during his rookie season in 2010 where he made nine starts and recorded 57 tackles and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, but injuries cut short his 2011 campaign before it really began.

Grimm played in just three games, starting all of them, last year before he was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Grimm recorded 11 tackles in his shortened season.

With Grimm gone, the Bucaneers have only three safeties on the roster in Ronde Barber, Ahmad Black and first-round draft pick Mark Barron.

For the latest on all things Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation and join the discussion.

NFL Cuts: Buccaneers Waive Amobi Okoye, Headed To Bears

The Buccaneers made the decision to cut veteran defensive lineman Amobi Okoye on Friday when it was time to slim the roster down to 53 players. Reports surfaced not to long after Okoye was let go that he would be negotiating a deal to return to the Chicago Bears, who he had success with last season as a reserve.

Okoye signed a one-year deal with the Bucs over the offseason, but he was unable to stay healthy enough to earn a spot on the field or even on the roster apparently, Okoye underwent a knee scope in June and he wasn't able to play in the last three preseason games for Tampa.

The Bucs still lack depth at defensive line and it's unclear what their plans to deal with that issue will be.

Be sure to check out Bucs Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay for additional news and analysis on the Bucs.

NFL Cuts: Jaguars Rookie LB's Have A Shot At Final Roster

With the NFL's deadline for cutting down rosters from 90 to 75 players looming this weekend, the Jacksonville Jaguars have four rookie linebackers fighting for two or three spots on the team, according to Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union.

The Jaguars' fifth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Brandon Marshall (UNLV), is competing against undrafted free agents, Joshua Jones (Elon), J.K. Schaffer (Cincinnati) and Julian Stanford (Wagner) for the final two or three roster spots at linebacker. With a 4-3 defense, Jacksonville's anticipated starters at linebacker for Week 1 are Paul Posluzsny, Daryl Smith and Russell Allen, according to Big Cat Country. Other than those three, though, the Jaguars have just one other veteran linebacker under contract in Kyle Bosworth.

With such a lack of depth at the position, and Clint Session on the physically unable to perform list, it's likely three of the linebackers could make the team, especially if they can make an impact on special teams.

For more on the Jaguars, make sure to check out Big Cat Country.

Jaguars 53-Man Roster Projection

After the Jacksonville Jaguars cut their roster down to 75 players on Monday, head coach Mike Mularkey and the rest of the coaching staff still need to cut an additional 22 players before the start of the regular season on Sept 9.

Alfie Crow at Big Cat Country made his prediction of his final 53-man roster, and Crow finished with 26 offensive players and 24 defensive players to go along with the three specialists.

One of the big names Crow left off was tight end Zach Miller, who continues to battle injuries and has not been impressive when on the field,

After an entire pre-season/camp of a variety of injuries and little to no production when he was out on the field, I just can't see a way that Miller is deserving of taking up a roster spot any longer. You can't stash him on IR again either, cause he's due to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Colin Cloherty has proven he can do what Miller can do, perhaps not as athletically, but with consistency and the ability to actually stay on the field.

Crow also thinks that the fourth safety for the Jaguars is not currently on the roster, but they will pick up someone on the waiver wire.

For additional coverage, check out Jaguars blog Big Cat Country. For more from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Miami Dolphins 53-Man Roster Projection

The Vontae Davis trade and release of Julius Pruitt altered the projected 53-man roster from Kevin Nogle at The Phinsider. But since he's the hard working blogger he is, there's an adjusted one right here.

In this projection, there are 27 total players on offense and 23 on defense. The noticeable change is obviously at the cornerback spot, since Davis is no longer on the team. Sean Smith, Richard Marshall and Nolan Carroll will see the most time at that position.

Here's a quick note on Davis' roster spot from Nogle:

Jamaal Westerman takes the roster spot of Vontae Davis, for now. I don't think the Dolphins go into the season with only four CBs, but, I don't think the fifth is on the roster right now.

For more on the Dolphins, please be sure to check out our blog The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay for all the latest news and updates.

Dolphins Face Decisions On David Garrard, Brian Hartline

The Miami Dolphins will have to make some critical decisions about who makes their 53-man roster over the next week.

