Akeem

Spence

The team signed Akeem Spence in a corresponding move. Hurst suffered the injury at the beginning of training camp and will now end the year on injured reserve for the second season in a row. Drafted in the fifth round by the Raiders, Hurst showed some promise as a pass-rushing threat from the interior early in his career. Through two seasons, he had seven 7.5 sacks in 29 games. Injuries have since derailed his career. Spence has played on four teams in the past three seasons and doesn’t have a sack or a TFL in that time.

Eagles castoff Akeem Spence was signed in the corresponding roster move. Dareus underwent core muscle surgery on Thursday and will need 4-6 weeks to recover. It’s unclear if he’ll be one of the players Jacksonville designates for return later this season. If so, he’d be eligible to return for Week 17 and the playoffs, should the Jaguars qualify.

Spence (6-foot 5/8, 307) started every game of his Illini career, racking up 16.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks across 38 starts. Short but quick-footed, Spence generated generous pre-draft comparisons to Bengals All-Pro Geno Atkins. He’ll need to start making a lot more plays to reach those heights. Spence did demonstrate short-area burst with a 1.67 ten-yard split at the Combine. He’s an undersized, gap-shooting three-technique prospect. It’s a worthy flier for a Bucs team that needs girth in the middle after losing Roy Miller in free agency.

He fills a need for the Jaguars, who just lost former third overall pick Marcell Dareus to injured reserve (core muscle surgery). It only took four days for Spence to resurface after being let go by Philadelphia earlier this week. He should be a useful depth option up front.

Spence failed to register a sack or tackle for a loss in six games with the Eagles. The team also released veteran CB Orlando Scandrick. The Eagles signed Anthony Rush in a corresponding roster move.

A 16-game starter for the Dolphins last season, Spence slides into Malik Jackson’s (foot, injured reserve) roster spot. He will help make up for Jackson’s loss along with Timmy Jernigan and Hassan Ridgeway.

Spence started all 16 games for Miami last year. He was one of the bigger names on the defensive front, but his release saves the rebuilding Dolphins $3 million in cap space. Spence shouldn’t struggle to resurface, though it may be in a part-time role. Miami also released OT Jordan Mills and TE Clive Walford with injury settlements.

The Bucs traded up to select the Illinois product, and view him as a legitimate candidate to replace Roy Miller at nose tackle. Spence is a bit undersized for the job at 6-foot-1, 307 pounds, but has quick feet, and the power to shoot through gaps.

His primary competition will be journeyman Gary Gibson and perhaps Corvey Irvin, so Spence has a real chance to start as a rookie. The “tilt-nose” in Greg Schiano’s defense is a two-down run stuffer. Spence is undersized for the position at 6-foot-1, 307 and was viewed as a three-technique prospect by most NFL teams, but the Bucs like his quickness and power in the lower body.

Spence (6-foot-1, 307) is a bit undersized to play a traditional nose tackle role, but the guy he’s looking to replace, Roy Miller, was only 6-foot-2, 310. His competition will be veteran Gary Gibson after Corvey Irvin’s release on Thursday.