The Bucs added veteran Kyle Rudolph to the tight end room last week, but weren’t done at the position. Tampa Bay signed USFL star tight end Bug Howard after he worked out for the team on Wednesday. Howard, who is 6-foot-5, 228 pounds, comes to the Bucs after most recently playing for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League.

He started 8-of-10 games played for the Stars, recording 30 receptions for 371 yards and four touchdowns. He finished tied for second in the league in touchdowns and tied for seventh in the USFL in receiving yards.

Prior to his time in the USFL, Howard spent time on the practice squads of the Cleveland Browns (2017), Denver Broncos (2019) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2020). He originally entered the NFL as a college free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017 and has participated in training camps with the Colts (2017), Carolina Panthers (2018), Broncos (2019) and Buffalo Bills (2021).

The Rochelle, Georgia, native played four seasons collegiately at the University of North Carolina, where he finished his career with the sixth-most receiving touchdowns in program history (18). To make room for Howard on the roster the Bucs waived backup punter Sterling Hofrichter.

Tampa Bay also activated guard Sadarius Hutcherson off the PUP list (physically unable to perform). Hutcherson suffered a season-ending ACL injury last preseason during his rookie year.