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.