The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost their top two running backs for the rest of the season last week.
Starter Doug Martin was placed on injured reserve with a torn labrum in his shoulder that wasn’t improving. Backup Mike James then fractured his ankle in Monday night’s victory over the Miami Dolphins and was lost for the year.
It caused the Buccaneers to go in search of replacements this week. Tampa Bay signed Michael Hill off the Green Bay Packers practice squad to add additional depth behind Bobby Rainey and Brian Leonard.
Hill signed as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri Western State with the San Diego Chargers and was released at the end of training camp. He signed with the Packers practice squad. He was added to Green Bay’s active roster and appeared in two games before being waived and re-signed to their practice squad in October.
Hill finished his collegiate career as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,969 yards and 35 TDs on 828 carries (6.0 avg.).