Buccaneers Shake Up Roster

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made their first roster adjustments following their preseason opener, cutting quarterback Zack Annexstad and signing former Arizona Cardinals punter Nolan Cooney , the team announced on Monday.

These moves come as the Bucs continue to fine-tune their roster in preparation for the regular season.

Annexstad, an undrafted free agent, was the fourth quarterback on the Buccaneers’ depth chart. Despite his potential, the former Illinois State and Minnesota signal-caller had missed all of training camp due to being placed on the non-football injury list on July 23. With Annexstad sidelined, the Bucs decided to move on, trimming their quarterback room as they focus on their top three options.

The addition of Cooney brings a new dynamic to the Buccaneers' special teams. Entering the league in 2021, Cooney spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals , oscillating between the practice squad and the main roster. His signing is seen as a move to provide competition and depth at the punter position during the preseason.

Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged that Cooney’s arrival is meant to push the current punter, Jake Camarda, who had a less-than-stellar performance in the Bucs' 17-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. "We just needed another leg for camp." Bowles said , expressing some disappointment in Camarda’s showing on Saturday. "He didn't punt well. He didn't punt well. We know we can get better at it."

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While Cooney brings experience and a solid leg, he is not expected to seriously challenge Camarda for the starting job. Camarda, who has demonstrated stronger punt yards and net yards per attempt, remains the frontrunner due to his overall powerful leg and consistency. However, Cooney’s presence will ensure that Camarda remains sharp as the preseason progresses.

As the Buccaneers continue their preseason campaign, these roster moves highlight the ongoing evaluation process as the coaching staff works to solidify the team ahead of the regular season. The competition for spots on the roster will intensify, with every player under scrutiny as the Bucs aim to build a team capable of competing at the highest level.