The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are placing Demar Dotson on injured reserve-designated for return, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. That will make room for the signing of cornerback Tim Jennings, who's been waiting to officially be a Buccaneer since at least last Thursday.

Placing Dotson on injured reserve means he'll miss at least the first eight weeks of the regular season, if not more. That's a little more than the initial estimate of just the first two to six games, but the Buccaneers did sign veteran Gosder Cherilus to act as Dotson's stand-in. Cherilus isn't nearly as good as Dotson, but he's at least a capable and reasonably reliable player -- if an old one on the decline.

Of course, putting Dotson on injured reserve will allow the Bucs to carry an extra player on the roster for half ot ehe season, which is pretty significant given the tough cuts the team has had to make the past couple of days.