Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Bring Back Mike James

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

With Jacquizz Rodgers suffering a sprained foot and Doug Martin still on the mend, the Buccaneers turned to a familiar face and signed Mike James off the Lions practice squad.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and the Buccaneers are desperate for running back help right now after a wave of injuries including Doug Martin and Charles Sims. The latest Buccaneer back to go down is Jacquizz Rodgers who suffered a foot sprain early in Sunday’s loss to the Raiders. On Monday the Bucs made Mike James their desperate measure, plucking him off of the Lions’ practice squad.

Mike James is back with the #Bucs.He was signed off Detroit’s practice squad. Jacquizz Rodgers is likely out for Thursday’s game against Atl

— Kevin ODonnell Fox13 (@ODonnellFox13) October 31, 2016

As a 6th round rookie with the Bucs in 2013, James captured the attention of fans when he stampeded over Seattle to the tune of 158 rushing yards. The following week against Miami, James picked up where he left off rushing five times for 41 yards before going down with a season ending injury. This pre-season James competed for a roster spot but got injured and was waived once again.

Now healthy and familiar with the Buccaneer offense, James will be thrown straight into the fire on Thursday against the Falcons. Doug Martin is nearly a lock to miss his sixth consecutive game and it’s unlikely that Rodgers can overcome a foot sprain in the short amount of time before Thursday’s game.

James will rotate with Peyton Barber and Antone Smith against the Falcons 14th ranked rushing defense. The Bucs found little room to run against the Falcons in their week one win, only getting 62 rushing yards and a 3.2 yard per carry average from Doug Martin.