The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose to tweak their receiving corps again on Tuesday, in the process adding a new option to the return game.
The Buccaneers have signed seventh-year veteran Roscoe Parrish, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, opening a spot on the roster and on the receiver depth chart by waiving Jordan Shipley.
Parrish is the fourth receiver the Bucs have signed to their active roster in the past nine days, including Shipley, whose second stint with the team lasted just one game. The Buccaneers added Shipley, Tiquan Underwood and Chris Owusu last week, replacing Sammie Stroughter (injured reserve) and Preston Parker (released).
The 5-9, 175-pound Parrish is a former second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills who could likely help the Bucs in both the passing game and on special teams. In addition to 134 career receptions, he also has significant NFL experience as both a punt and kickoff returner.
Parrish played seven seasons in Buffalo after being chosen with the 55th overall pick in the 2005 draft. Though he spent most of last season on injured reserve, the former University of Miami standout racked up 33 catches for 400 yards and two touchdowns in just eight games in 2010. Overall, Parrish finished his stint in Buffalo with 134 catches for 1,502 yards and seven scores in 77 games and 14 starts
Parrish was also the Bills' primary punt returner for most of his time in Buffalo. Overall, he returned 135 punts for 1,622 yards (12.0 average) and three touchdowns as well as 29 kickoffs for 685 yards (23.6 avg.). He was waived near the end of the 2012 preseason and later had a short stint on the Oakland Raiders' roster.
Shipley spent 11 days with the Bucs in August then was re-signed last week and inserted into the punt-return role. He returned three punts for 10 yards against the Cowboys and also lost a fumble on an attempted return in the second quarter.
