Buccaneers sign Cecil Shorts, waive Evan Spencer

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed wide receiver Cecil Shorts III and waived wide receiver Evan Spencer to make room for him, the team announced today. The Bucs needed to upgrade their receiving depth, and will hope they've done so by signing Shorts.

The Houston Texans released Shorts a few days ago, after the veteran started four games last year. Shorts was originally a fourth-round pick from Division III Mount Union for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played four seasons with them, but never really turned into the force they hoped he'd be. Shorts has started 38 games and played in 61 over his career,  catching a total of 218 passes for 2,827 passes and 14 touchdowns.

Shorts signed a two-year free agent contract with the Texans, but apparently didn't live up to his promise. Now he'll get another chance to do so with the Bucs, though the 6'0" 202 lbs. receiver is most likely to be buried on the depth chart. He might get some playing time as a third receiver, but the Bucs seems satisfied with diminutive Adam Humphries at that position.

Spencer was a sixth-round pick for Washington in 2015, and has been with the Buccaneers all offseason. He beat out several other receivers to win the Bucs' fifth receiver spot, but now hits the waiver wire. The Bucs will hope to re-sign him to their practice squad, but there's a good chance he's picked up by another team instead.