With center Jeff Faine out, and guards Davin Joseph and Keydrick Vincent questionable for this Sunday’s game against the Rams, the Buccaneers have found themselves suddenly thin on the offensive line. To address this problem the Bucs have made a move to bolster the line by promoting guard Derek Hardman from the practice squad to the active roster.
Hardman, 24, is a 6'6" 300-pound undrafted rookie out of Eastern Kentucky. He has spent the first half of the season on the Buccaneers practice squad, but saw increased reps in practice this week in anticipation of a possible promotion.
The Buccaneers must make room on the 53-man roster for Hardman, and as such they will release fullback Chris Pressley.
The release of Pressley may cause its own set of problems; Earnest Graham is the only other true fullback on the active roster, but he too is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. If Graham can’t go fullback duties would fall to converted defensive end Erik Lorig.