The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made several roster changes on Wednesday as they prepare for their Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Tampa Bay promoted safety Ifeatu Melifonwu from the practice squad to the active roster and signed veteran quarterback Brett Rypien to the practice squad. The team also officially placed wide receiver Jalen McMillan on injured reserve.
Melifonwu's promotion comes after the Bucs elevated him from the practice squad for each of their first three games. He played exclusively on special teams during those appearances, and NFL rules limit a player to three standard elevations from the practice squad during a season before he must be signed to the active roster to continue playing in games.
The veteran safety has appeared
in 56 games, including 22 starts, over six NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Buccaneers. He spent the 2025 season in Miami, where he appeared in 16 games, including eight starts, and recorded a career-high 53 tackles.
Rypien gives the Bucs another experienced quarterback while Baker Mayfield is sidelined with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. Rookie Jalon Daniels is set to make his first NFL start against Green Bay on Sunday.
The 30-year-old Rypien has appeared in 11 NFL games and made four starts since entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2019. He has completed 98 of 168 career passes for 950 yards and four touchdowns while spending time with several organizations during his NFL career.
McMillan's move to injured reserve comes after he aggravated his left knee injury during Tampa Bay's 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The third-year receiver suffered a PCL sprain and is expected to miss significant time, with an initial estimate of a six-to-eight-week recovery.
Moving McMillan to injured reserve guarantees he will miss at least four games. His absence leaves Tampa Bay without another offensive weapon as Daniels prepares to take over for Mayfield.
The Bucs will now move forward with Melifonwu on the active roster, while Rypien adds another veteran option to a quarterback room suddenly facing its first major change of the season.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs place Jalen McMillan on IR, add veteran quarterback
