Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said Monday that the team would “contemplate” all options at running back moving forward, with Tampa Bay struggling to establish any ground game without Doug Martin. One of those options could be giving Jacquizz Rodgers more carries, starting on Monday Night Football against the Panthers.

With Charles Sims limited on Tuesday with a knee injury (no word yet on official status), Rodgers and Peyton Barber saw more reps at practice. The former Falcon spoke on the field afterwards and said he always prepares as if he’s going to start.

“I always try to take advantage of the opportunity that I’ve been given,” said Rodgers, who carried six times for 25 yards Sunday. “You have to practice like you’re No. 1 so when your number is called you’ll be ready to go.”

Rodgers said there’s a fine line between a good day running the ball and a bad outing in which the offense becomes one-dimensional. The offensive line is doing well, he said, and it’s just a matter of making one more block or breaking one more tackle to break one loose and hit the “century mark.”

Photo by: Mark Cook/PR

The Bucs’ backfield was 47 yards away from the century mark Sunday, and 30 yards short two weeks ago against the Rams. Sims has taken most of the blame, mainly for the perception that he’s overly patient and doesn’t hit the hole fast enough.

Rodgers, on the other hand, said he’s “not a patient” runner himself, but that’s not to say different styles don’t work for different running backs.

“It just depends on what type of running back you are. Everyone has a different way of running the ball and different styles,” Rodgers said. “Some guys are more patient and some guys are ‘hit it’ guys.

“I’m not a patient guy. As soon as I see a seam I try to hit it. But when you look around the league you see [Steelers running back Le’Veon] Bell, he’s a patient guy and it works for him. Guys just have different styles of running.”

As far as his own style, Rodgers, at 5-foot-6, has a low center of gravity and runs with power. He’s nearly 200 pounds – and can probably leg press double his weight – and aims to be one of the toughest players on the field.

If Rodgers gets the start against Carolina, it would be only the fifth start of his career. The last one, ironically, was in 2014 against the Panthers – a 34-3 season-finale loss in his and then offensive coordinator Koetter’s final game with the Falcons. Rodgers rushed for a season-high 44 yards on nine carries that day. In five games against Carolina, with Koetter as offensive coordinator, Rodgers averaged 21 yards rushing and 27 receiving. Overall, his career averages per game are 17 yards rushing and 16 receiving.

A possible start – or at least a considerable amount of carries – would also continue his fast rise in Tampa Bay after signing in mid-September. The sixth-year back, who had his best seasons in Atlanta under Koetter, said he picked up the Bucs offense quickly and the live-action reps have accelerated his transition.

“With these past three weeks, I’m right where I need to be,” he said. “If you come out here and compete and practice like that No. 1 guy … when you’re opportunity comes, you’ll be ready.”