Codey McElroy TE

McElroy signed to Tampa Bay's practice squad Monday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old made his NFL debut with the Buccaneers last year and had a 30-yard reception in his lone appearance, but he was waived at roster cutdowns in September. McElroy provides potential depth at tight end with O.J. Howard (Achilles) on injured reserve.

The Buccaneers waived McElroy on Friday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McElroy made his NFL debut at 27 years old last season, and he hauled in a 30-yard pass. However, with Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate on the roster, McElroy was a longshot to make it past cut day.

McElroy (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's Week 17 tilt against the Falcons, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

The rookie tight end made an impact on his one play in Week 16, corralling a 30-yard reception. However, with both O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate healthy for the finale and Tanner Hudson (concussion) returning to back them up, there was no room or need for McElroy in the finale.

McElroy secured his only target for 30 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Texans on Saturday.

The undrafted rookie made his one catch count, recording the longest gain of the day through the air for the Buccaneers. McElroy is part of an all-hands-on-deck approach for Tampa's pass-catching corps necessitated by multiple injuries at the tail end of the season, and he should therefore have an opportunity to showcase his skills working behind starters O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate in Week 17 versus the Falcons.

McElroy was promoted to the Buccaneers' 53-man roster Wednesday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

McElroy joined Tampa Bay's practice squad in late October and will now get a chance on the active roster for the closing stretch of the season. The 27-year-old is unlikely to see much playing time with O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate and Jordan Leggett currently healthy and ahead of him on the depth chart.

McElroy signed with the Buccaneers' practice squad Wednesday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

McElroy had a workout with Tampa Bay in late September, but it took some time before he ended up joining the organization. Both O.J. Howard (hamstring) and Cameron Brate (ribs) didn't practice Wednesday, so McElroy provides some added depth at tight end for Tampa Bay.

McElroy (undisclosed) tried out for the Buccaneers on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McElroy was recently released with an injury settlement from the Cowboys due to an undisclosed injury but, as evidenced by this news, has shaken off the injury. Now healthy, the 26-year-old will hope to latch on with a depth role elsewhere around the league.

The Cowboys waived McElroy (undisclosed) from IR with an injury settlement Wednesday, per the league's official transactions report.

McElroy was previously waived by Dallas before reverting to IR. The athletic tight end will now be free to look for a role elsewhere in the league when fully healthy.