Bucs Re-Sign Released WR

On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and general manager Jason Licht got ahead of the final roster cuts deadline on Tuesday by releasing several players.

One of those was wideout Sterling Shepard. The former New York Giants receiver was sitting on his couch contemplating retirement before his old college teammate and Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield called to see if he wanted to come to Tampa Bay camp.

Shepard did several good things in camp before being injured.

After he was released, Bucs coach Todd Bowles indicated he'd love to have him back.

“Early on, he showed a lot,” Bowles said today with a hint of pain in his voice. “Then he got injured, missed a lot of time. And that, obviously, has to weigh in on it. Hopefully, we can get him back in some capacity because when he was fresh and he was good, he made a lot of plays.”

On Wednesday, Bowles got his wish when the team re-signed Shepard to the practice squad for a reported $20,000 per week.

Sometimes retirement isn't the best option.

Related: Shaq Barrett Reveals Team He Would Unretire For

The two-time reigning NFC South champs have Mike Evans at the top of the depth chart, of course, and Chris Godwin up there as well. Additionally, Tampa Bay feels it is blessed with an assortment of younger options that are worth developing.

And now, they'll have Baker's buddy waiting in the wings for an injury in the wideout room - assuming that injury isn't his. Shepard does have an injury history worth noting, but the Bucs thought enough of him to bring him back on board the pirate ship - in a matter of speaking.