- CB Mike Jenkins returned to his hometown to play for the Bucs but landed on injured reserve after just one game
- DE Scott Solomon was also waived one game into the season, as the Bucs continued to shuffled the D-Line depth chart
- CB Crezdon Butler and DE Jacquies Smith arrive as a free agent signee and a waiver claim, respectively
Mike Jenkins' return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' lineup was short-lived.
The team placed Jenkins on injured reserve on Wednesday. The seventh-year veteran had just returned from a hamstring strain that kept him out of the entire preseason, but a new pectoral injury suffered in the regular-season opener against Carolina will end his first season with the Buccaneers after just one game.
The Buccaneers also waived defensive end Scott Solomon on Wednesday, creating a second opening on the 53-man roster. The two spots were quickly filled with the signing of fifth-year cornerback Crezdon Butler and the waiver claim of former Buffalo Bills defensive end Jacquies Smith. In addition, the Buccaneers restored their practice squad to 10 players with the addition of defensive end Adrian Robinson.
The Buccaneers signed Jenkins as an unrestricted free agent in March after he had spent five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and one with the Oakland Raiders. A first-round pick by the Cowboys in 2008, he played his college ball at the University of South Florida (and his home games at Raymond James Stadium) and was a prep star in Bradenton, Florida, so his signing with the Buccaneers was a long-awaited homecoming. In the opener, Jenkins split time at right cornerback with second-year man Johnthan Banks, who will now obviously assume the bulk of those duties.
Solomon is the second young defensive end with whom the Bucs have parted ways this week, as 2013 fifth-round pick Steven Means was also waived on Tuesday. In each case, the Bucs signed a replacement for the defensive-line depth chart – Smith and Larry English – but those moves might also indicate that injured ends Da'Quan Bowers (groin) and William Gholston (shoulder) are close to returning to action.
CB Mike Jenkins suffered a pectoral injury in Sunday's opener, his first game as a Buccaneer
Smith (6-2, 260) originally entered the NFL as a college free agent with the Miami Dolphins in 2012, after playing collegiately at Missouri. He spent the 2012 preseason with Miami before being waived in the final round of cuts and added to the New York Jets' practice squad later that season. The Dallas native was with the Jets during the 2013 offseason and preseason before being waived in the final round of cuts and joining the Buffalo Bills' practice squad. He made the Bills' active roster this season but was waived this week. He will wear No. 56 for the Buccaneers.
Butler (6-1, 191) comes to Tampa Bay after spending 2013 with the San Diego Chargers, playing in a career-high 12 games. In his pro career, Butler has played in 26 games, recording four tackles, one forced fumble and six special teams tackles. Originally entering the league in 2010 as a fifth-round pick (164th overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Butler - who played collegiately at Clemson - has spent time with Pittsburgh, Arizona, Washington, Buffalo and San Diego during his four-year NFL career. He will wear No. 26 for the Buccaneers.
Robinson (6-1, 250) originally entered the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a college free agent out of Temple in 2012. He played in 12 games for Pittsburgh as a rookie before being traded to Philadelphia during the 2013 offseason. Last year, he spent time with the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers, before being signed by the Washington Redskins at the end of the season. Robinson spent the 2014 preseason with Washington. In his third NFL season, he has played in 20 total games, tallying one tackle. He will wear No. 96 for the Buccaneers.
