Buccaneers add Jha'Quan Jackson for Friday’s preseason finale, waive/injure Dennis Houston

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a late preseason roster adjustment on Wednesday, signing second-year wide receiver and returner Jha'Quan Jackson and waiving/injuring wideout Dennis Houston. The move gives the Buccaneers another pass-catching option as they prepare for Friday’s preseason finale, when coaches typically use the final game to evaluate depth and roles across the roster.

Jackson’s addition matters in part because of his dual skill set. The team’s transaction describes him as both a wide receiver and a kick returner, positioning him to contribute in multiple phases of the game. That flexibility can be valuable late in camp, particularly for players competing for snaps beyond the top rotation of wideouts and for those who can also help on special teams.

Dennis Houston, the receiver Tampa Bay waived/injured, is a reminder of how quickly a roster can change in the final stretch of preseason work. While the team’s announcement does not provide further detail in the discovery packet beyond the “waived/injured” designation, the practical implication is that Houston is no longer part of the active group moving into the final exhibition game.

From a team-building standpoint, the timing suggests Tampa Bay is still refining its evaluation of fringe roles. In the preseason finale, teams often lean more heavily on situational looks, which can include targets to deeper receiver groups, different personnel groupings, and opportunities for return specialists. By bringing Jackson in at this point, the Buccaneers can accelerate their assessment of where he fits and whether he can help the club’s overall depth chart.

Jackson’s prior experience with the Tennessee Titans is also part of what makes his presence notable. The Buccaneers’ release frames him as a former Titans player, indicating that Tampa Bay believes he can translate his background into a role within their offense and special teams plans. For a second-year player, another preseason opportunity can be especially meaningful, since it often shapes how the organization thinks about future development and availability for regular-season work.

For fans, the immediate question will be how Jackson is used once Tampa Bay reaches Friday. Because the move is explicitly tied to the preseason finale, the most direct way to judge the signing will be in-game involvement: whether he earns targets at receiver, gets snaps in specific packages, or is used for return duties in situations that reveal how the coaching staff views him.

For Houston, the roster change ends his run with the group for the time being. The “waived/injured” status indicates the team is handling the matter through standard roster procedures, and it also suggests that his availability will be affected in the near term. How Tampa Bay ultimately lists him in subsequent transactions would be the next sign of where the situation stands.