Bowers will be waived Friday, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports reports.

Bowers was given a second chance by the Bucs this summer, signing a one-year, completely unguaranteed contract to return to the franchise that drafted him back in 2011. He recorded a sack and five tackles Thursday night but apparently did not impress the coaching staff enough to warrant a roster spot.

Bowers re-signed with the Buccaneers on Monday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bowers will get a second chance with the team that originally drafted him in the second round of the 2011 draft. The exact terms of the agreement were not immediately available, but he will play under a 1-year deal with no signing bonus or guaranteed money. In four seasons with the team, he has played in 50 games and recorded seven career sacks. He will provide some depth along the defensive line, though it remains to be seen how many snaps he will see in 2015.

Bowers has been suspended two games for violating the league's performance enhancing drug policy.

Bowers has been limited to just six tackles and one sack through five games this season. However, as a reserve defensive lineman, Bowers' absence won't impact the Buccaneers' starting lineup.

Bowers (abdomen) is active Sunday versus the Rams, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

After sitting out Week 1 due to a lingering groin concern, Bowers will make his season debut as a part of the rotation at defensive tackle. Through 39 games across his first three NFL campaigns, he tallied 45 tackles (34 solo), 5.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.

Bowers (abdomen) is questionable for Sunday's game against St. Louis.

Bowers practiced fully all week, so it seems that he has a decent chance to make his 2014 debut Sunday.

Bowers (groin) practiced Thursday but won't play in Sunday's opener against the Panthers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bowers, who missed the final three preseason games due to a groin injury, will sit out Week 1, as the Buccaneers and coach Lovie Smith consider the long-term ramifications. In three NFL campaigns, Bowers has underwhelmed, racking up 45 tackles (34 solo), 5.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery in 39 games.

Bowers (groin) is likely to miss Saturday's preseason game against the Bills, the Tampa Tribune reports.

The report suggests that Bowers, who missed the Bucs' second preseason game this past Saturday, needs to get back on the field sooner rather than later, noting that if the defensive lineman's groin injury continues to linger, he could find himself on the Bucs' roster bubble.

Bowers appears to have impressed the Buccaneers' coaching staff with his versatility, as he is listed behind Gerald McCoy at defensive tackle on their initial preseason defensive depth chart, the team's official site reports.

Bowers could be deployed as a swing player this season who can rush from the inside or outside as a rotational player. He is likely to receive snaps behind McCoy, but could also see time at the end position when starters Adrian Clayborn and Michael Johnson are off the field.

Bucs GM Jason Licht confirmed 2012 second-round pick Da'Quan Bowers is on thin ice in Tampa Bay.

Bowers reported to spring practices out of shape, has been ineffective on the field, and is now off scholarship under a new front office and coaching staff. "I (don't) mean to sound too harsh, but it's a matter of fact that he needs to prove that he wants to make an impact with this football team and I expect that he will," Licht said. Bowers is not in the mix for a starting job.

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers showed up to offseason workouts out of shape for the second year in a row.

Bowers was ticketed for a starting job last summer but showed up for the offseason program overweight and relinquished the opportunity. He's now simply fighting to keep his roster spot as a rotational end behind Michael Johnson, William Gholston, and Adrian Clayborn. Bowers has 5.5 career sacks through 39 games.

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers sat out pre-draft minicamp due to the knee injury that cut his 2013 season short.

Coach Lovie Smith recently showered Bowers in praise, but Lovie has seemingly done that with every Bucs player he's inherited. "I know rehab is going well," said Smith. "He's a good football player, but he needs to prove it right now." Bowers indeed underwent surgery, presumably related to the knee woes that plagued his 2011 pre-draft process. He can't be counted on for a 2014 role.

Coach Lovie Smith reiterated that DE Da'Quan Bowers should excel in the Bucs' new defense.

"He's a good football player, but he needs to prove it right now," Smith said. "He'll get an opportunity, a player like that should be able to excel in a defense like ours." Smith said as much after he was hired, but the Bucs went out and signed RE Michael Johnson. Bowers is now the third end behind Johnson and LE Adrian Clayborn. He'll play a pure pass-rushing role should he make the team.

The Lovie Smith coaching staff has insisted it still has high hopes for DE Da'Quan Bowers.

Bowers was handed a starting job on a silver platter in 2013 yet he still blew it, falling behind Daniel Te'o-Nesheim and then William Gholston before landing on injured reserve with recurring knee woes. Now there are whispers that he'll need more surgery. As ESPN's Pat Yasinskas says, anything the Bucs get out of Bowers going forward will be considered a bonus. Both Yasinskas and our Evan Silva call defensive end Tampa's No. 1 offensive need.

Bucs DC Bill Sheridan hinted DE Da'Quan Bowers (injured reserve) will undergo knee surgery.

"He's never been well," Sheridan said. "You're trying to decide all season on whether or not to make that move. `Is he healthy enough to play? Or are we better off just getting him to have surgery and get him cleaned up and let him rehab for an offseason and come back?'" Bowers was sent to I.R. on Thursday. His current knee issue is reportedly unrelated to the one that caused him to fall to the 51st pick in the 2011 draft. Some wonder if his career is over.

Bucs placed DE Da'Quan Bowers (knee) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Bowers' wildly disappointing season wraps with him on the shelf. He lost his starting job to Daniel Te'o-Nesheim early on, has fallen behind William Gholston recently and contributed just seven tackles and one sack in 13 games. All this after Bowers was expected to have a huge role in the wake of Michael Bennett's departure. Note that Bowers' draft stock slid drastically back in 2011 due to his knees.

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers (concussion) is practicing in full for Week 12.

The situational pass rusher is ready to return after missing Week 11. Bowers has just half a sack in nine games this season. Bowers might not be back in Tampa for the final year of his rookie contract in 2014.

Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers has been diagnosed with a concussion.

He is week to week. Failing to earn a starting job and serving as a situational pass rusher, Bowers has been a major disappointment this season. He's notched half a sack in 163 snaps.

Bucs LE Da'Quan Bowers has fallen behind Daniel Te'o-Nesheim on the depth chart.

It could just be a motivational ploy from frustrated coach Greg Schiano, but either way, Bowers took the hint. "Of course that will push me,'' Bowers said. "If that's his way of pushing me, I acknowledge that and I'm trying to do something about it." Bowers is long on talent, but seemingly short on a lot of other things. The Bucs' pass rush will be in trouble if he doesn't take a step forward.

According to the Tampa Tribune, the idea of benching LE Da'Quan Bowers is "gaining steam" among the Bucs' coaching staff.

We already knew coach Greg Schiano was unhappy with his third-year pro. Per reporter Roy Cummings, Schiano is "not happy with Bowers' conditioning, effort in practice or performance in last week's preseason opener against Baltimore." Bowers has a lot on the line in Friday's preseason game against the Patriots. Getting to Tom Brady a time or two could get him out of the doghouse.

Bucs LE Da'Quan Bowers admits conditioning has been an obstacle in his quest to become an every-down player.

At least he knows it. "I think I'm still a little winded at times," Bowers said. "I'm still not in the best shape. I'm still getting used to the speed of practice. But other than that, (training camp) has been decent." In their preseason opener, the Bucs gave Bowers more snaps than any veteran defender. He started at left defensive end and managed two tackles (one solo).