One way or another, Freddie Martino has been a Tampa Bay Buccaneer every week since the start of the 2016 season. That run will continue as the Buccaneers re-signed the second-year receiver to the practice squad on Wednesday, following his one-week promotion to the active roster.
The Buccaneers also signed third-year cornerback Senquez Golson, a 2015 second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, to the practice squad. To make room for those two additions, the team released defensive end Patrick Gamble and cornerback David Rivers.
After spending most of his first two seasons on the practice squads in Atlanta and Philadelphia, Martino first joined the Buccaneers in May of 2016, reuniting him with Head Coach Dirk Koetter, who was the offensive coordinator during his time with the Falcons. Martino started the 2016 season on Tampa Bay's practice squad but quickly earned a promotion to the active roster and appeared in 13 games, contributing eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.
After going back to training camp with the Buccaneers this summer, Martino once again started the season on the practice squad. He remained there until last week, when he was elevated to the active roster to fill in for Mike Evans, who was serving a one-game suspension. Martino played extensively on special teams in the Bucs' win over the New York Jets, making two kick-coverage tackles inside the 20-yard line. When Evans returned from his suspension on Monday, Martino was waived, but now he is back with the team, as was expected.
Golson (5-9, 192) was the 56th overall pick in the 2015 draft after he earned All-America honors at Ole Miss. Unfortunately, his professional career has been repeatedly delayed by injuries. Shoulder surgery sent him to injured reserve before the start of his rookie campaign and a training camp foot injury cost him all of 2016. Injuries kept him out of all four of Pittsburgh's preseason games this year and he was released in the final round of cuts.
Rivers was first signed to the Buccaneers' practice squad in Week Two. Gamble joined him last week.
