Buccaneers Sign Jeff Charleston To Replace Adrian Clayborn

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed defensive end Jeff Charleston, formerly with the New Orleans Saints. Charleston entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2006, and has spent the past four years with the Indianapolis Colts and the Saints, notching 8 sacks and one start in his career so far. Slightly undersized at 260 lbs, Charleston should mostly be limited to playing right defensive end.

Having lost Adrian Clayborn for the season to a knee injury, likely an ACL tear, the Bucs needed extra depth at the defensive end position. Charleston takes the roster spot freed up by moving Clayborn to injured reserve. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim and George Johnson are more likely to actually take snaps at the position than Charleston, however. Johnson has been inactive the past two weeks, but looked capable in limited time last year. Meanwhile, Te'o-Nesheim has flashed as a pass rusher in the past and has been Clayborn's main backup this season.