Rookie CB E.J. Biggers had a strong training camp but he won't get an opportunity to play this fall
Rookie cornerback E.J. Biggers will miss the 2009 season after being placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder ailment. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made that move on Saturday, then used the open roster spot to re-sign safety Steve Cargile.
The Buccaneers announced those roster changes upon arriving in Buffalo for Sunday's Week Two game against the Bills. The team also revealed that wide receiver Antonio Bryant, who had been considered doubtful to play against Buffalo, did not make the trip.
Biggers was a seventh-round draft choice out of Western Michigan in April, the 217th player selected overall. He missed the regular-season opener due to his injury and had already been ruled out for the Buffalo game as well. Biggers joins tackle Xavier Fulton, a fifth-round pick out of Illinois, as the second member of the '09 draft class to land on I.R.
Biggers played in four games during the preseason, contributing seven tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed. He also had three stops on special teams.
The Buccaneers first signed Cargile on August 19 and he played in three preseason games, finishing second on the team with 15 tackles to go with one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. He was released during the final cut-down on September 5. Cargile was also with the Buccaneers during the 2006 preseason, playing in all four games.
Cargile has appeared in 15 regular-season games, all with the Broncos in 2006 and 2007, and has recorded 11 total tackles. His most extensive playing time came in 2007, when he appeared in 12 games, primarily as a special-teamer.
The 6-2, 210-pound Cargile first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2004. He spent most of that season on the Cowboys' practice squad, then was waived the following May and did not appear in the league in 2005. He re-entered the league with the Buccaneers in January of 2006.
Biggers is the sixth player overall to be placed on the Bucs' injured reserve list so far, joining Fulton, punter Josh Bidwell, wide receiver Kelly Campbell, linebacker Angelo Crowell and fullback Byron Storer.
