Bucs To Work Out RB Terrance West
After placing Charles Sims on the injured reserve earlier this week, the Buccaneers are searching for some help at running back. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team will be working out free agent running back Terrance West today.
West was initially signed by the Saints back in June after Mark Ingram was hit with a four-game suspension, but he was cut loose by the organization earlier this week. The 27-year-old appeared in only five games (four starts) with the Ravens last year, compiling 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. He was significantly more productive with Baltimore in 2016, finishing with 1,010 yards on offense and six touchdowns.
The Buccaneers have Peyton Barber, rookie Ronald Jones, and Jacquizz Rodgers effectively locked in for the 53-man roster. If the team brings in West, he’ll presumably be competing for the fourth spot on the Bucs’ depth chart, competing with a grouping that includes Dare Ogunbowale and Shaun Wilson.
Sims suffered a knee injury earlier this preseason, leading to his placement on the IR. The running back appeared in all 16 games last season, totaling just 21 rushing attempts for 95 yards. He added another 35 catches for 249 yards and one score.
Buccaneers Place RB Charles Sims On IR
The Buccaneers have placed Charles Sims on injured reserve. The running back suffered a knee injury on the opening kickoff of the team’s most recent playoff game against the Titans. 
Sims was re-signed to a one-year deal this offseason and was hoping to get back to his old form after getting limited carries in 2017. Although teams are permitted to bring two players back from IR, the Bucs’ announcement made it sound as though Sims is done for the year. He’ll have to wait until 2019 for redemption, and there’s no guarantee that will happen in Tampa.
Appearing in all 16 games, Sims totaled just 21 rushing attempts for 95 yards. He did have 35 catches for 249 yards and one score, however.
The Buccaneers have Peyton Barber, rookie Ronald Jones, and Jacquizz Rodgers effectively locked in for the 53-man roster. Sims was pushing for a spot behind him, and that will now likely go to Duke product Shaun Wilson. Dare Ogunbowale also has improved odds of making the cut now that Sims is out of the picture.
Bucs LT Donovan Smith Out 2-4 Weeks
Buccaneers left tackle Donovan Smith suffered a sprained knee during practice and is projected to miss two-to-four weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Tampa Bay’s regular season kicks off in just under three weeks, so Smith may indeed miss game action depending on his recovery time. That’s not good news for the Buccaneers, who will open the campaign not only without starting quarterback Jameis Winston (who will be serving a thee-game suspension), but three difficult opponents in the Saints, Eagles, and Steelers.
Smith, 25, has started 48 consecutive games since being selected 34th overall in the 2015 draft. Pro Football Focus has consistently graded Smith as a middling option: last season, PFF ranked the Penn State as the No. 45 tackle among 79 qualifiers.
Third-year pro Leonard Wester who’s played fewer than 90 snaps in his career, is currently Smith’s top backup at left tackle, and would take over if Smith is forced to miss time. The Buccaneers’ offensive line ranked 16th in Football Outsiders’ run- and pass-blocking metrics, and has since added free agent center Ryan Jensen and third-round right guard Alex Cappa.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/21/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Kyle Bosch
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: T Leon Johnson
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Bryce Jones
- Waived/injured: CB Josh Thornton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Nick DeLuca
- Placed on injured reserve: S Don Carey
- Waived/left squad: LB Brooks Ellis
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: C Jacob Judd
- Claimed off waivers: RB Luke McNitt
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: WR Josh Huff
- Waived/injured: S Rickey Jefferson
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Jonah Trinnaman
Oakland Raiders
- Claimed off waivers: CB Antwuan Davis (Lions)
- Waived/injured: CB Tevin Mitchel
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived from injured reserve: S Terrell Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Matt Weiser
- Waived/injured: TE Colin Jeter
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Jeff Knox, LB Nyles Morgan, LB Deontae Skinner
- Waived: LB Brandon Chubb, LB Davond Dade, OL Matthew Diaz
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/20/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: FB Jalston Fowler, WR Julian Williams
- Waived: FB Luke McNitt, WR Taj Williams
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed WR Cobi Hamilton
- Waived: RB Tion Green
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: FB Kobe McCrary, G Kareem Are
- Placed on IR: DE Ade Aruna
- Waived/Injured: OL Cedrick Lang, FB Johnny Stanton, TE Josiah Price
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Jhurell Pressley
- Waived/Injured: LB Thurston Armbrister
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DT Jerel Worthy
- Waived/Injured: LB Shaheed Salmon
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Joshua Kalu
- Placed on IR: DB Kalan Reed
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/19/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DL Tenny Palepoi
- Waived/injured: P Cory Carter
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Jason Reese
- Waived/injured: WR Fred Ross
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Marcus Cromartie
- Waived/injured: S Stefan McClure
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Bronson Hill
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers: DT Adam Reth
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/18
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on non-football injury list: WR Josh Gordon
- Signed: TE Stephen Baggett, DL Blaine Woodson
- Waived: DB Micah Hannemann
- Waived/injured: TE Julian Allen
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB LeShun Daniels
- Waived from injured reserve: LB C.J. Johnson
- Placed on reserve/retired list: RB Akeem Judd
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Kyle Coleman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Darius Prince
- Waived: DT Adam Reth
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived from injured reserve: TE Donnie Ernsberger
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OL Kendall Calhoun, DB Darius Hillary, WR Allenzae Staggers
- Waived: LB Jeff Knox, DL Jalen Wilkerson
- Waived/injured: RB Martez Carter
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/18
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: FB Marquez Williams
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: TE Josiah Price
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DT Drew Iddings
- Waived/Injured: DT Stevie Tu’ikolovatu
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Austin Wolf
- Released: WR Rashad Ross
Denver Broncos
- Claimed: WE DeAndrew White (Texans)
- Waived/Injured: WR Philly Brown
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Tion Green
- Waived: LB William Ossai
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: OL Alan Knott
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived from injured reserve: OL Avery Young
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived from injured reserve: CB David Rivers
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Alex Carter
- Placed on IR: S Damian Parms
Denver Broncos
- Waived: OL Leon Johnson
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Quan Bray
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: CB Kevin Peterson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers: CB De’Vante Harris
- Waived: CB Aaron Davis,
New Orleans Saints
- Waived:G Trevor Darling
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Elijah Battle, LB Jason Hall, C Marcus Henry
- Waived: FB Jalston Fowler, TE Je’Ron Hamm, LB Warren Long
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Tony Washington, LB Davond Dade, DL Francis Kallon
- Waived: LB/FB Nick DeLuca, S Joshua Kalu