Bucs sign former Jags, Texans WR Cecil Shorts III

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Buccaneers signed free-agent wide receiver Cecil Shorts III on Tuesday.

Shorts, 28, was cut by the Houston Texans on Saturday.

The Bucs' receiving corps lacks experience behind Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, with Louis Murphy, last year's third receiver, on the physically unable to perform list.

Second-year receiver Adam Humphries will contribute significantly as a slot receiver and as a punt and kick returner on special teams, andRussell Shepard's primary focus remains special teams.

Wide receiver Evan Spencer, who has played in just one regular-season game, was waived when the Buccaneers signed Shorts.

Last season, Shorts battled hamstring and shoulder injuries but managed to start four games. He caught 42 passes for 484 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The previous year in Jacksonville, he started 12 games, catching 53 passes for 557 yards and a touchdown. His best season came in 2012, his second season, when he had 979 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Shorts spent four seasons in Jacksonville, including his 2011 rookie season with then-offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, now the Bucs' head coach.

Asked what he thinks it will be like to work with Bucs quarterback Jameis Winson, Shorts said he wasn't sure yet but "heard he's just a great leader and just a winner, so I'm excited."

Information from ESPN's Britt McHenrywas used in this report.