The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed wide receiver Freddie Martino, just in time for a trip back to where his NFL career began.
Martino returned to the Buccaneers on a pair of roster moves the team made Saturday before heading out to Atlanta. The Buccaneers and Falcons play a key divisional game Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A spot was created on the 53-man roster when the team placed cornerback Marcus Williams on injured reserve.
Martino originally made the Buccaneers roster to start the season and appeared in the first three games, contributing one special teams tackle. He was released on September 27 to create a roster spot for quarterback Jameis Winston, who had returned from a three-game suspension.
Martino could contribute right away, and he at least gives the Buccaneers one more option for the 46-man game-day roster. Williams had already been ruled out for the game due to a hamstring injury. The Buccaneers signed the former New York Jet in Week Two and he appeared in games against Philadelphia and Chicago, recording three tackles.
Martino played in 21 games for the Buccaneers in the 2016-17 seasons, catching 13 passes for 238 yards and one touchdown. He has averaged 18.3 yards per catch in his career, which began in Atlanta, where he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He split his rookie season between the practice squad and the active roster, learning the offense run by current Buccaneers Head Coach Dirk Koetter, who was the Falcons' offensive coordinator at the time. Martino played his college football at North Greenville.
