Bucs hope Louis Murphy can spark offense

TAMPA — As the Bucs seek a spark for their passing game, they turned to a familiar face this week, signing former Lakewood High and Gators star Louis Murphy, who was among the team's final preseason cuts four weeks ago after sustaining a back injury in the preseason finale.

"I'm very excited and ready to go," Murphy said after Friday's practice, the team's last before traveling to Pittsburgh for Sunday's game. "I think we just need to do what the coaches tell us to do, execute the game plan and we'll be fine."

Murphy takes the place of WR Chris Owusu, who had a touchdown catch in the season opener but didn't play any offensive snaps in last week's loss at Atlanta, limited by an ankle injury. Murphy and rookie Robert Herron will be the speed inside to complement the 6-foot-5 targets in veteran Vincent Jackson and rookie Mike Evans.

The Bucs will have second-year pro Mike Glennon starting at quarterback, and he and Murphy connected well in the preseason, with Murphy getting a team-high six catches out of the 24 passes Glennon completed, five for 10 yards or more. Murphy said Glennon was preparing himself like a starter even in preseason camp, so he expects big things of him Sunday.

"(Glennon) looks the same that he's always looked," Murphy said. "Since I've been here, Mike's been a pro, here on time and early. We had a lot of good stuff in preseason."

Murphy had perhaps the best game in his six-year NFL career at Heinz Stadium — as a rookie with the Raiders in 2009 he caught two touchdowns in the final six minutes, with a 75-yard score, then the winning grab with nine seconds left in a 27-24 upset of the Steelers. It's the only multitouchdown game of his career, and one of his two 100-yard games.

INJURY UPDATE: The team has officially ruled out LB Mason Foster (shoulder) and DE Larry English (hamstring), and while QB Josh McCown is listed as "doubtful," he won't play as he recovers from a thumb injury. DE Michael Johnson, who has been limited by a sprained ankle, is listed as "questionable," but the remaining injured players — DT Gerald McCoy (hand), RB Doug Martin (shoulder), TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (ankle), WR Vincent Jackson (wrist) and DE Will Gholston (shoulder) — are all listed as probable for Sunday.

BEEN THERE: G Logan Mankins was on a Patriots team last season that beat the Steelers 55-31, scoring 28 points in the fourth quarter, but he knows yards won't be easy to come by on Sunday. "They're a physical team and you have to play up to it," Mankins said. "They make it hard on you, but if you keep going and you do things right, usually you'll be okay."

Contact Greg Auman at gauman@tampabay.com and at (813) 226-3346. Follow @gregauman.