National Football League

Report: D.J. Swearinger already getting reps as the starting safety

Published Jun. 15, 2015 12:54 p.m. ET

foxsports

Apparently D.J. Swearinger has made a strong impression on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since joining the team off waivers last month. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Swearinger worked almost completely with the first-team defense at OTAs late last week.

Lovie Smith had great things to say about the newest safety in Tampa as well.

"He's a very smart football player, starting off with that," coach Lovie Smith told the Tampa Bay Times after the team's 10th and final OTA, with a three-day mandatory minicamp ahead next week. "Good agility. We feel like we picked up a draft pick by getting a player like that. He can play the run. Again, good instincts, smart, everything you want to see a guy do running around in underwear, he has been able to do well. His strong suit is supposed to be when he gets in pads, so we like him being on the team."

Swearinger is obviously doing something right, now comes the time when the team puts the pads on, because that's going to be the real test to see where Swearinger fits.

(h/t Tampa Bay Times)

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports