RB Michael Pittman joines RB Carnell Williams as questionable on the Bucs' injury report
Already the subject of intense scrutiny this week, thanks to Cadillac Williams' sore left foot, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive backfield was the source of two more pieces of news on Saturday, a day before the Bucs are scheduled to play the Miami Dolphins.
First, there was additional health news, as running back Michael Pittman was added to the official injury report as questionable due to a shoulder injury.
Second, there was roster news, as rookie fullback Rick Razzano was activated to the team's 53-man roster. To make room for Razzano, the Bucs waived rookie wide receiver Paris Warren. Both Razzano and Warren were seventh-round draft picks by Tampa Bay this past April.
Pittman would be in line to start against the Dolphins on Monday if Williams, the record-breaking rookie, was ruled out for the second straight week. However, Pittman's availability is also now in question. Though he participated in the Bucs' week of practices, Pittman arrived at team headquarters on Saturday with significant shoulder soreness.
Tampa Bay has only one other tailback on the depth chart – second-year man Earnest Graham – but six-time Pro Bowl fullback Mike Alstott has almost 5,000 career rushing yards and can help out in that capacity. The Bucs' opponent, Miami, has the league's second-ranked rush defense.
Razzano missed the Bucs' last four games while serving a commissioner's suspension. During that time, he was on a reserve list and did not count against the 53-man roster. That remained true when he returned to the team on Monday; the Bucs had a week to decide whether to reactivate Razzano and could have waited until after Sunday's game to do so. When they did choose to put Razzano on the 53-man roster, however, they had to remove another player to make space; that was Warren.
Razzano, a thick and powerful lead blocker, was inactive for the Buccaneers' season-opener at Minnesota before his suspension took place. Warren was inactive for each of Tampa Bay's first four games.
