The Bucs activated running back Chase Edmonds off injured reserve and placed him on the 53-man roster. Edmonds returned to practice this week and was a full participant every day. He is expected to be active on Thursday night and see action against the Buffalo Bills.

Tampa Bay waived rookie cornerback Derrek Pitts Jr. to make room on the 53-man roster for Edmonds.

Edmonds was placed on the injured reserve with a Grade 2 MCL sprain after the Bucs’ Week 2 win against the Chicago Bears. Edmonds was supposed to be a change-of-pace backup running back after signing with the team in free agency, but he only had four carries for 20 yards this season before his injury.

Chase Edmonds Could Help Bucs Running Game

Bucs RB Chase Edmonds – Photo by: USA Today

Chase Edmonds could provide a boost to Tampa Bay’s ground game, which ranks 29th in the league, averaging just 77 yards per game. His 14-yard run against the Bears in Week 2 remains the longest of the season.

The 5-foot-9, 210-pound Edmonds was a fourth-round pick by Arizona in 2018 and came to the Bucs after rushing for 1,796 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry in his five-year NFL career. His most productive season came in 2021 when he ran for 596 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Cardinals before signing with Miami in free agency the following year. Edmonds started 11 games that season in Arizona and has 18 career starts.

The Fordham product is also a great receiver out of the backfield. He has 144 career receptions for 1,078 yards (7.5 avg.) and six touchdowns. His best season came in 2020 when he hauled in 53 catches for 402 yards (7.6 avg.) and four touchdowns.

Chase Edmonds, 27, signed a one-year deal worth the league minimum of $1.08 million. Edmonds is a slashing, cutback runner, whose rushing style should be a great fit in Tampa Bay’s offense. The Bucs really wanted Edmonds last year in free agency, but instead re-signed Leonard Fournette to a three-year deal instead due to his familiarity with Tom Brady and the offense.