Bucs Place Evan Spencer On Reserve/Retired List
Friday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
- The Chargers have reached injury settlements with wide receiver Rasheed Bailey and linebacker Shaq Petteway, per Adam Caplan of ESPN and Wilson (on Twitter). San Diego claimed Bailey on Aug. 18 after the Jaguars cut him, but the Bolts ultimately waived/injured him last weekend. The 6-foot-1, 209-pound Bailey went undrafted out of Delaware Valley a year ago and spent time with the Eagles, though he didn’t garner any regular-season experience with either them or the Jags. Petteway signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent from West Virginia on April 30.
- The Patriots have waived running back Tyler Gaffney with an injury settlement, according to Doug Kyed of NESN (Twitter link). Gaffney, who hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since the Panthers took him in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, injured his foot in New England’s Sept. 1 preseason finale. He spent the first two years of his career on the Patriots’ injured reserve list with knee issues.
- The Buccaneers have placed receiver Evan Spencer on the reserved/retired list, writes Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk. The Redskins used a sixth-rounder on Spencer a year ago, but he ended up spending most of the season on the Bucs’ practice squad. He was active for Tampa Bay’s regular-season finale and was slated to be on its practice squad to start 2016.
- The Colts have removed cornerback Tevin Mitchel and defensive end Ron Thompson from IR with injury settlements, tweets Wilson. Mitchell, whom Washington drafted in the sixth round last year, didn’t see any action as a rookie. Thompson signed with Indy earlier this year as an undrafted free agent from Syracuse.
Bucs, Kenny Bell Reach Injury Settlement
- The Buccaneers and wideout Kenny Bell have reached an injury settlement, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
Buccaneers Promote Barber, Keyes
The Buccaneers are doing some last-minute roster shuffling prior to their Sunday opener against the Falcons. Rookie running back Peyton Barber has been promoted from the practice squad to the team’s 53-man roster and linebacker Josh Keyes is expected to make the same jump, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times writes. Running back Mike James was waived/injured this week to make room for Barber, but a corresponding move for Keyes has not yet been announced. 
[RELATED: Bucs Sign Cecil Shorts]
Keyes, a 2015 undrafted free agent out of Boston College, spent time last season on the Bucs’ taxi squad before being promoted to the varsity squad to close out the season. He saw time in seven games, mainly on special teams.
Barber, an Auburn product, missed the 53-man cut but was quickly added to the team’s practice squad this year after clearing waivers. Barber had 99 rushing yards in the preseason, though his average of 2.5 yards per carry left something to be desired. In any case, the Bucs would rather have him instead of James on the depth chart behind Doug Martin and Charles Sims.
In a related move, wide receiver Evan Spencer has been added to the practice squad after being waived earlier this week.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/7/16
Here are today’s minor moves.
- The Colts waived quarterback Stephen Morris and signed cornerback Rashaan Melvin, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Melvin was cut loose by Miami a few days ago as they dropped down to a 53-man roster. Melvin started two games for the Ravens in 2014 and spent 2015 with both the Ravens and Patriots, playing in eight games for the latter.
- The Buccaneers waived/injured running back Mike James, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). A former sixth-round pick, James spent three seasons with the Bucs, with his most notable work coming as a rookie in relief of Doug Martin. James rushed for 295 yards before himself going down with a season-ending injury. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry during that 2013 season.
- The Jaguars removed safety Earl Wolff from their IR with an injury settlement, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. A fifth-round Eagles pick in 2013, Wolff started six games for Philadelphia that season, deflecting five passes and grabbing his only career interception. Wolff reached a settlement with the Eagles prior to the 2015 season before the Jags signed him to a reserve/futures contract in January.
Buccaneers Work Out Jacquizz Rodgers
The Buccaneers worked out a handful of players today, including veteran running back Jacquizz Rodgers, according to Jenna Laine and Field Yates of ESPN.com. Tampa Bay also worked former collegiate QB Blake Sims (as a running back) and running back Antone Smith, per the ESPN scribes. Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com (Twitter link) reports that the Bucs looked at former Bengals linebacker P.J. Dawson, while Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter links) says Tampa auditioned receivers DeAndrew White and Mekale McKay.
[RELATED: Buccaneers Sign Cecil Shorts]
Rodgers, 26, is typically regarded as a strong pass protector (and therefore a solid third down back), and could provide some depth behind Doug Martin and Charles Sims, and act as an upgrade on Mike James. Fellow running back Smith could also help in that regard, but he’s four years older than Rodgers. Both, however, offer familiarity with Tampa head coach Dirk Koetter, as each played in Koetter’s Falcons offense.
Dawson, a third-round pick in the 2015 draft, was surprisingly waived by Cincinnati over the weekend, and recent reports have indicated that Bengals coaches found him to be unreliable on the field. Still, he offers talent, and like the two running backs, Dawson has ties to the Buccaneers’ coaching staff. New Tampa Bay defensive line coach Jay Hayes coached the same position group in Cincinnati, and though he didn’t directly oversee Dawson, Hayes can likely vouch for TCU alum’s ability.
