The Buccaneers are adding some help to the roster while waiting to find out if the Lions will match the offer they extended to restricted free agent defensive end George Johnson.
Tampa announced Thursday that they have signed former Bills and Vikings linebacker Larry Dean. They also formally announced the previously reported signing of center Ben Gottschalk, who took part in the recent veteran’s combine.
Dean played 13 games for the Bills last season and 48 games for the Vikings after making Minnesota’s roster as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Dean played for current Buccaneers defensive coordinator and former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier during those seasons, although special teams coordinator Kevin O’Dea will likely spend more time with him during the 2015 season.
Dean has been a core special teamer throughout his career and will likely remain one unless Tampa’s forced to dig deep into their reserve corps due to injury or ineffectiveness in the starting lineup.