The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are taking another step toward adding depth at wide receiver. The team announced Monday thatDavid Sills V has been designated to return from injured reserve, opening his 21-day practice window ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sills signed a one-year contract with Tampa Bay on April 7 before being placed on injured reserve on August 30. He can now participate in practice, but the Buccaneers must officially activate him before he can return to game action. Tampa Bay has 21 days to make that decision.
The veteran receiver spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons, where he played under current Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Sills appeared in all 17 games, making four starts while recording
career highs with 18 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Those were the first two receiving touchdowns of his NFL career, giving him some proven production in Robinson's offense despite a relatively limited role.
Interestingly, Sills' best performance of the 2025 season came against the Buccaneers. During Atlanta's one-point victory in Tampa Bay, he caught six passes for 78 yards, accounting for more than 40% of his receiving yards that season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Sills finished 2025 with an overall offensive grade of 53.0 and a receiving grade of 52.8. He ran 334 receiving routes and averaged 0.57 yards per route run. Atlanta's official statistics credited him with 18 receptions on 36 targets, a 50% catch rate.
Those numbers suggest that Sills is more of a complementary option than a receiver expected to carry a significant workload. However, his previous experience with Robinson provides some familiarity with the offensive system, and his 6-foot-3 frame gives Tampa Bay another option at the position.
The Buccaneers have dealt with injuries at wide receiver this season, including Jalen McMillan's absence, creating opportunities for younger players such as Ted Hurst III. Sills could provide additional depth as Tampa Bay looks to build on its first win of the season, a 24-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Whether that happens against Pittsburgh remains uncertain. Opening the practice window does not guarantee Sills will be activated this week, but it gives the Buccaneers an opportunity to evaluate his readiness before making a roster decision.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers open 21-day practice window for David Sills
