After months of questions and uncertainty, the Buccaneers finally cut outside linebacker Randy Gregory. According KPRC’s Aaron Wilson, Gregory is expected to retire.
Signed as a free agent in April, Gregory never reported to the team, missing both mandatory minicamp and training camp. To date, the Bucs still do not know why Gregory never showed up (via the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud):
#Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he never got a reason why Randy Gregory never reported but said, "you can't miss what you didn't have.''
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 18, 2024
Gregory has played seven years in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers. Over his career, he has recorded 22 sacks and 10 forced fumbles. He missed the 2017 and 2019 seasons due to suspensions for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Gregory also sued the NFL over fines levied for testing positive for THC use.
As Gregory failed to report to camp, he did not count against the Bucs’ 90-man roster. The Bucs looked to add Gregory as a veteran presence to an outside linebacker group boasting just one player with more than three years experience in the NFL, 2019 fourth-round draft pick Anthony Nelson.
With Gregory no longer in the picture, the Bucs must either rely on their developmental edge rushers, such as Jose Ramirez and Markees Watts, to rise to the occasion or seek free agent help. There are few viable free agent edge defenders available, including Yannick Ngakoue and Charles Harris. Some players may come available during team cuts to the final 53-man roster.