The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing running back Jacquizz Rodgers, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. The Bucs have an open roster spot after placing Jacquies Smith on injured reserve, and Rodgers has experience playing under Dirk Koetter.
The sixth-year back would be a good change-of-pace and receiving back, but he could also shore up the Bucs’ kickoff return game, though the team used Cecil Shorts at that position against the Atlanta Falcons.
Rodgers played under Dirk Koetter for three seasons in Atlanta, and he was the team’s primary kickoff returner for two of those years. On offense, he was primarily a change of pace back under Koetter, rushing for 911 yards on 248 carries and adding 916 receiving yards on 134 catches.
Rodgers would have to somehow take touches away from Charles Sims and Doug Martin to get on the field on offense, though, and that seems a little unlikely. Both Sims and Martin were productive and looked good in the team’s first game, and barring injury, there’s no reason to assume that is going to change the rest of the season.