The Buccaneers are expected to officially sign cornerback Tim Jennings on Monday, which means the team will need to clear a spot from the 53-man roster that they’ve already churned by claiming five players off of waivers on Sunday.
According to multiple reports, the move they will make will involve placeing right tackle Demar Dotson on injured reserve with the designation to return. Dotson sprained his knee last month and coach Lovie Smith said that the veteran would be “out for a while” despite not needing surgery.
By making the move to injured reserve, Dotson will miss at least the first eight weeks of the regular season and, thanks to a Week Six bye, the first seven games of the Buccaneers season. Gosder Cherilus was signed to replace Dotson at the time of the injury and will be in the starting lineup for Week One against the Titans.
Cherilus and the rest of the Tampa offensive line will be charged with doing a much better job than they did during a preseason that saw Jameis Winston under too much pressure from opposing pass rushes.