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The Tampa Bay Buccaners have re-signed fullback Spencer Larsen, waiving undrafted rookie defensive tackle Chris Jones to create room on the roster. Larsen spent most of the offseason with the Buccaneers, who have had to miss Erik Lorig for over a month, as he's nursing a calf injury of undisclosed seriousness.
Chris Jones was claimed off waivers last week, but was inactive against the New York Jets. With all of the Bucs' defensive tackles looking good against the Jets, the need for depth at that position seems lessened, especially compared to the lack of depth on offense.
The Bucs had to miss Lorig against the New York Jets on Saturday, and the lack of a fullback clearly hurt their running game. The fact that they did not have any tight ends capable of being a receiving threat as well as a good blocker did not help matters, and the running game could not get off the ground. Doug Martin managed just 65 yards on 24 carries, for a pitiful 2.7 yards per carry.
Had Larsen been on the roster for week one, his salary would have been effectively guaranteed, as he is a vested veteran. Now that the first game of the season is over, the Buccaneers can sign him and pay him on a week-to-week basis. Of course, that frugality may have cost them dearly against New York.