On July 23, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a surprising move by releasing edge rusher Randy Gregory. This decision came after Gregory failed to show up for training camp.
Head Coach Todd Bowles addressed the situation on Sunday, explaining that Randy Gregory had been placed on the reserve/did not report list. Bowles admitted he never learned the reason behind Gregory’s absence. “No, I never found out,” Bowles said. “I wish him the best. We’ll move on from there. If you’ve never had something, you won’t miss it.”
Randy Gregory, 31, had joined the Buccaneers on a one-year, $3 million deal during the offseason. He had previously played for the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and San Francisco 49ers. Despite his new contract, Gregory missed both the voluntary offseason program and the mandatory minicamp this summer.
In June, Randy Gregory sued both the NFL and the Broncos. He claimed discrimination after being fined $532,500 for using medication containing THC, which he used to manage disabilities. Gregory was prescribed Dronabinol to address social anxiety and PTSD but alleged that he was denied proper accommodations.
Though the NFL no longer suspends players for positive THC tests, it remains a banned substance, leading to fines for violators. Gregory’s lawsuit argues that the league and the Broncos discriminated against him by not accommodating his medical needs under Colorado law.
Previously, Randy Gregory was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with Dallas, facing multiple suspensions for drug policy violations. He joined the Broncos in 2022 but struggled with a knee injury, playing only a portion of the season. Last year, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in October.
Throughout his NFL career, Gregory has played in 72 games, accumulating 22 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, and 69 quarterback hits.
