Larry

Asante

Asante, 26, has 17 games of NFL experience and appeared in five contests for the Colts last season. He’ll compete for one of Oakland’s final roster spots.

Asante was a restricted free agent, but we’re surprised to see him back at that amount. Signed last October, Asante appeared in six games down the stretch, playing 170 snaps on defense. He’ll fight for one of the Raiders’ final 53-man roster spots in training camp.

Asante was with the Raiders during training camp, and spent parts of the last three seasons with the Colts and Bucs. He’ll add safety depth with Usama Young out for the year.

Asante contributed 17 tackles across six games for Oakland this season. The Raiders added LB Bojay Filimoeatu and CB Ras-I Dowling in corresponding moves.

Black has always had playmaking ability, but he’s undersized with a glaring lack of speed. The team is “still high” on Larry Asante as well, though they could look to free agents O.J. Atogwe or Melvin Bullitt along with a draft pick or two after losing both starting safeties.

The Bucs have newfound depth at the position with Ronde Barber moving from cornerback and first-rounder Mark Barron on board. Asante’s release is good news for Cody Grimm, Keith Tandy and UDFA Sean Baker out of Ball State.

It’s Asante’s first workout since getting waived by the Bucs in August. Asante appeared in 10 games last season, making 12 tackles. He’d be limited to special teams if he wound up in Indy.

Starter Cody Grimm (knee) is done for the season, leaving his two backups to battle. Defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake said that “if one of them is real hot, then I’ll stick with that guy.” The good news for the Bucs is that neither one will be tested by the Colts’ inept passing game Monday night.

Grimm tore the ligaments on a play in which his knee knocked Geno Hayes unconscious while hitting the linebacker’s helmet. Larry Asante and Corey Lynch are candidates to fill in this week, though Tanard Jackson may be returning from suspension shortly. Grimm has exceeded expectations as a 2010 seventh-rounder, but he’s now ended up on injured reserve in both seasons with the Bucs.

The St. Petersburg Times reported early Monday that Grimm has a torn ACL, but coach Raheem Morris was more optimistic in his day-after press conference. Morris said Grimm “definitely” has an MCL injury, but may have avoided an ACL tear. The Bucs will turn to Larry Asante and Corey Lynch for an in-practice battle at free safety until Grimm returns. It appears the Bucs have no intentions of activating suspended FS Tanard Jackson at this time.