The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have promoted CB David Rivers to the active roster.
Rivers, from Youngstown State University, was signed as an undrafted free agent back in May of 2017 by the Green Bay Packers and was waived by the Pack a month later. He was picked up by the Jets in July of 2017 only to be waived that September. The Bucs signed him to the practice squad on September 19. He was released in mid-November 2017, re-signed and released again within two weeks. The Dolphins grabbed him on December 5, signing him to the practice squad from which the Buccaneers re-signed him again on December 20. He appeared in one game for the Bucs on December 24, 2017, against the Carolina Panthers.
The Buccaneers placed Rivers on IR in early August of 2018 only to release him a week later. The Bucs again re-signed Rivers to the practice squad in October and promoted him to the active roster on November 28. His promotion is likely due to the injuries sustained by Carlton Davis (knee) and MJ Stewart (foot). Ironically, he could see the second game of his career against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday.
In addition to the promotion of David Rivers, the Buccaneers have signed tight end Donnie Ernsberger. Ernsberger, out of Western Michigan University, was signed by the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent earlier this year. It was believed that he would compete with Alan Cross for a position on the active roster but was waived by the Buccaneers with an agreed injury settlement with the idea in mind that they could re-sign him later in the season if they so opted. While at Western Michigan University, Ernsberger was used, frequently, as an effective lead blocker.