Buccaneers sign Mike James with Jacquizz Rodgers injured

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will sign running back Mike James to the 53-man roster, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. James a sixth-round pick for the Bucs in 2013 and has been on and off the roster since then, racking up 339 yards on 79 carries and looking like a competent but not special all-around back. James hasn’t carried the ball in a regular season game since 2014, though.

James will likely replace Jacquizz Rodgers, who they lost to an ankle injury during yesterday’s excruciating loss to the Oakland Raiders, and it’s unclear how serious that injury is. He left the game in the fourth quarter and was almost immediately ruled out for the rest of the game.

With the Bucs playing on Thursday night, it’s highly unlikely Rodgers recovers in time for that game regardless of how serious his injury is, and this signing more or less confirms that. Koetter said yesterday that Rodgers’ injury didn’t look good, though he couldn’t or wouldn’t offer any details beyond that.

With Doug Martin still injured as well and Charles Sims on injured reserve, the Bucs have some serious running back problems. Boom-or-bust back Antone Smith and undrafted rookie Peyton Barber are the other two backs on the roster.

It’s not yet clear who the Bucs will cut to make room for James.