Bucs Sign WR, Place Pass Rusher On IR

The Bucs placed outside linebacker Genard Avery  on injured reserve and signed wide receiver Deven Thompkins from the practice squad to the active roster.

Avery (6-0, 250) has appeared in 62 career games, making 17 starts, playing for the Cleveland Browns (2018-19), Philadelphia Eagles (2019-21) and Bucs (2022). He spent the 2022 offseason and training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being released on August 23. He has split the 2022 season between Tampa Bay’s active roster and practice squad, appearing in nine games and recording four tackles (one for loss), one sack and five quarterback hits.

Over his career, Avery has totaled 100 career tackles (12 for loss), 29 quarterback hits, 8.5 sacks, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He originally entered the league as a fifth-round selection (No. 150 overall) of the Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Memphis product is a native of Grenada, Mississippi.

Thompkins Has Taken Over Bucs PR-KR Duties

Thompkins (5-8, 155) signed with Tampa Bay as a college free agent on May 13, 2022 and has spent the entirety of the 2022 season on the Bucs’ practice squad, previously being elevated for Tampa Bay in Weeks 5, 14 and 15. At San Francisco in Week 14, Thompkins handled return duties for the first time in his NFL career and recorded a 54-yard return to open the second half — the longest kick return by a Tampa Bay player since Arrelious Benn’s 55-yard kickoff return vs. the New York Giants on 9/16/2012.

Thompkins played four seasons at Utah State (2018-21), appearing in 40 games, recording 171 receptions for 2,519 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Fort Myers, Florida, native ranked second in the FBS in 2021 with his 1,704 receiving yards, earning Associated Press third-team All-America honors in his final season.