Buccaneers Activate RB Doug Martin
The Buccaneers have activated running back Doug Martin from suspension, the club announced today. In a related move, Tampa Bay waived tight end Alan Cross.
Martin, 28, was handed a four-game PED suspension near the tail end of the 2016 season, so he was able to serve one game of that ban last year. Because the Buccaneers’ Week 1 game was postponed due to weather concerns, Martin is just now finishing up his stay on the suspended list. The ban voided the remaining guarantees on Martin’s contract, and Tampa Bay hasn’t promised that Martin will reclaim his starting job when he returns.
But the Buccaneers’ rushing offense has faltered enough through three games that it’s difficult to imagine Martin not taking the bulk of the carries immediately. Jacquizz Rodgers, Peyton Barber, and Charles Sims have handled the ball for Tampa Bay so far, but the club ranks just 22nd in rushing DVOA and is averaging only 3.8 yards per carry.
Through five NFL seasons, Martin has posted only two campaigns that can be considered successful — 2012 and 2015, when he topped 1,400 yards rushing and scored 17 combined touchdowns. The rest of his pro years have been lackluster, as Martin wasn’t able to top even 500 yards in either 2013, 2014, or 2016. He’s signed through 2020, but the Buccaneers can get out of Martin’s contract at any time.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/27/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
Arizona Cardinals
- TE Alex Ellis; DE Jonathan Woodard (link)
Atlanta Falcons
- CB Alex Carter (link)
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Steven Johnson (link)
Buffalo Bills
- OLs Josh James and G Nate Theaker; WRs Amba Etta-Tawo and Tavarres King; S Justin Currie (link)
Detroit Lions
- OLs Willie Beavers, John Greco, and Kraig Urbik; DE Sterling Bailey (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- WRs Kolby Listenbee and Jordan Williams; LBs Richie Brown, Austin Calitro, and Jayrone Elliott (Twitter links)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- RB LeShun Daniels; LBs Frank Beltre and Cassanova McKinzy (link)
Los Angeles Chargers
- WR Michael Rector; LB Jonathan Freeny (Twitter links)
Los Angeles Rams
- WR Jordan Payton (link)
New York Jets
- WR Rashad Ross; TE Greg Scruggs; DE Jhaustin Thomas; LBs Gabe Martin and Brandon Watts; CB Makinton Dorleant; S Ironhead Gallon (all Twitter links)
Philadelphia Eagles
- C Anthony Fabiano; T Givens Price; CBs D.J. Killings and Damian Swann (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LBs Carl Bradford and Austin Calitro; CB Taurean Nixon (link)
Tennessee Titans
- LSs Andrew East and Anthony Kukwa (link)
Washington Redskins
- LB Otha Peters; DBs Antone Exum Jr., James Sample, and B.J. Sanders (link)
NFL Workout Updates: 9/26/17
Tuesday’s workout updates (links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle or ESPN’s Adam Caplan):
Atlanta Falcons
- CB D’Joun Smith, S Chris Prosinski
Buffalo Bills
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
- LB Kennan Gilchrist, LB Trevor Bates, LB Andrew Gachkar, RB/LB Connor Harris
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Evan Baylis
Jacksonville Jaguars
Los Angeles Chargers
- LB Josh Mauga
Los Angeles Rams
Minnesota Vikings
- TE Evan Baylis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
NFL Waiver Priority Now Based On 2017 Record
We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.
Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Browns enjoyed top priority thanks to their 1-15 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week (Twitter links via Field Yates of ESPN.com):
T-1. Bengals
T-1. Browns
T-1. 49ers
4. Giants
5. Chargers
6. Colts
T-7. Texans
T-7. Seahawks
9. Cardinals
10. Jets
11. Saints
12. Bears
13. Dolphins
14. Buccaneers
15. Ravens
T-16. Panthers
T-16. Cowboys
T-16. Rams
T-16. Steelers
T-20. Broncos
T-20. Lions
T-20. Packers
23. Vikings
T-24. Bills
T-24. Jaguars
T-24. Patriots
T-24. Raiders
T-24. Eagles
T-24. Titans
30. Redskins
31. Chiefs
32. Falcons
Bucs LB Lavonte David Has Ankle Sprain
Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David does not have a high-ankle sprain as originally reported, as in fact only dealing with a medial left ankle sprain which will render him week-to-week, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Head coach Dirk Koetter hinted at as much when speaking to reporters earlier today, as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times writes.
“I think you’re jumping the gun on Lavonte,” Koetter said. “It’s not as bad as it looked, number one. It looked bad. X-rays were negative. Knock on wood, it’s not as bad as it looked or previously reported.”
If he’s forced to miss time, the 27-year-old David will undoubtedly be missed. Through three games, David was ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 linebacker in the NFL. Though it comes from a small sample size, his 88.1 score is exceptional and nearly as strong as his career-high 93.5 score in 2013. The 2013 season marked his sole first-team All Pro selection.
Last year, David had a perfect attendance record as he tallied 87 tackles, 5.0 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He also had an interception, the tenth of his career.
A hamstring injury also kept starting linebacker Kwon Alexander out of action on Sunday. If Alexander cannot go on Sunday, the Bucs could be a bit thin in the front seven when they face the Giants.
