Vincent Jackson

Back in training camp and the preseason, Buccaneers rookie receiver Robert Herron often looked lost. That’s mainly because he was.

“I was thinking about 100 things at a time instead of playing and going out and making plays like I know I can,’’ Herron said.

The sixth-round pick out of Wyoming made the roster, but he was buried on the depth chart -- until Sunday. One week after being inactive for a game at Pittsburgh, Herron played a key role for the Bucs in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans.

Herron caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Mike Glennon to give the Bucs a 31-20 lead with 13:28 remaining. It was the kind of play Herron wasn’t making in the preseason.

Herron is getting more comfortable in the offense and is looking to take advantage of Mike Evans missing time. Herron was active in large part because Evans was out with a groin injury. But Herron made the most of his opportunity and that might help him stay active for the remainder of the season. Ideally, the Bucs would like to use Herron as their slot receiver. That’s what he was drafted for the story pointed out. He's at least behind Vincent Jackson and Louis Murphy at this point but could stick around when Evans returns if he continues to play well.