Bucs down another RB after Antone Smith ruled out for season

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Antone Smith will miss the remainder of the 2016 season due to a knee injury suffered in Thursday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, head coach Dirk Koetter announced.

Barber landed with Tampa Bay last month as a depth addition in the wake of Doug Martin's hamstring issues and Charles Sims being sent to injured reserve with a knee injury of his own.

Jacquizz Rodgers recently going down with a sprained foot had vaulted Smith into a significant role alongside undrafted rookie Peyton Barber, but he'll now spend the remainder of the year on the sidelines.

Unless Martin or Rodgers are closing in on their respective returns to action, the Buccaneers may have to turn back to the free-agent market in search of a ball-carrier to provide insurance behind Barber and Mike James.