Doug Martin injury: Bucs running back out three weeks

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to miss Doug Martin about three weeks after a strained hamstring, according to Ian Rapoport. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers having a bye week in week six, this means three missed games for the Bucs running back even if things don’t go entirely smoothly.

Martin was the NFL’s second-leading rusher last season, and the Bucs built their offense around his ability to consistently accumulate yards on the ground. This season he’s been slightly less productive — 25 carries for 83 yards — and the hamstring injury he suffered in the loss against the Arizona Cardinals won’t exactly help his productivity or the Bucs’ offense.

With Martin out, the Bucs are expected to turn to Jacquizz Rodgers as their main receiving back Charles Sims getting an expanded role as well. That, at least, is what Dirk Koetter implied in his Monday press conference.

Rodgers is more of an inside runner than Sims is and fits Martin’s role a little better, but Sims is the more explosive and dynamic running back. Rodgers has played under Dirk Koetter before when they were both with the Atlanta Falcons, from 2012 through 2014. He put up 911 yards on 248 carries (3.7 yards per carry) during that time.