Although Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs chose to report rather than hold out of training camp, there has been a noticeable absence at the start of Bucs camp. Veteran outside linebacker Randy Gregory, who signed a one-year deal for $3 million on April 4, has not participated in any team practices.
Gregory missed voluntary OTAs and skipped mandatory mini-camp, resulting in fines exceeding $100,000. He failed to report to training camp on Tuesday and has been absent since then, accruing additional fines each day.
In an interview with Tom Krasniqi on WDAE’s The Drive With TKras, Bucs general manager Jason Licht addressed Gregory’s status, indicating that he is currently on the team’s reserve/did not report list.
“Nothing new,” Licht stated. “He’s on the reserve/did not report list, so we have his roster spot. We filled that spot yesterday when we signed a tight end. Our focus is on the players who have been present throughout the entire offseason and are prepared to play.”
Following the team’s first practice, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles faced questions about Gregory’s absence and expressed frustration with the attention the situation was receiving.
“We’re going to concentrate on the players that are here – he’s not here,” Bowles said. “We’ll handle that internally. He’s on the did not report list, and we’ll proceed accordingly.”
When asked about Gregory’s potential return to camp, Bowles declined to speculate, stating, “I don’t speculate on anything.”
Regarding any concerns about Gregory’s commitment to the team when he was signed, Bowles responded, “I don’t have any more speculation on Gregory. I’m done with the Gregory questions.”
Bucs Don’t Miss Randy Gregory, As Jason Licht, Todd Bowles Love The OLB Room
It appears unlikely that Randy Gregory is in the Buccaneers’ plans for the upcoming season. The team may opt to cut him and designate him on the reserve/did not report list as a precaution to prevent any grievances related to his history of anxiety.
Jason Licht praised the team’s young outside linebackers, acknowledging their progress and performance during an interview with Tom Krasniqi on The Drive With TKras.
“We’re very excited about this group of outside linebackers,” Licht remarked. “Jose Ramirez, Markees Watts, Anthony Nelson – all of these backups have really stepped up and shown great potential. Our depth and talent at the position are impressive.”
In a separate interview with Todd Bowles, the Bucs head coach expressed confidence in the outside linebacker room, emphasizing the players’ abilities to disrupt plays and contribute collectively.
“We have a strong group of young players who play well together,” Bowles stated. “We value their ability to create pressure, disrupt plays, and excel in both pass rush and run defense. Our goal is to grow and develop this group as a cohesive unit.”
