The winding road of the NFL has returned Shaquil Barrett to a familiar location.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing Barrett to the 53-man roster in a move that's expected to be made official on Saturday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday evening. The team officially announced the signing on Saturday morning.
The 31-year-old linebacker was waived by the Miami Dolphins on Thursday from their reserve/retired list, marking the end of an extended stalemate in which Barrett endeavored to return to the field after announcing over the summer he'd be hanging up the cleats.
Barrett, who was released by Tampa Bay at the end of last season, signed with the Dolphins in free agency, but then announced July 20 that he was retiring. That decision didn't last, as Barrett applied to be reinstated at the end of November, a request that Miami initially declined.
The Dolphins ultimately allowed Barrett to be waived, clearing the path for him to sign with another team this season, and the linebacker has quickly found a new home in his old home.
Before his temporary retirement, Barrett had played the previous five years with the Buccaneers, earning both of his two Pro Bowl nods while in that jersey (2019, 2021). In the first of those Pro Bowl campaigns Barrett recorded a league-high 19.5 sacks.
He has played nine seasons in the NFL overall between the Broncos and Buccaneers, accumulating 400 tackles, 125 QB hits, 73 tackles for loss, 59 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and three interceptions in 131 games. Now, Barrett has taken the next step to officially playing a 10th season.
As Barrett will directly join the 53-man roster, the Buccaneers will have the choice of whether to make him active for Sunday's crucial game against the Carolina Panthers, and if so how much to use him. With two games left in the season and the Falcons ahead via tiebreaker in the NFC South standings, it's a must-win contest for Tampa Bay. Whether Barrett will be ready to contribute on such a short turnaround remains to be seen.
