Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach says Jacquizz Rodgers could be feature back for full season

Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Running back Doug Martin is suspended for the first three games of the season, but he might not get his job back from Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup Jacquizz Rodgers.

Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter told reporters Monday that Rodgers could be a feature running back for an entire season.

"Boy, you're catching me off guard on that one," Koetter said. "I don't see why not. That's hard for any back to do. Backs take a pounding out there. Right now we're just worried about getting to Miami on September 10. We have good depth at running back. It's going to be fine, it's going to work out."

The Buccaneers also have Charles Sims, Peyton Barber and rookie Jeremy McNichols on their depth chart at the position.

On Saturday, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht told ESPN that there is "no guarantee" that Martin gets his job back when he returns from suspension.

"It might not," Licht told ESPN. "Look, he has done everything we've asked him to do, and he looks reminiscent of 2015 when he was playing for his contract. He looks the same out there, mentally and physically. So he might be one of those guys that needs a carrot. And he's got a pretty big carrot in front of him right now, because there's no guarantees that he's going to be here. And he knows that. We've talked to him, and he's good with it. He goes, 'I understand.'"

Tampa Bay had the No. 24 rushing offense last season in the NFL, posting 101 yards per game. The Buccaneers ranked fifth overall in 2015. Martin was an All-Pro that season, rushing for 1,402 yards and six scores. He also had 271 yards and a touchdown on 33 receptions in 16 games. Last season he had 421 yards and three scores in eight games. Rodgers had 5601 yards and two scores in 10 games last season, starting five times. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry, while Martin posted 2.9 yards per tote.