The trio of McKay, Sims, and White, meanwhile, has never taken a snap in the NFL. White originally signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent earlier this year, but was waived over the weekend.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Buccaneers To Sign Cecil Shorts
4:43pm: The Bucs have confirmed the signing via Twitter. To make room for Shorts, the team waived fellow receiver Evan Spencer.
4:13pm: Cecil Shorts‘ free agent tour didn’t last long. Hours after visiting with the Buccaneers, the two sides shook hands on a deal, as Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets. It’s a one-year deal for Shorts, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter) adds that it is a “prove it” deal. 
Shorts previously played under coach Dirk Koetter when both were in Jacksonville in 2011, so there is history there. And with injuries at wide receiver, it only makes sense that the Bucs would have interest in one of the biggest names out there. Shorts became a roster casualty a few days ago when the Texans dropped him on their way to a 53-man roster.
Last year was Shorts’ first season in Houston and he compiled 42 catches for 484 yards and two touchdowns. Shorts also returned 11 punts, his first special teams action since 2011. For his efforts last season, Pro Football Focus ranked him 90th among 121 eligible receivers.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cecil Shorts To Visit Buccaneers
The Buccaneers could be adding in another pass-catching weapon for Jameis Winston to work with. Free agent wide receiver Cecil Shorts is going to visit the Bucs within the next 24 hours, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Check Out The Buccaneers’ Updated Depth Chart On Roster Resource]
Shorts could be a great fit for Tampa Bay as Shorts played in coach Dirk Koetter‘s system in Jacksonville in 2011. Shorts was used sparingly in that season, but he likely made a positive impression on the Bucs’ new head coach since this will be his first visit since being cut loose by Houston. The Buccaneers are wisely looking at available receivers with Louis Murphy sidelined for at least the first six weeks of the season.
At least five teams are interested in Shorts, so it’s possible that the wide receiver may make other visits after this, even if he finds the Bucs to be a good fit. In Shorts’ first and only season in Houston, he racked up 42 catches for 484 yards and two touchdowns. His best season came in 2012, when he caught 55 passes for 979 yards and seven touchdowns for Jacksonville.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC South
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Atlanta Falcons
- Claimed:
- WR Taylor Gabriel (link via Mike Florio of PFT)
- Waived:
- Signed to practice squad:
- DE Nordly Capi
- CB Devonte Johnson
- DT Joey Mbu
- WR J.D. McKissic
- S Sharrod Neasman
- QB Matt Simms
- TE D.J. Tialavea
- RB Gus Johnson (Twittler link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
- CB Deji Olatoye (Twittler link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed:
- DE Lavar Edwards (Link via PFT)
- Waived:
- DE Wes Horton (Link via David Newton)
- Signed to practice squad
- CB Zack Sanchez (Link via Adam Caplan)
- S Marcus Ball
- LB Brian Blechen
- DT Eric Crume
- WR Keyarris Garrett
- TE Beau Sandland
- RB Jalen Simmons
- DE Larry Webster
- OL David Yankey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to practice squad:
- OL John Fullington (Link via Josh Katzenstein)
- CB Brian Dixon (Link via Mike Triplett)
- DE Bobby Richardson
- LB Tony Steward
- FB Austin Johnson
- C Jack Allen,
- TE Garrett Griffin
- WR Jake Lampman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to practice squad:
- RB Russell Hansbrough (Link via Jim Thomas)
- WR Jeremy Butler (Link via PFT)
- LB Josh Keyes (link via Greg Auman)
- RB Peyton Barber (story via Auman)
- OL Josh Allen
- OL Ben Gottschalk
- CB Javien Elliott
- S Isaiah Johnson
- LB Micah Awe (Link via Auman)
- WR Freddie Martino
Waiver Wire Priority For All 32 NFL Teams
Yesterday was the 53-man roster deadline, but the madness will continue today as teams pick through the waiver pile for talented discards. Priority is dictated by the reverse standings with tiebreakers where necessary, which is to say that it will be the same as the 2016 draft order before all the trades. Unlike your fantasy league’s waiver wire, a team does not go to the back of the list upon making a successful claim. That means that the league’s worst teams from 2015 have a significant advantage today as they make late roster additions.
Here is the complete waiver priority order:
1. Titans
2. Browns
3. Chargers
4. Cowboys
5. Jaguars
6. Ravens
7. 49ers
8. Dolphins
9. Buccaneers
10. Giants
11. Bears
12. Saints
13. Eagles
14. Raiders
15. Rams
16. Lions
17. Falcons
18. Colts
19. Bills
20. Jets
21. Redskins
22. Texans
23. Vikings
24. Bengals
25. Seahawks
26. Packers
27. Steelers
28. Chiefs
29. Patriots
30. Cardinals
31. Panthers
32. Broncos
Bucs, Donteea Dye Reach Injury Settlement
- The Buccaneers reached an injury settlement with receiver Donteea Dye, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets.