Charles Sims joins growing group of Bucs missing practice

TAMPA — Nine Bucs, including RB Charles Sims, were held out of practice on Tuesday as the team had an extra day of work with a long week in preparation for Monday's game at Carolina.

Sims, the starter the past two weeks with Doug Martin sidelined, took a hit to his right knee on an Aqib Talib tackle in the first quarter of Sunday's loss to the Broncos and limped off, though he returned and play the rest of the game. He was not at the start of Tuesday's practice, though he watched it at the end.

DT Gerald McCoy, who left Sunday's game with a calf injury, was not initially at practice, nor were Martin (hamstring), TE Luke Stocker (ankle), TE Brandon Myers (hip) or WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring).

DE Robert Ayers, who has missed two games with an ankle injury, watched practice with no boot or wrap on his injured foot; DE Noah Spence, who left Sunday's game with a shoulder injury, was there and moving his right arm freely. S Keith Tandy was held out of practice with an unspecified injury.

The Bucs aren't likely to address any of the injuries publicly until Thursday, when their first injury report will be released.

TRANSACTIONS: Only two running backs were working at practice, backup Jacquizz Rodgers and rookie Peyton Barber. Toward that end, the Bucs are re-signing undrafted rookie Russell Hansbrough (Missouri), who was with the team in the offseason and in training camp, to the practice squad.

WR Jeremy Butler, who had 31 catches with the Ravens in eight games last year, was moved from the practice squad to the active roster. Butler, who spent four weeks on the practice squad, was working late after practice with WRs coach Todd Monken.

Contact Greg Auman at gauman@tampabay.com and (813) 310-2690. Follow @gregauman.