TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have demoted defensive tackle Vita Vea and wide receiver Kameron Johnson for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Vea suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee last week against the Detroit Lions and missed two days of practice before attempting to practice on his knee on Friday. Later that day, he and Johnson, who suffered an ankle injury but attempted to practice on Wednesday, were both listed as questionable. Neither was determined to be well enough to play on Saturday.

To help with these injuries, the Buccaneers have added defensive lineman Mike Greene to the roster for the third straight week and wide receiver Sterling Shepard for the first time this season.

On Friday, the team also signed defenseman CJ Brewer, who had been called up from the practice squad to the 53-man roster over the past two weeks, and released cornerback Keenan Isaac.

The Buccaneers have already been without several key players. Vea’s counterpart, 2023 first-round draft pick Calijah Kancey, has already missed the first two games and will miss Week 3 with a left calf injury. Starting right tackle Luke Goedeke will miss his second straight game with a concussion. And All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. will miss his second straight game with an ankle/foot injury.