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Ryan

Ryan, 33, played five seasons with the Patriots before bouncing around the league, playing for the Titans, Bucs, Giants, and 49ers. Ryan was on two Super Bowl teams during his 11 NFL seasons. He had 19 interceptions and 20 tackles for a loss in 154 career games, struggling with various injuries during his final three years in the league.

Tampa also ruled out EDGE Carl Nassib and S Logan Ryan in what amounts to a meaningless regular season finale against Atlanta. Bucs starters who suit up in Week 18 likely won’t see many snaps. It makes Tyler Allgeier and Drake London interesting DFS options against a second-team defense.

Ryan is coming back from a Jones fracture. His return should help bolster a run defense that has been far worse this season than expected. His presence is not ideal news for Alvin Kamara, who has struggled to get going on the ground.

He has a Jones fracture, per Ian Rapoport, and will be out several weeks and possibly the full season. Ryan only played 150 snaps for the Bucs, but showed well in run defense and was going to be a fixture for them. It’s a big blow.

He was taken into the medical tent after Kansas City’s second drive of the game. The veteran safety recorded one tackle before leaving. Keanu Neal will replace Ryan in the lineup for the time being.

Ryan was released at initial 53-man roster cuts Tuesday in a procedural move so the Bucs could squeeze other players through and get them to injured reserve. Ryan, 31, is expected to cover the slot and play some safety for coach Todd Bowles.

Ryan isn’t subject to waivers, and the Tampa Bay beat writers speculate he could quickly be added back to the 53-man roster after some other moves are made to get to compliance. It would be a surprise if Ryan isn’t back with the Bucs by Week 1.

It would be a reunion for Ryan and the newly unretired Tom Brady, as Ryan played for the Patriots from 2013 to 2016. With experience at safety and corner, Ryan, 31, should be a versatile piece for a Tampa secondary graded by Pro Football Focus as the NFL’s second best coverage unit in 2021. Ryan’s addition to the Bucs defense could help compensate for the team losing CB Jordan Whitehead to the Jets in free agency.

If it’s a pre-June 1 cut, the cap savings are negligible, under $1 million. If it’s post, the situation is slightly better, with $3.75 million coming the Giants’ way. Either way, there are heaps of dead money left behind. The Giants’ cap situation had become just that bad under former GM Dave Gettleman. Now 31, Ryan manned safety the past two seasons but also has years of experience at corner/in the slot. That versatility should make him attractive on the open market after decent campaigns in 2020-21.

Ryan missed New York’s last two games because he tested positive as a vaccinated close contact. He’ll return in Week 13 against the Dolphins.