Buccaneers' Kaevon Merriweather: Modest numbers in '24 season
Rotowire
Merriweather posted 17 tackles (11 solo), including 1.0 sacks, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery across 14 regular-season games in 2024.
The second-year safety's 244 snaps on defense were 95 more than he logged during his rookie 2023 campaign, and he also maintained a robust role on special-teams coverage and return units. Merriweather took on a bigger role down the stretch after he was brought back following his mid-November release, posting a career-best seven tackles across 53 snaps in Week 14 against the Raiders and also playing 63 snaps against the Saints in Week 18 while posting three tackles and a pass defensed. Merriweather is an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason, meaning the Buccaneers will retain control as long as they make him a qualifying offer.
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Buccaneers' Kaevon Merriweather: Past knee injury
Rotowire
Merriweather (knee) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Panthers, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Merriweather opened the Buccaneers' week of practice with consecutive limited sessions due to a knee injury, but he logged a full workload Friday, indicating that he's since moved past the issue. With Antoine Winfield (knee) already ruled out for the Week 17 contest, Merriweather is likely to step in and serve as Tampa Bay's top free safety.
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Buccaneers' Kaevon Merriweather: Questionable to return Sunday night
Rotowire
Merriweather (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday night's game against the Cowboys, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The safety made two solo tackles before exiting. Merriweather has seen extended snaps in recent weeks in place of injured starter Antoine Winfield (knee). If he can't return Sunday night, Christian Izien is Tampa Bay's only extra safety left.
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Kaevon Merriweather: Out in Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Buccaneers waived Merriweather on Monday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Merriweather appeared in each of the Buccaneers' last nine games before being waived Monday, recording three total tackles while playing primarily on special teams (41 defensive snaps and 198 on special teams). The Iowa product became expendable after the Bucs claimed Mike Edwards on Thursday. Merriweather has a chance to stay in Tampa Bay on the team's practice squad if he clears waivers.
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Buccaneers' Kaevon Merriweather: Not practicing
Rotowire
Merriweather (ankle) is "being held out of practice" during training camp, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
The safety also did not participate in the team's offseason program, per Smith. Merriweather left Tampa Bay's divisional-round playoff loss to Detroit with an ankle injury. The second-year pro recorded 21 tackles during the 2023 regular season and played more on special teams than defense.
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Buccaneers' Kaevon Merriweather: Questionable to return
Rotowire
Merriweather is questionable to return to Sunday's divisional-round playoff game against the Lions due to an ankle injury, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
The backup safety made one tackle before exiting. Merriweather recorded 22 tackles this season and has played more on special teams than defense.
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Buccaneers' Kaevon Merriweather: Back to full workload
Rotowire
Merriweather (thigh) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Merriweather popped up on Tampa Bay's estimated injury report as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a thigh injury, but it now seems as if he's been able to move past the issue. The rookie safety out of Iowa has appeared in 15 games for the Buccaneers thus far, recording 20 total tackles and one pass deflection.