Buccaneers signing outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul to practice squad

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times on Dec 8, 2025

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla. — How desperate are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for pass-rush help?

Enough that they may have gotten a bit nostalgic Monday in signing outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul to their practice squad. He was signed after being the only player to work out for the team Monday.

Pierre-Paul, who will turn 37 on New Year’s Day, has been out of the NFL since he played two games for the Miami Dolphins and one for the New Orleans Saints in 2023.

His last extended playing time came with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, when he had three sacks in 14 games. It was the last time he put a quarterback on the ground.

If nothing else, Pierre-Paul’s love for the game is infectious.

He joined the Bucs in 2018, when he was acquired from the New York Giants for a third-round pick and a swap of fourth-rounders.

The former USF star had 12 1/2 sacks in his first season with the Bucs, followed by 8 1/2 in 2019 and 9 1/2 in 2020, when he teamed with Shaquil Barrett to lead the Bucs to a win in Super Bowl 55.

In fact, Barrett (three) and Pierre-Paul (two) combined to sack Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times in the NFC Championship Game in Green Bay, Wis.

The Bucs have struggled to get consistent pressure on the quarterback this season with their outside pass rushers. Yaya Diaby leads the team with six sacks.

The Bucs signed Haason Reddick to a one-year, $14 million deal in March, but he has been plagued by injuries and has only 1 1/2 sacks.

Reddick injured his ankle and knee Oct. 20 against the Detroit Lions and missed four games before returning Nov. 30 against the Arizona Cardinals. But he left Sunday’s game against the Saints with an ankle injury and was scheduled to have an MRI.

The Bucs believe Reddick will play again this season, but he likely will miss Thursday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.

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