Practice Squad Updates: 10/14/16
Friday’s practice squad moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Jeremy Vujnovich (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Darrell Greene
- Cut: LB Don Cherry
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- To be signed on Monday: TE Tevin Westbrook (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
Browns Place Joel Bitonio On IR
The Browns have placed left guard Joel Bitonio on injured reserve with a mid-foot sprain, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets. To take his place on the roster, fullback Dan Vitale has been signed off of the Buccaneers’ practice squad (link). 
Bitonio’s injury is likely season-ending, though the new IR rules could technically allow for him to return. If Bitonio was to come back, he would not be eligible to play for another eight weeks.
Last year, Bitonio was placed on IR in December when an ankle injury forced him out of action. He was rated as the No. 33 guard in the NFL by Pro Football Focus when he was shut down last year. This year, through five games, PFF rated him as the ninth-best guard in the league (tied with Mike Iupati of the Cardinals). In 2016, he earned an overall grade of 83.3 with roughly even scores for his pass blocking and run blocking.
Vitale was a sixth-round pick of the Bucs this year. At Northwestern, Vitale racked up 135 catches for 1,427 receiving yards from 2012-15. He only carries the ball six times in college.
Buccaneers Work Out Sealver Siliga, 10 Others
The Buccaneers have been busy during their bye week, as ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that the team worked out five players today: linebackers Quentin Gause and Brandon Hepburn, defensive tackle Sealver Siliga, defensive end Chris McCain, and wide receiver Da’Ron Brown. Howard Balzer (via Twitter) adds the names of six more players who auditioned for the Bucs: wide receivers Matt Hazel and Jamal Robinson, linebackers Jason Fanaika and Randell Johnson, tight end Clay Burton, and cornerback Robertson Daniel.
With starting defensive lineman Robert Ayers, Gerald McCoy, and Clinton McDonald missing this past weekend’s game, the Buccaneers are seeking some reinforcement up front. Siliga, 26, would automatically become one of the team’s most experienced lineman, as the former undrafted free agent has 26 career games under his belt. The defensive tackle played in 13 games for the Patriots in 2015 (four starts), compiling 28 tackles. Siliga briefly caught on with the Seahawks this past offseason, and he visited the Buccaneers back in September. McCain, another former undrafted free agent, appeared in 18 games for the Dolphins between 2014 and 2015, collecting seven tackles and two sacks.
The Buccaneers may be valuing depth when it comes to Hepburn and Gause, as the team only has four linebackers on the roster. Hepburn is the most experienced of the two, although the former Florida A&M standout hasn’t played an NFL game. Still, the 26-year-old has bounced between the Lions, Eagles and Cowboys over the past four years. Gause, a rookie linebacker out of Rutgers, previously spent time with the Eagles and Patriots.
The Buccaneers decision to audition Brown may be an indication that wideout Cecil Shorts won’t be ready for next week’s game. Brown, a seventh-round pick by the Chiefs in 2015, was released by the Patriots’ practice squad earlier this month.
Buccaneers To Audition Chris McCain
- The Buccaneers will work out defensive end Chris McCain on Wednesday, reports Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). McCain, who was traded from Miami to New Orleans during the offseason before ultimately being waived, has appeared in 19 games over the past two seasons.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/11/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Davis Tull
- Cut: P Michael Palardy
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: K Marshall Morgan (Twitter link via Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Brian Mihalik
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: C Jake Brendel, T Terry Poole (Twitter link via Howard Balzer)
- Cut: G Jamil Douglas (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com)
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Ian Silberman (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- Signed: QB Logan Thomas (Twitter link via James Kratch of NJ.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Don Cherry, CB Duke Thomas
- Cut: FB Andrew Bonnet, G Darrell Greene
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Julian Howsare
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cut: LB Josh Keyes
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL Joey Mbu
- Cut: CB Robertson Daniel, LB Jason Fanaika
Jets Claim WR Jeremy Butler
The Jets have claimed wide receiver Jeremy Butler off waivers from the Buccaneers, as Mike Florio of PFT tweets. The Bucs were likely hoping to re-sign Butler to their practice squad. The Jets have confirmed the move. To make room, the Jets will release fellow wide receiver Jeremy Ross. 
The Buccaneers promoted Butler to the active roster last week. Then, over the weekend, he was dropped to make room for linebacker Cameron Lynch on the active roster. The former undrafted free agent previously spent time with the Ravens, where he collected 31 receptions for 363 yards in eight games last season.
The Jets were without both Eric Decker and Jalin Marshall in Week 5 and there’s still no concrete return date for either player. Now, Butler joins the depth chart behind healthy receivers Brandon Marshall, Quincy Enunwa, Bobby Anderson, Charone Peake.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Buccaneers Place Charles Sims On IR
The Buccaneers are placing running back Charles Sims on IR, a source tells ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (via Twitter). The move will create room for the previously reported promotion of running back Russell Hansbrough. 
Sims was considered unlikely to play tonight and it turns out that he won’t be suiting up for at least two months. The Bucs will have the option of reinstating Sims to the roster if he proves to be healthy, but the team can only make one such maneuver per season.
Sims entered the season as Doug Martin‘s primary backup and some expected him to have a near-even share of the carries this year. In four games, the 26-year-old drew 41 carries but averaged just 2.8 yards per attempt. He also caught 14 passes for 112 yards.
Tonight, the Bucs will have Jacquizz Rodgers as the lead back with Peyton Barber and Hansbrough in support. The team will hope to have Martin back on the field on the other side of their Week 6 bye.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bucs To Promote Russell Hansbrough
The Buccaneers are promoting running back Russell Hansbrough from the practice squad to the active roster, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Hansbrough will be in uniform as the Buccaneers get set to face the Panthers tonight. 
Top running back Doug Martin and main backup Charles Sims are listed as doubtful for tonight’s game and neither player is expected to take the field. That leaves former Falcon Jacquizz Rodgers as the Bucs’ starting running back tonight with Peyton Barber and Hansbrough is support.
Hansbrough, a Missouri product, joined the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in May. Barber was able to position himself ahead of Hansbrough in the summer, but both players now find themselves on the 53-man roster.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/5/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Kenny Bell
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Rory Anderson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE E.J. Bibbs (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Luke Rhodes (Twitter link via Mich Chappell of CBS4)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Brian Leonhardt
- Cut: CB Tre Roberson (Twitter link via Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune)
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Chase Farris (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss)
- Cut: LB Quentin Gause
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Tyrell Adams, LB Darnell Sankey (via Jimmy Durkin of the San Jose Mercury News)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Josh Keyes
Buccaneers Audition Two
- Safety Trae Elston and Shakiel Randolph tried out for the Buccaneers today, as Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets.