Bucs activate Charles Sims from IR

A Tampa Bay Buccaneers backfield that was decimated by injuries early in the season is finally now back at full strength.

Running back Charles Sims has been activated from injured reserve after missing the last eight games with a knee issue, the team announced Saturday.

Sims will return to his complementary role alongside Doug Martin, again giving Tampa Bay one of the league's more well-rounded tandems at the position.

With the Buccaneers short on passing-game weapons outside of Mike Evans, Sims' most valuable role down the stretch will presumably be as a receiver out of the backfield.

The former third-round pick is coming off a 2015 sophomore season in which he hauled in 51 catches for 561 yards and two touchdowns to go with 107 carries for another 529 yards on the ground.