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Kendell Beckwith's 'Career in Jeopardy' After Being Placed on Bucs' Reserve List
May 10, 2019
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Friday that they placed linebacker Kendell Beckwith on the reserve/non-football injury list.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Beckwith's career is "in jeopardy," as he will miss his second consecutive full season. Beckwith missed all of 2018 after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury suffered during a car accident.
Tampa Bay selected Beckwith in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft out of LSU, and he made 11 starts as a rookie, finishing with 73 tackles and one sack.
Last season, there was some hope that Beckwith would return to action when he began practicing in October, but the Buccaneers never activated him.
In addition to Beckwith, Bucs defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul could miss all of 2019 due to a car accident related injury. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, JPP recently fractured his neck in a car crash, and he is set to see some neck specialists in hope of saving his season.
Tampa's linebacker corps has undergone a significant transformation this offseason, meaning new head coach Bruce Arians and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles have no shortage of options to replace Beckwith.
In addition to signing former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon in free agency, the Buccaneers selected Devin White with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
White and Bucannon could both serve in starting roles, along with the returning Lavonte David. Tampa also signed Shaquil Barrett, who figures to be used in a hybrid role as an outside pass-rusher.
In addition to the linebacker acquisitions making up for the continued absence of Beckwith, they should also soften the blow of another former LSU linebacker in Kwon Alexander departing. Alexander signed with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason after missing all but six games last season.
The return of Beckwith likely would have helped a Buccaneers defense that ranked 27th in the NFL in total yardage allowed and 31st in points allowed last season, but they will instead have to rely on a revamped linebacker corps that features just one returning starter in David.