Tampa Bay Buccaneers elevate WR Cole Beasley from practice squad to active roster

TAMPA, Fla. — With uncertainty looming over their wide receiver position heading into Sunday's home opener against the Green Bay Packers (1-1), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) have elevated wide receiver Cole Beasley from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced Saturday.

Beasley, an 11-year veteran who spent the past three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, signed with the club Wednesday to help offset the loss of a trio of Pro Bowlers wideouts: Mike Evans — who is serving a one-game suspension for his role in last week's melee at the New Orleans Saints — Chris Godwin and Julio Jones, who are dealing with hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.

After missing Week 2's victory at New Orleans, Jones was able to return to practice Friday, spending the portion of practice open to the media working with team trainer Bobby Slater off to the side. He is officially listed as questionable for Sunday, while Godwin was ruled out Friday. Wide receivers Russell Gage (hamstring) and Breshad Perriman (knee), who are both expected to have bigger roles Sunday, are also carrying injury designations, illustrating how precarious the Bucs' predicament is at the position.

Beasley, who spent the week trying to get up to speed quickly with wide receivers coach Kevin Garver, said there is some carryover from previous offenses he's played in, which included his first seven years with the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he established himself as one of the premier slot receivers in the league.

«He's quick, catches up to speed [really] fast, he understands the system,» Coach Todd Bowles said Friday. «He's played and he's got a lot of reps under him, so if we needed him, I think he'll be ready.»

Beasley, 33, said he wasn't sure if he'd