The Sports Xchange

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed five players off waivers Sunday, including quarterback Ryan Griffin and linebacker James-Michael Johnson.

The Bucs also were awarded via waivers defensive end Kourtnei Brown, linebacker Jeremiah George and center Eric Kush.

In addition, the team waived tight end Cameron Brate, guard Kadeem Edwards (injured), tackle Reid Fragel and wide receiver Rannell Hall, while releasing linebacker Jason Williams.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Griffin joins Tampa Bay from the New Orleans Saints, where he signed as a college free agent following the 2013 NFL Draft. Since entering the league, Griffin has spent time on the Saints’ practice squad and active roster over the past two seasons, but has not appeared in a regular-season game. Griffin was a four-year starter at Tulane.

The 6-1, 240-pound Johnson enters his fourth season in the NFL, having played in 42 games, with 18 starts, recording 88 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one sack and 15 special teams tackles. Johnson originally entered the league as a fourth-round selection of the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 draft. He spent the 2012 season with Cleveland, before being claimed off of waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013, where he played for the past two seasons.

The 6-4, 253-pound Brown originally entered the NFL as a college free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012, spending the offseason and preseason with them, before being waived. Brown was most recently with the Houston Texans this past offseason and preseason, as well as spending time on the team’s practice squad last year. He has also spent time with the Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams.

The 5-11, 234-pound George played collegiately at Iowa State. He originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick (154th overall) of the New York Jets in the 2014 draft. George spent the 2014 offseason and preseason with the Jets, before being placed on the team’s practice squad. He was signed from the Jets’ practice squad to the Jacksonville active roster, appearing in six games with the Jaguars last season, totaling three tackles, one tackle for loss and three special teams tackles. George spent this offseason and preseason with the Jaguars.

The 6-4, 313-pound Kush was a sixth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2013 draft. Kush appeared in three games, with one start as a rookie and was on the team’s active roster last season, but did not appear in any games.