The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started four different tailbacks during the first half of the 2016 season and handed off to five different runners. Russell Hansbrough could be the sixth.
The Buccaneers' backfield merry-go-round has been caused by an unusually clustered string of injuries, the most recent of which has landed veteran running back Antone Smith on injured reserve. He and defensive end Howard Jones were placed on IR on Monday after sustaining season-ending knee injuries in Thursday night's game against Atlanta.
Hansbrough was promptly promoted from the practice squad to the active roster for the second time this season. One spot on the 53-man roster remains open as the Buccaneers begin a week of practice in preparation for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.
Photos of the Buccaneers' complete roster.
2 K John Lunsford
3 QB Jameis Winston
4 QB Ryan Griffin
9 P Bryan Anger
10 WR Adam Humphries
11 WR DeSean Jackson
13 WR Mike Evans
14 QB Sean Renfree
15 WR Josh Huff
16 WR Freddie Martino
17 WR Donteaa Dye
18 WR Bernard Reedy
19 K Roberto Aguayo
22 RB Doug Martin
23 S Chris Conte
24 CB Brent Grimes
25 RB Blake Sims
26 CB Josh Robinson
27 S J.J. Wilcox
28 CB Vernon Hargreaves
29 DB Ryan Smith
31 CB Cody Riggs
32 RB Jacquizz Rodgers
34 RB Charles Sims
35 CB Javien Elliott
36 RB Quayvon Hicks
37 S Keith Tandy
38 CB Jude Adjei-Barimah
39 S Isaiah Johnson
43 RB Peyton Barber
44 RB Russell Hansbrough
45 TE Alan Cross
46 FB Austin Johnson
49 LS Dax Dellenbach
52 LB Cameron Lynch
53 LB Adarius Glanton
54 LB Lavonte David
57 DE Noah Spence
58 LB Kwon Alexander
59 LB Devante Bond
60 G Jarvis Harrison
61 C Josh Allen
62 C Evan Smith
64 OT Kevin Pamphile
65 LS Garrison Sanborn
66 OT Leonard Wester
67 C James Stone
68 C Joe Hawley
69 OT Demar Dotson
70 OL Michael Liedtke
71 DE Channing Ward
72 C Ben Gottschalk
73 G J.R. Sweezy
74 G Ali Marpet
75 DT DaVonte Lambert
76 OT Donovan Smith
77 OL Caleb Benenoch
81 TE Tevin Westbrook
84 TE Cameron Brate
86 TE Kivon Cartwright
87 WR Derel Walker
88 TE Luke Stocker
90 DE Chris Baker
91 DE Robert Ayers
92 DE William Gholston
93 DT Gerald McCoy
94 DE George Johnson
96 DE Ryan Russell
96 DE Sealver Siliga
98 DT Clinton McDonald
K Nick Folk
Starting tailback Doug Martin hasn't played since Week Two thanks to a hamstring injury that he later aggravated in Week Five. His replacement and the second half of the backfield duo that was so effective in 2015, Charles Sims, was placed on injured reserve in Week Five due to a knee injury. Jacquizz Rodgers, who was signed in Week Two of the regular season, helped cover for those absences by rushing for 324 yards in three starts against Carolina, San Francisco and Oakland but suffered a foot injury on his last carry in the Raiders game. He was unavailable on Thursday night and his status for Week 10 has not yet been determined.
Hansbrough (5-9, 195) was first promoted from the practice squad in Week Five and he played in the Buccaneers' Monday Night Football win over Carolina, though he did not log a carry or a catch. He first signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri in May and began the season on Tampa Bay's practice squad. After the Panthers' game, Hansbrough was waived and then re-signed to the practice squad. During the preseason, Hansbrough carried 22 times for 50 yards and snared seven receptions.
Smith and Jones are the sixth and seventh Buccaneers to be placed on injured reserve this season, and five of those are either running backs or defensive ends. Smith, who was signed on October 17, recorded 10 carries for 47 yards and six receptions for 77 yards in three games with the Buccaneers. Jones played in each of the first eight games, contributing one tackle, one quarterback hit and one fumble recovery, plus two stops on special teams.