Nobody will be more intriguing than David Garrard. The ex-Jaguar started the offseason as the favorite to overtake Matt Moore and become the Dolphins' starter for Week 1. However, Garrard got injured and rookie Ryan Tannehill has impressed, leaving the veteran twisting in the roster winds.

Considering Miami already has Moore and Tannehill, it's probably unlikely that Garrard survives the final cuts, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Garrard is just beginning to get back into the swing of things after having arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago, and has yet to run or jog. If Garrard is on the roster come Sept. 9, his $2.25 million salary is fully guaranteed. Miami isn't allowed to cut him due to injury, but can reach a settlement with the quarterback.

"It’s unfortunate, it really is, but there’s worse things going on in this world than my knee," Garrard said. "When you’ve lost your mother, when you’ve have Crohn’s disease, this is just one more thing that you battle through. A lot of guys don’t even make it to year 11, so I’m just going to take it day to day and roll from there."

Another player to watch is Brian Hartline. The wide receiver is still recovering from a left calf injury that he suffered the first day of training camp.

Hartline is probably the tougher cut to make, as the wide receiver depth is so thin.

For more on the Dolphins, please be sure to check out our blog The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay for all the latest news and updates.

NFL Cuts: Buccaneers Release 10 Players

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced 10 roster cuts on Monday, as Tampa Bay trimmed its roster down to 75 prior to Monday's 4 p.m. deadline set by the NFL.

Wide receivers Ed Gant and Greg Ellingson, long-snapper Andrew DePaola, running back De'Anthony Curtis, tight end Collin Franklin, punter Eric Guthrie, tackle Mike Ingersoll, linebacker Brian Smith, safety Tramain Thomas and cornerback Marquese Wheaton were cut by Greg Schiano on Monday.

The Buccaneers also announced that offensive lineman Davin Joseph has been placed on injured reserve, ending his 2012 season. Joseph suffered a season-ending knee injury in Friday's preseason game against the New England Patriots.

Da'Quan Bowers has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as well, helping to trim Tampa Bay's roster down to 75. Bowers is hopeful that he'll play in 2012.

For the latest on all things Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation and join the discussion.

NFL Cuts: Miami Dolphins Release Julius Pruitt

Along with the rest of the NFL's franchises, the Miami Dolphins had to trim their roster to 75 players by the league's 4 p.m. ET deadline. The final Miami player to get cut on Monday was wide receiver Julius Pruitt.

Pruitt was seen as a special teams standout as a gunner in punt coverage, and was thought to have a chance to make the 53-man roster this year. This is his fourth season in the NFL, making him ineligible for a practice squad slot.

Related: Why Miami Dolphins fans "Fire Ireland" chants are back - and should they be?

With this round of cuts finished, the Dolphins are left with 10 receivers competing for six roster spots. They have to set their final 53-man roster by 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more in-depth coverage, check out Dolphins blog The Phinsider. And for more news and notes from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

NFL Cuts: Jaguars Get To 75 Using IR, PUP List

Teams must cut their rosters down to 75 players by 4:00 p.m. ET on Monday, and the Jacksonville Jaguars took care of that by placing four players on injured reserve, placing two players on the physically unable to perform list and waiving another.

The franchise announced the moves with a press release on Monday morning:

Four players were placed on injured reserve in center John Estes (knee), guard Drew Nowak (foot), guard/center Jason Spitz (ankle) and tight end Matt Veldman (knee). Fullback Brock Bolen (knee) was waived/injured and will revert to injured reserve if he clears waivers.

In addition, defensive end John Chick (knee) and linebacker Clint Session (concussion) were moved from the active physically unable to perform (PUP) list to the reserve PUP list and don't count against the 75 active players.

The Jaguars have one more preseason game to play before determining their final 53-man roster. Following their game against the Falcons on Thursday, they will have until 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday to get down to 53 players.

For additional coverage, check out Jaguars blog Big Cat Country. For more from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub.

Jacksonville Jaguars GM Gene Smith, Mike Mularkey Work Well Together

Jaguars GM Gene Smith has the final say on all personnel decisions, but first-year Jacksonville head coach Mike Mularkey said working with Smith has been a smooth process thus far.

