Outside linebacker Carl Nassib has agreed to a one year deal to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is a reunion of sorts because Nassib played two seasons with the Buccaneers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Nassib then played the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. The signing of Nassib is a big one with lack of depth at the outside linebacker position. Jason Pierre Paul did not resign with the team because of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka securing the starting role and Cam Gill suffered an injury.
Nassib had spent two seasons with the Bucs and started 17 of 29 games and had 12.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, and 63 combined tackles. With the Raiders, he started five of seventeen games and had 33 tackles, four sacks, and eight tackles for loss. Nassib was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2016 draft and spent his first two seasons in Cleveland. He had 52 tackles and 5.5 sacks in his first two seasons there.
Shaking off the rust
Nassib has started practicing with the team but it will take some time to catch up to the scheme. His first practice was today and he stated, “Today was my first day back in this scheme but it’s going to take me a little while to get back into the speed of the scheme.” The coaches would agree but like what they are seeing out of Nassib. He will need to keep practicing and play a number of plays in camp to completely learn the system again.
Nassib could potentially win a ring this year which is something he has not yet done in his career. With the roster the Bucs boast, it is no surprise that Nassib would want to be apart of a team so loaded with talent. The Bucs reached out to Nassib because of the injury to Cam Gill. He will bring good defense and great energy and versatility to the defense.
Nassib is also the first openly gay player in the NFL. He came out in June of 2021 and was praised by many. There had been other players who came out as gay but they either never played a down or were already retired. It is interesting to see how the Bucs will perform the rest of the preseason now that Nassib has joined. Excitement is in the air because it is preseason with the regular season right around the corner.
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