Buccaneers activate Charles Sims to active roster

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have activated running back Charles Sims to the active roster from injured reserve-designated for return, according to Scott Smith. The rookie back suffered an ankle injury during the preseason, which kept him out of action until now.

With Doug Martin injured and unlikely to play against the Cleveland Browns, Charles Sims should see a decent workload alongside Bobby Rainey. The Bucs' coaching staff was really excited about Sims' work during the offseason, and the front office thought he was one of the best backs in the draft and easily the best player on the board when they took him in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft.

That Sims is going to get a solid amount of work doesn't mean he'll immediately to make a big difference, however. For one, the team is probably going to start backup left guard and all-around disaster Oniel Cousins at left tackle. For two, the offensive line as a whole has struggled. And for three, Sims slipped to the third round for a reason: he's a fast and smooth runner, but he wasn't overly productive in college and could struggle on inside runs.

Still, he's a great fit for the team's zone running scheme, and he's similar to Matt Forte in terms of running style. There's a solid chance he's going to be a productive running back down the line, and given Doug Martin's struggles, we shouldn't be surprised if he ends up taking over as the team's starter before long.

The Bucs also activated receiver/returner Marcus Thigpen and defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo, while placing Trindon Holliday on the waived/injured list, as reported by Greg Auman yesterday. The Bucs still have one open roster spot, but they won't fill it ahead of the game against the Cleveland Browns.