In a surprising move, the Bucs have released veteran defensive back Logan Ryan. The Bucs needed to keep center Ryan Jensen on the 53-man roster on Tuesday in order to place him on short-term injured reserve.

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Scott Reynolds/PR

So, the team likely chose to part ways with a veteran who wouldn’t be subjected to waiver claims and also didn’t have any guaranteed money in his contract. Ryan, who signed a one-year deal worth $1.12 million this offseason, according to OverTheCap.com, was likely deemed to be the best candidate.

The Bucs have to hope that Ryan can be re-signed on Wednesday after 4:00 p.m. ET. That’s when the team can place Jensen, who suffered a knee injury in camp, on short-term injured reserve. If the Bucs had placed Jensen on injured reserve prior to the final roster cuts on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, he would have been out for the entire season.

The Bucs are holding out hope that Jensen will be able to return later this year. He will be eligible to return after four weeks following his placement on short-term IR, but it will likely be a few months instead.

Tampa Bay did a similar, risky procedural move a few years ago with veteran center A.Q. Shipley. It appears that the Bucs are using a similar move this year in order to get Jensen on IR without releasing a younger player that would be subject to waiver claims.

Ryan Should Return And Be A Bucs Nickel Starter

Ryan is projected to be the team’s starting free safety in nickel defense and should see a significant amount of playing time. Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield Jr. will be the free safety in base defense and move to slot cornerback in nickel situations. Ryan, a 10-year veteran, can also play cornerback for the team inside or outside.

“Whatever one Todd has me at on that day,” Ryan said. “I don’t want to limit myself here, but I played all over the secondary in my career with some success. So, I just think all of them is really my strength. I think practice is going to be harder for me than the game because different periods of practice I am playing a different position whereas in the game, I may play one [position] the whole game based on the game plan. So, I think this is making it harder on me than it will be in the game.

Bucs Ss Logan Ryan and Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“In past stops, I’ve played every snap of defense, so I’ve been used – it just depends on what position. My job and goal is to be ready to play every snap. Wherever they have me, they have me. [I want] to be productive, as well. Look, I have a lot of great players around me on this team – a lot of great linebackers, a lot of great pass rushers, a lot of great DBs. [There are] Pro Bowlers at every level, so my job is to kind of facilitate, set the guys up and allow them to make plays and be successful.”

During the Bucs’ joint practices with the Titans in Tennessee, Ryan talked about how comfortable he is getting in Todd Bowles’ defense.

“Yeah, I think [the Bucs defense] is a complex system,” Ryan said. “I’m learning multiple positions. I think I have a good idea of where they want me to be and how to get lined up. I’m a communicator in the defense. So, I feel comfortable and confident to line other people up. I think I know it pretty well. Now it’s just finding ways and knowing how to do my job. And put some sauce on it which makes me, me. Now I’m in the sauce stage. And I’m trying to get better week by week. There’s a lot of practice left to the regular season, so I’m just trying to progress the right way.”

Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo previously looked at Ryan’s play at different positions as part of our “Grinding the Tape” (now known as Bucs Film Study) series.