Bucs, WR Mike Evans Discussing Extension
The Buccaneers and wide receiver Mike Evans have engaged in preliminary extension negotiations, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
Evans and Tampa Bay are “very early” in the discussion process, cautions La Canfora, and that comes as no surprise given that the Buccaneers have Evans under team control for some time. In what was surely a simple decision, the Bucs exercised Evans’ 2018 fifth-year option at a cost of $13.258MM, and the club could also utilize the franchise tag to retain Evans in 2019.
The franchise tender will likely only be on the table for one season, per La Canfora, as Tampa Bay will need to use the tag as leverage in talks with quarterback Jameis Winston following the 2019 campaign. Extending both Evans and Winston shouldn’t be a financial problem for the Buccaneers, however, as the team ranks in the top-10 in projected available cap space in each of the next three years.
Evans, 24, has lived up to his draft status since being chosen with the seventh overall pick in 2014. He’s topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons, and posted his best overall campaign in 2016, when he put up 96 receptions for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Lavonte David Suffers High Ankle Sprain
The Buccaneers could be without Lavonte David for the near future. The cornerstone defender suffered what’s believed to be a high ankle sprain in Tampa Bay’s loss to the Vikings on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
David will undergo an MRI Monday morning, which will lead to a clearer timetable. But given the nature of this injury, it’s likely the stalwart outside linebacker misses some time.
Should David miss games because of this malady, they will mark his first absences since the 2014 season. David missed two games that year. During his other four NFL seasons, the former second-round pick suited up for all 16 Bucs contests. A hamstring injury sidelined David in 2014.
A former first-team All-Pro, David made seven tackles in Tampa Bay’s Week 3 defeat. A cart transported the sixth-year defender to the locker room. Worries about a knee injury swirled after the seminal sequence, but it appears David’s dodged a season-ending setback.
The Bucs were already playing without fellow standout ‘backer Kwon Alexander. Rookie Kendell Beckwith started in the middle for Alexander, who missed the Vikings matchup with a hamstring injury. So, Tampa’s defensive second level is reeling at the moment.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/19/17
Today’s workout updates:
Carolina Panthers
- T Laurence Gibson; CB Tevin Homer (Twitter link via Howard Balzer)
Chicago Bears
- QBs Garrett Grayson and Bart Houston; WRs Marlon Brown, Bug Howard, Kyle Prater, Tevaun Smith, Daniel Williams, and James Wright; TE D.J. Tialavea; C Mark Spelman; T Givens Price; LBs Carl Bradford and Shayne Skov; DTs Stefan Charles, Mike Purcell, and Nick Williams (Link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Dallas Cowboys
- OLs Michael Dunn, Jake Eldrenkamp, Kaleb Johnson, and Jarron Jones; LB Tre’Von Johnson; DT Caraun Reid, CBs Chris Lewis-Harris, JaCorey Shepherd, D’Joun Smith, and Ian Wells (Twitter link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News)
Green Bay Packers
- QB Jerod Evans; RB Algeron Brown; WRs C.J. Board, Alonzo Moore, and Jordan Williams; TE Ryan O’Malley; DTs Jeremy Faulk and Joey Ivie (Link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DTs Ryan Carrethers, John Hughes, and Cam Thomas (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union)
Kansas City Chiefs
- LB Garrett Sickels; CBs Makinton Dorleant and Ezra Robinson (Twitter link via Adam Caplan)
Miami Dolphins
- LB Zaviar Gooden (Twitter link via Caplan)
New York Jets
- WRs Corey Brown, Josh Huff and Paul Turner; G Robert Myers; DL Stefan Charles, Datone Jones, Alex McCalister, and Joby Saint Fleur; CBs Malik Foreman and D.J. Killings; S Jordan Moore. (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, Caplan, Balzer (1, 2) and Wilson)
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Willie Beavers, Wil Freeman, Laurence Gibson, and Max Rich (Twitter link via Caplan and Balzer)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- CB Randall Evans (Twitter link via Caplan)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/19/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DL Taniela Tupou
- Released: RB Jhurell Pressley
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Keyarris Garrett
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Mike Purcell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DL Tyrone Holmes, WR Jordan Leslie, DL Jhaustin Thomas
- Released: DB Najee Murray, DB Channing Stribling
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: S Jameill Showers
- Released: G Nate Theaker
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Cyril Grayson Jr.
- Released: WR Fred Brown
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Jaydon Mickens
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB George Atkinson, CB Keith Reaser, DT Daniel Ross
- Released: DL Rickey Hatley, CB Taurean Nixon
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Geremy Davis
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Bradley Sylve
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Claude Pelon
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Tyvis Powell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB David Rivers
- Released: CB Jonathan Moxey
Practice Squad Updates: 9/14/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OT Ulrick John, OT Vinston Painter
- Cut: OT T Givens Price
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Greg Mabin
- Cut: TE MyCole Pruitt
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: K Harrison Butker
- Cut: DT Eric Crume
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DT Christian Ringo
- Cut: DT Daniel Ross
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DL Quinton Jefferson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Adam Bighill
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Channing Ward
- Cut: DE Sterling Bailey