Tampa Bay Buccaneers reunite with former Alabama State cornerback

After 11 days on the roster of the Carolina Panthers, cornerback Keenan Isaac is back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs cut Isaac when they reduced their preseason roster to the regular-season limit on Aug. 27. He landed on the Carolina Panthers as a waiver claim on Aug. 28. But on the eve of their Sunday season-opener, the Panthers waived the cornerback.

On Tuesday, Tampa Bay announced Isaac had been signed for its active roster.

The Buccaneers reunited with Isaac after placing cornerback Bryce Hall on injured reserve. Hall was carted off the field during Tampa Bay’s season-opener on Sunday, when the Bucs beat the Washington Commanders 37-20.

Two other Tampa Bay cornerbacks left that game – starter Zyon McCollum with a concussion and reserve Josh Hayes with an ankle injury. The playing status of those players for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions has not been announced.

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A football and basketball standout at Midfield High School, Isaac became a starter in the Alabama State secondary as a freshman.

Isaac entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie on Tampa Bay’s practice squad last season. The Buccaneers elevated Isaac to active status twice during the season, and he got on the field for 11 special-teams plays apiece in a 26-9 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 1 and a 20-6 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 12.

Isaac spent three weeks on Tampa Bay’s active roster after his two appearances but did not play again.

Isaac intercepted a pass in the Buccaneers’ 17-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Tampa Bay’s preseason opener on Aug. 10. In the three preseason games, Isaac played 77 defensive snaps and 22 special-teams plays and made three tackles last month.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.