Carl

Nassib

Nassib, who in 2021 became the first openly gay active player in NFL history, played 13 games for the Bucs last season, recording 23 tackles, including six tackles of a loss. He also had 3.5 sacks. “I gave it everything I had,” he said in a statement. “I really feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.” Drafted by the Browns in 2016, Nassib, 30, played in 99 regular season games for three teams.

Tampa also ruled out EDGE Carl Nassib and S Logan Ryan in what amounts to a meaningless regular season finale against Atlanta. Bucs starters who suit up in Week 18 likely won’t see many snaps. It makes Tyler Allgeier and Drake London interesting DFS options against a second-team defense.

Nassib, 29, was released by the Raiders in a salary-cap move back in March. He now goes back to Tampa Bay for his second tour with the team after spending 2018-19 there with then-DC and now-head coach Todd Bowles. Nassib is strong against the run and has 22 career sacks in 86 games.

Nassib has been designated a post-June 1 release, clearing $8 million in cap space. It’s a surprising move in that Nassib is an effective situational pass rusher, but unsurprising in that he was a situational pass rusher due $7.75 million this upcoming season. Nassib’s three-year, $25 million contract was always a little too rich. Still a useful edge option, Nassib should not have much trouble finding a new home on a more sensible contract. Nassib is the NFL’s only openly gay player.

Not listed on the team’s injury report this week, Koonce’s absence is something of a stunner for a Raiders defense that will require all hands on deck to slow down Joe Burrow and company. Koonce being inactive is a slight upgrade for Joe Mixon too. DE Carl Nassib will replace Koonce on the Vegas defensive line.

Nassib just finished a short stay on the COVID list so he’s likely not up to speed yet. He has 1.5 sacks on the year.

It’s a watershed announcement in the league’s history. Nassib, 28, in a Monday video statement said he’s gay, a revelation over which he’s “agonized” for 15 years. Nassib’s announcement comes seven years after LB Michael Sam -- a seventh round selection by the Rams -- came out as gay. Sam did not make the team, and never played a regular season snap. Other players have come out after their NFL careers, keeping their sexuality a secret for fear of ruining their careers. “I’m a pretty private person so I hope you guys know that I’m not doing this for attention,” Nassib said. “I just think that representation and visibility are so important.” Nassib’s announcement elicited an overwhelmingly positive response from the team, the league, and journalists covering the NFL. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he is “proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today. Representation matters.” Vegas DL Darius Stills and EDGE rusher Maxx Crosby voiced support for their teammate after his groundbreaking announcement. Nassib signed with the Raiders in 2020 after two seasons in Cleveland and two years in Tampa. He recorded 12.5 sacks during his two seasons with the Bucs. Last year, Nassib had 2.5 sacks in 14 games, five of which he started.

The Raiders gave Nassib a hefty, three-year- $25 million contract this offseason but weren’t getting much from Nassib through four weeks. He had a half-sack on 26% of the defensive snaps while healthy. He’ll return as a rotational piece for the Las Vegas defense.

The veteran free-agent pickup has a half-sack on 26% of the defensive snaps thus far, and it’s unclear how much time he’ll miss with this injury. He’s merely a rotational edge piece.

Nassib received $17 million in guaranteed money. The former “Hard Knocks” star notched 12.5 sacks over the past two years in Tampa, doing so on a modest 1,227 snaps. He also forced three fumbles. Nassib is a solid rotational addition for Jon Gruden’s defense.