Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sign John McCargo To Replace Injured Gerald McCoy

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed free-agent defensive tackle John McCargo, reports Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. The addition comes one day after the team announced Gerald McCoy, the team's first-round draft choice in 2010, would miss the remainder of the season due to a torn right biceps suffered in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Tampa Bay initially signed McCargo in August, but he failed to make the team's 53-man roster in training camp. The injury to McCoy made his return a necessity, however, to a team in need of help on the defensive line.

The Buffalo Bills selected McCargo with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. In 40 appearances over his five seasons, McCargo has 47 tackles (32 solo) and 2.5 sacks. He proved to be a bust, however, and Buffalo tried to trade him to the Indianapolis Colts in 2008. However, McCargo failed the physical, which voided the trade and returned him to the Bills.

In his collegiate career at North Carolina State, the Virginia native tallied 24 tackles (10 solo), nine tackles for loss, and half a sack.

Gerald McCoy Injury: Torn Biceps Ends Buccaneer's Season Early

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy will miss the remainder of the 2011 season due to a torn right biceps, coach Raheem Morris confirmed Monday afternoon. Tampa Bay will place him on injured reserve. The injury forced him to leave the first quarter of Sunday's loss against the New Orleans Saints--his first appearance after a two-game absence due to a sprained ankle--and he did not return. It's the second straight year a torn biceps has ended the former Oklahoma Sooner's season; in 2010, a torn left biceps forced the No. 3 overall draft pick to miss the final three regular-season games of his rookie season.

McCoy tallied 11 tackles (10 solo), with one sack, in 2011. In addition to those numbers, the team says he tallied 13 quarterback pressures.

According to Morris, his team will address McCoy's absence by moving George Johnson and Michael Bennett from end to tackle when the situation calls for a pass rush. Further, Da'Quan Bowers will get McCoy's reps on first and second down. The coach also said the team could try to sign another player to replace McCoy later this week.

Bucs Nation, SB Nation's Buccaneers blog, suggests Tampa Bay could cut Tim Crowder to make room for whichever defensive tackle it chooses to add. Crowder, a defensive end, has 14 tackles (11 solo) in 2011. The Bucs did not have him active against the Saints.

Gerald McCoy Injury: Defensive Tackle Reportedly Out For Season

For the second year in a row, Gerald McCoy's season has likely ended with a torn biceps muscle, this one on his right arm.