"We both communicate very well," according to Mularkey. "We haven't agreed on everything, but when it comes back to the 75 that will be done on Monday, I think we're pretty much on the same page."

Mularkey said most of the disagreements come in regard to injuries and how best to work around those: "I want to make sure that Gene knows better than I do exactly the ramifications of guys that are injured and what we can and cannot do."

With Monday's cut to 75 players and then a final cut to 53 players looming, Smith and Mularkey will need to work together to figure out what to do at defensive end, where several key depth players are out with injuries. They'll also need to work out the situation at running back, with no return of Maurice Jones-Drew on the horizon.

For more on the Jaguars, head over to Big Cat Country, and be sure to check out SBNation's dedicated NFL hub.

Jacksonville Jaguars Roster Cuts: Injuries Could Factor In

Injuries and the NFL preseason are two enemies that are forced to collide at the beginning of every season. Teams obviously would like to be healthy going into their opening games, but health is part of the evaluation process for the players before teams even get to that point.

Take Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Zach Miller, for example. His calf injury is expected to keep him out for a couple of weeks, but the Jags don't have that long to decide whether or not they want to keep him. The problem with Miller is that he appears prone to injuries, having been carted off the field just three plays after returning from a torn pectoral muscle.

Here's Jags head coach Mike Mularkey on Miller and his injuries:

"We're going to look at him as an injured guy now and see where we're going to be for the opener. Right now we still have some decisions to be made. That will play into effect how serious it could be. Again, for everybody that's all part of the evaluation process."

For the latest on the Jacksonville Jaguars, be sure to check out Big Cat Country and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

Dolphins Roster Cuts: Miami Releases Les Brown, 8 Other Players

The Miami Dolphins released nine players Saturday morning in an effort to begin trimming its roster before Friday, Aug. 31's deadline for the final 53-man roster.

Tight end Les Brown, defensive tackle Chas Alecxih, Marcus Brown, safety Tyrell Johnson, cornerback Trenton Hughes, linebacker Josh Linam, running back Jerome Messam, defensive end Jacquies Smith and cornerback Jonathan Wade were all roster casualties. The team also announced that running back Jonas Gray was placed on the PUP list.

Johnson came to Miami camp after four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. The safety has two career interceptions.

The Dolphins wrap up the preseason Wednesday night when they travel to face the Dallas Cowboys.

For the latest on the Miami Dolphins, be sure to check out The Phinsider and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

Jaguars Roster Cuts: Jacksonville Waives Ashton Youboty, 7 Others

The Jacksonville Jaguars released eight players early Saturday to reduce their roster to 82, including seventh-year cornerback Ashton Youboty.

Also let go were running back DuJuan Harris (who tweeted the news early Saturday before the team announced it), two second-year players in wide receiver Chastin West and quarterback Nathan Enderle, first-year players linebacker Nate Bussey cornerback Mike Holmes, and two rookies in offensive tackle Dan Hoch and linebacker Donovan Richard.

NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 75 payers by Monday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m., which means at least seven other Jaguars will see their names erased from the roster in the next couple of days. Final cuts to the 53-man roster must be made by Friday, Aug. 31.

Many of these Jaguars' last chances to shine came in Thursday night's preseason blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

For the latest on the Jacksonville Jaguars, be sure to check out Big Cat Country and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

Jaguars Roster Cuts: DuJuan Harris Released

DuJuan Harris was apparently the first to report his own release, if his ominous tweet from early Saturday morning is any indication. Indeed, the running back was cut from the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday.

As Alfie Crow at Big Cat Country writes, Harris didn't see a lot of time on the field this preseason, even with the top of the depth chart, Maurice Jones-Drew, holding out. Backup running backs Montell Owens, Keith Toston and Jalen Parmele climbed their way up the depth chart. Rashad Jennings continues to hold down the fort while MJD sits out.

Harris was a standout in the 2011 preseason and made the practice squad, eventually being activated for five games last season. He carried the ball 9 times for 45 yards. He only had 3 carries for 13 yards during the 2012 preseason.

For the latest on the Jacksonville Jaguars, be sure to check out Big Cat Country and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to SB Nation's NFL hub for even more NFL news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.