Jerreth Sterns waived by Bucs amid logjam at wide receiver
TAMPA — Jerreth Sterns got caught in a numbers game with the Bucs, and the most important digit wasn’t his height of 5-foot-8.
But Tampa Bay is loaded at wide receiver, and Sterns was waived by the team on Monday.
Sterns finished the preseason with six catches for 64 yards. He didn’t make much of an impact on special teams, one of the requirements to make an NFL roster as a rookie.
More importantly, the Bucs are loaded at the receiver position and have some tough choices to make in order to reach the 53-man player limit by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Sterns became one of only three players in the past two decades to lead the nation in receptions (150), receiving yards (1,902) and touchdowns (17) last year. The others were Michael Crabtree, who did it for Texas Tech in 2007, and Alabama’s DeVonta Smith, who did it two years ago to win the Heisman Trophy.
If Sterns clears waivers, the Bucs may have an interest in signing him to their 16-man practice squad.
The Bucs also have waived LSU outside linebacker Andre Anthony, cornerback Kyler McMichael, guard Sadarius Hutcherson and safety Chris Cooper, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed. Anthony had two sacks in the preseason, and both players are candidates to be signed to the practice squad should they clear waivers.
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