The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added some much needed running back depth on Monday, signing former Northern Illinois University star Chad Spann. The 5-foot-9, 201-pound running back replaces linebacker Derrell Smith on the Buccaneers practice squad.

According to the Buccaneers team website, Tampa Bay brought all of their practice squad players with them to the United Kingdom for two reasons.  One, obviously, the team is going to be practicing all week, just as if they were back at One Buccaneer Place, and that’s where practice squad players contribute every week.  And, two, if any unexpected injuries occur and the team wants to activate a practice squad player to the 53-man roster, it’s a simpler process if that player is on hand.

The Buccaneers needed some practice depth at the running back position after rookie running back Allen Bradford was waived last week and then claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks.  The Bucs had released Bradford to make room for Tanard Jackson’s activation from the exempt list.

Spann played four seasons at Northern Illinois University, racking up 2,916 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns on 536 carries.  As a senior in 2010, he was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year after establishing a new school record with 22 touchdowns to go with his 1,388 rushing yards.

Span, an Indianapolis native, was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in July and was waived at the end of the preseason.