As another phase of the offseason begins, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to tweak their 90-man roster in advance of training camp. On Thursday, the team added two wide receivers – former New York Jet Wallace Wright and undrafted free agent Armahd Lewis – and waived first-year guard Mike Ingersoll and rookie tight end Tyler Urban.
The Bucs, who conducted their second organized team activity day (OTA) on Thursday, have now added three players to their receiving corps over the past week, previously signing former New England Patriot on May 10. The team also opened free agency by plucking the most coveted pass-catcher off the market in former San Diego Charger Vincent Jackson.
The 6-1, 201-pound Wright has spent most of his NFL career with the Jets, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina in 2006. He started his rookie season on New York's practice squad but was promoted in time to appear in the team's last five games and immediately take an active role in special teams. Wright didn't record a reception in his rookie campaign but did rack up six kick-coverage tackles in those five outings.
Wright made the Jets roster each of the next three seasons and played in all 48 games from 2007-09, continuing to excel in the kick-and-return game. In addition to his 60 special teams tackles, he also contributed eight catches for 108 yards on offense, with a single-season-best of six for 87 in 2007.
Wright fought to get his college career started just as he did in the NFL, coming to UNC as a walk-on but making the team and eventually appearing in 46 games. He finished his Tar Heel career with 23 receptions for 312 yards and four scores, while also returning 54 kickoffs for an average of 21.6 yards per and one more touchdown.
Lewis (5-9, 172) played just one season of college football, at Central Washington University, but he was a very successful collegiate athlete. Before transferring to CWU, Lewis ran track at Utah State and was a member of the 4x100 relay team that set a school record in 2010. He was a first-team All-WAC selection in track and field in 2010 after finishing second in the 100m and helping the 4x100 crew also come in second. Lewis also excelled in the 60m, 200m and 4x100 relay events.
At Central Washington, Lewis appeared in 10 games in 2011 and caught 21 passes for 438 yards and three scores, with a 20.9-yard per-catch average that indicated his top-notch speed. Lewis also returned kicks for the Wildcats, averaging 23.0 yards on 16 kickoff returns and 8.7 yards on three punt returns.
Ingersoll first joined the Buccaneers last fall, spending the last three weeks of the season on the team's practice squad. He then re-signed to the team's 2012 offseason roster in January. Urban, a rookie, signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on April 30.
