The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ greatest strength has become an area of need at training camp as injuries have begun to pile up at wide receiver, prompting another signing on August 2.
FOX Sports NFL reporter and Bucs insider Greg Auman was actually the first to report the move on the evening of August 1, relaying: “With injuries at receiver, Bucs are signing former UCF and [Los Angeles] Rams receiver Jacob Harris. He’s 28, good size at 6-5, 211, local from Palm Harbor. Had one catch with Rams, was a fourth-round pick in 2021, last played in UFL.”
The full details of the transaction emerged on Saturday morning, however, as Tampa Bay Times beat reporter Rick Stroud informed: “Bucs signed wide receiver Jacob Harris and placed OLB David Walker on Injured Reserve. Harris (6-5, 211) originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round selection (No. 141 overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 draft.”
The fourth-round rookie, Walker, was diagnosed with a season-ending torn ACL on Monday, July 28.
Buccaneers Have Long List of Training Camp Injuries at Wide Receiver
It’s been a rough training camp for the Bucs at wide receiver so far in 2025. Ironically, as stated above, this was Tampa Bay’s greatest area of depth heading into the summer, but the game of football once again teaches us that no amount of depth is enough in a sport as physical as this one.
At the position, Chris Godwin is still working his way back from last year’s ankle injury. Plus, per Auman, the following players are all dealing with injury issues of their own: Tez Johnson, Kameron Johnson, Trey Palmer and Ryan Miller.
The Bucs even chose to give star WR Mike Evans a veteran off day on Saturday, “preserving the healthy receivers where they can,” according to Auman.
On the bright side, the absences mean even more reps for two rising stars of this Bucs WR corps: Second-year wideout Jalen McMillan and rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka.
More on Buccaneers WR Signing Jacob Harris
Harris arrived at Bucs training camp on August 2, in uniform and ready for practice.
The former Rams draft pick has not done much at the NFL level, but he recently made a minor splash with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas this spring.
According to Football Database, Harris converted 18 of 38 targets for 295 yards with San Antonio over nine appearances. He did not record a touchdown despite averaging 16.39 yards per reception.
Although he began his career with the Rams, Harris’s most recent preseason and training camp were spent as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
During those three summer appearances in 2024, Harris caught 3 of his 9 targets for 21 yards.
Harris is most likely just a healthy camp body, in all likelihood, but he has flashed a bit in the past. In the preseason of 2023, the tall and lanky wideout nabbed 3 catches for 74 receiving yards with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He also recorded a preseason touchdown during his rookie summer with the Rams, along with 5 catches for 45 yards.
At the end of the day, this is an opportunity for Harris. The odds may be stacked against him, but if he’s able to put some good tape on film, he could land a practice squad offer from an NFL team in September — even if that team isn’t the WR-heavy Buccaneers.
