Kaevon Merriweather Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Buccaneers vs Rams game on Sunday with our National Football League injury report.Aug 26, 2025
Stands out in preseason finale
Merriweather recorded six tackles (all solo) and a quarterback hit in the Buccaneers' 23-19 preseason loss to the Bills on Saturday night.
ANALYSIS
The third-year pro was second in tackles on the night while playing all 67 snaps from scrimmage, wrapping up a productive preseason where he recorded 10 stops across two games. Merriweather saw an increase in involvement in his second NFL campaign last season, and he projects to serve as Tykee Smith's primary back up at free safety heading into the 2025 season.
Jan 24, 2025
Modest numbers in '24 season
Merriweather posted 17 tackles (11 solo), including 1.0 sacks, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery across 14 regular-season games in 2024.
ANALYSIS
The second-year safety's 244 snaps on defense were 95 more than he logged during his rookie 2023 campaign, and he also maintained a robust role on special-teams coverage and return units. Merriweather took on a bigger role down the stretch after he was brought back following his mid-November release, posting a career-best seven tackles across 53 snaps in Week 14 against the Raiders and also playing 63 snaps against the Saints in Week 18 while posting three tackles and a pass defensed. Merriweather is an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason, meaning the Buccaneers will retain control as long as they make him a qualifying offer.
Dec 27, 2024
Past knee injury
Merriweather (knee) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Panthers, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Merriweather opened the Buccaneers' week of practice with consecutive limited sessions due to a knee injury, but he logged a full workload Friday, indicating that he's since moved past the issue. With Antoine Winfield (knee) already ruled out for the Week 17 contest, Merriweather is likely to step in and serve as Tampa Bay's top free safety.
Dec 22, 2024
Questionable to return Sunday night
Merriweather (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday night's game against the Cowboys, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
The safety made two solo tackles before exiting. Merriweather has seen extended snaps in recent weeks in place of injured starter Antoine Winfield (knee). If he can't return Sunday night, Christian Izien is Tampa Bay's only extra safety left.
Dec 10, 2024
Career-high tackle total Sunday
Merriweather recorded seven tackles (four solo) including 1.0 sacks during Sunday's 28-13 win versus the Raiders.
ANALYSIS
With regular starter Mike Edwards (hamstring) out, Merriweather played a season-high 53 of Tampa Bay's 64 defensive snaps in Week 14, and he ended up tying for the team lead in total tackles. 2021 All-Pro Antoine Winfield also suffered a serious knee injury Sunday, meaning Merriweather will probably see an expanded role during the Buccaneers' next couple games.
Nov 18, 2024
Out in Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers waived Merriweather on Monday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Merriweather appeared in each of the Buccaneers' last nine games before being waived Monday, recording three total tackles while playing primarily on special teams (41 defensive snaps and 198 on special teams). The Iowa product became expendable after the Bucs claimed Mike Edwards on Nov. 14. Merriweather has a chance to stay in Tampa Bay on the team's practice squad if he clears waivers.
Sep 4, 2024
Full go Wednesday
Merriweather (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
ANALYSIS
Merriweather sustained a knee injury during the Buccaneers' preseason game against the Jaguars, but it now appears he's moved past the issue. The 24-year-old appeared in 16 regular-season games with Tampa Bay last season, recording 21 total tackles while primarily playing on special teams (289 of 438 total snaps). He figures to play a similar role in 2024.
Aug 17, 2024
Departs with knee injury
Merriweather won't return to Saturday's exhibition contest versus Jacksonville due to a knee injury, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Merriweather was hurt on a Jaguars rushing play early in the second quarter and has since been ruled out from returning. The safety is looking to see increased work on defense after logging most of his work on special teams as a rookie last year. Merriweather has had a strong camp and is currently slated to back up Jordan Whitehead (quadriceps) and Antoine Winfield if the knee issue doesn't prove to be serious.
Jul 28, 2024
Returns to practice
Merriweather (ankle) is practicing Sunday, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
An ankle injury kept Merriweather off the field during OTAs and the beginning of training camp, but he now appears to be fully recovered from the issue. The second-year safety is expected to take on a rotational role in the Bucs' secondary while also working on special teams during the 2024 campaign.
Jul 25, 2024
Not practicing
Merriweather (ankle) is "being held out of practice" during training camp, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
The safety also did not participate in the team's offseason program, per Smith. Merriweather left Tampa Bay's divisional-round playoff loss to Detroit with an ankle injury. The second-year pro recorded 21 tackles during the 2023 regular season and played more on special teams than defense.
Jan 21, 2024
Downgraded to out
Merriweather (ankle) has been downgraded to out for the rest of Sunday's divisional-round playoff game against the Lions.
ANALYSIS
The backup safety exited the game earlier in the second half. Merriweather made one tackle before leaving the contest. The rookie has 22 tackles this season and has played more on special teams than defense.
Jan 21, 2024
Questionable to return
Merriweather is questionable to return to Sunday's divisional-round playoff game against the Lions with an ankle injury, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The backup safety made one tackle before exiting. Merriweather has 22 tackles this season and has played more on special teams than defense.
Jan 4, 2024
Back to full workload
Merriweather (thigh) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
ANALYSIS
Merriweather popped up on Tampa Bay's estimated injury report as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a thigh injury, but it now seems as if he's been able to move past the issue. The rookie safety out of Iowa has appeared in 15 games for the Buccaneers thus far, recording 20 total tackles and one pass deflection.
Jan 3, 2024
Pops up on injury report
Merriweather (thigh) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
ANALYSIS
Merriweather handled his typical snap count in Sunday's loss to the Saints, so it's not clear when he may have picked up the injury. However, the 24-year-old will still have a couple of days to make progress and recover in time for the team's Week 18 game against the Panthers.
Nov 5, 2023
Active Sunday
Merriweather (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Texans, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
The rookie missed Tampa Bay's Week 8 matchup with Buffalo but played in the first six games of the season. Merriweather has only seen action, 96 snaps, on special teams in 2023 and made three tackles.
Oct 25, 2023
Won't play Thursday
Coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Merriweather (ankle) will not play Thursday at Buffalo, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Merriweather will be sidelined for the first time in his rookie season in Week 8 as he works to recover from an ankle injury he sustained Sunday versus Atlanta. He's played exclusively on special teams so far this season, so Tampa Bay will have to try to replace his production in that phase Thursday.
Oct 22, 2023
Forced out Saturday
Merriweather is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Falcons with an ankle injury, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Merriweather did not come into the game with an injury designation, so it appears he sustained this ankle issue at some point during the first half of Saturday's game. The 23-year-old exclusively played on special teams through the first five games of the season for Tampa Bay, logging three tackles.
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