Tampa Bay enters Week 4 nursing a host of injuries. TE Rob Gronkowski and CB Jamel Dean will not play, and CB Carlton Davis is now questionable with an abdomen injury. In response to those losses, the Bucs have promoted CB Pierre Desir to the roster, and elevated TE Codey McElroy and CB Rashard Robinson from the practice squad. Desir is a 7-year veteran who has played 77 career games with 44 starts.

If Davis can’t play, Desir will likely start along with Ross Cockrell and Dee Delaney. The Bucs mounting injuries at cornerback also prompted the team to sign Richard Sherman this week. Sherman will be active against New England, but has only been with the team since Wednesday. It’s unlikely he’ll be able to play a full game this soon.

Over the course of his six years in the NFL, Desir has played for the Browns, Chargers, Seahawks, Colts, Jets, Ravens and Seahawks again. At 6-1, 195 pounds, Desir has the size and ball skills the Bucs love in their cornerbacks. He’s also a high character player, winning the Jets Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination last year. Desir brings 42 career pass breakups and eight career interceptions to Tampa Bay’s defensive backfield.

McElroy will step into the third tight end role, as O.J. Howard and Cam Brate see increased reps with Gronkowski out. Robinson will likely see action mostly on special teams, where he played 18 snaps in Week 3.