Buccaneers Elevate Caden Fordham for Week 7 at Panthers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers elevated rookie linebacker Caden Fordham from the practice squad on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, making him eligible to play in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. The move came two days after the team placed linebacker Christian Rozeboom on injured reserve with a finger injury. The elevation used one of the Buccaneers’ weekly practice squad elevation options to address depth at off-ball linebacker. The activation was reported Oct. 24, 2026.
The weekly practice squad elevation rule allows teams to activate up to two practice squad players for each game, and the Buccaneers used one of those options in Week 7. By elevating Fordham, Tampa Bay increased its game-day roster to 54 players for the matchup in Carolina. The team will name six inactives before kickoff, producing 48 active players for the game. Elevated players automatically revert to the practice squad after the game without having to pass through waivers.
Fordham signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted rookie free agent in May and initially made the 53-man roster after the Aug. 30 cutdown. The Buccaneers waived him on Sept. 2 to create a roster spot for cornerback Kevin Knowles, who was claimed off waivers from Kansas City. The Buccaneers re-signed him to the practice squad following the waiver. This is Fordham’s second elevation of the regular season; he was previously elevated for the Week 4 game.
The N.C. State product ranked second in the nation in 2025 with 143 tackles and earned third-team Associated Press All-America honors after a season that included 3.5 sacks, 10.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In three preseason games he recorded 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass defensed. He also stood out on special teams in the preseason, leading all NFL players with four solo tackles in kick coverage, and he played four special-teams snaps when elevated in Week 4. With Rozeboom on injured reserve, Fordham provides the Buccaneers with additional off-ball linebacker depth and immediate special-teams support on the trip to Carolina.
NFL Sports Blog Take
This elevation marks Fordham’s second regular-season call-up; practice squad players may be elevated up to three times during the regular season. His preseason special-teams production and prior game-day snaps suggest the Buccaneers will rely on him on kick coverage units while he serves as off-ball linebacker depth. The move preserves roster flexibility for Tampa Bay after Rozeboom’s placement on injured reserve and avoids exposing Fordham to waivers after the game. Monitoring his snap counts against the Panthers will indicate whether the team uses him beyond special teams and into the defensive rotation.