Martin

Rucker

Martellus Bennett (ankle) is expected to return to practice this week, leaving Rucker as more of a luxury than necessity. Rucker has done nothing in the NFL after a productive career at Mizzou.

The Jags were on the look-out for a pass-catching specialist at the position after losing Zach Miller to injured reserve. Rucker was terrific in college, but he has just two catches for 17 yards across four NFL seasons.

Rucker has spent time with the Jaguars, Browns, Bucs, Eagles, and Cowboys since being drafted in the 2008 fourth round. Once billed as a potential mismatch tight end with receiving skills, Rucker is trying to earn another contract.

Signed for depth in October, Rucker lasted three weeks in Jacksonville before landing on injured reserve. He has just two catches in four seasons since joining the NFL out of Missouri, where Rucker was a product of a spread offense.

There are no details on Rucker’s injury. The Jaguars had signed him three weeks ago to add depth with Zach Miller done for the season.

He walked off the field with a “noticeable limp.” Rucker was waived by Dallas following a costly special teams mistake in Week 1 last season. Claimed by the Jags, he was sent to I.R. with an undisclosed injury in November. He’ll have a zero percent chance of earning a roster spot if he isn’t 100 percent healthy.

Former mid-round picks Rucker and Williams share a combined 69 games of NFL experience, but are roster longshots in Kansas City. Undrafted out of South Carolina State, Ellis earned a longer look with a strong tryout in rookie camp. Ranglin played last year with the Arena League’s Kansas City Command.

Rucker tore the ACL on June 1 and will have surgery “later this week.” A fourth-round pick out of Missouri in 2008, Rucker has amassed two career catches.

Rucker will seek a second opinion before going under the knife. The injury “doesn’t look good,” acknowledged coach Romeo Crennel. Although Rucker had just two catches in four seasons since joining the NFL out of Missouri, he was running with the second-team offense in Kansas City this offseason.

Ingram, coming off two ACL surgeries, is essentially an oversized wideout when healthy. He offers very little blocking ability, but is expected to beat out Martin Rucker and rookie Clay Harbor for the No. 2 role if 100 percent.