The Tampa Bay Buccaneers deactivated running back Doug Martin on Saturday against the New Orleans Saints in what team officials called a coach's decision.

Martin had not been on the Buccaneers' injury report. Tampa Bay (8-7) would go on to lose 31-24 to New Orleans, essentially dashing the Bucs' playoff hopes.

"It was a big game and, like I said, it's the coach's decision to have the best guys out there that he thought would be the best for us," Martin said.

When pressed further about the decision, Martin continued to repeat that he respected coach Dirk Koetter's decision, even though the running back wanted to play.

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin, seen on the field Saturday in warm-ups, is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry this season. Jenna Laine/ESPN

Quarterback Jameis Winston said he found out about Martin being a healthy scratch before the game "like everyone else."

"Of course I wanted him out there, but I have nothing to say about that," Winston said.

Jacquizz Rodgers got the start Saturday, rushing for 63 yards and a score, while Charles Sims had only 12 yards on three carries.

Last Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, Rodgers was a healthy scratch and the team mustered just 52 yards on the ground. Rodgers is the Bucs' only running back to reach 100 rushing yards in a game this season, something he did against Carolina and San Francisco. He has averaged 4.4 yards per carry.

While Martin's benching wasn't injury related, the running back seems to have had a tough time overcoming a hamstring strain that kept him inactive for six straight games.

Martin started the previous six games, but with four running backs on the roster, and Sims and Peyton Barber playing roles on special teams, the Bucs don't always have Martin and Rodgers active at the same time.

"It was a coach's decision. We have four backs and we can't give them all touches," said Koetter, who added he thought Rodgers would be a better fit against the Saints.

Martin has been the backbone of Tampa Bay's run game since 2012, twice rushing for more than 1,400 yards in a season. This season has been a struggle for him, however.

Martin hasn't been able to maintain his momentum from 2015, when he ended the season as the NFL's second-leading rusher with 1,402 yards and was an All-Pro. He has rushed for 421 yards this season, scoring three touchdowns in the eight games he has played and averaging a career-low 2.9 yards per carry.

Koetter wouldn't say if Martin's relative drop in production played a part in his benching against New Orleans.

"I'm not going to get into any of that," Koetter said. "We're blessed with good depth at running back, and this was a decision for today. It is what it is for today, and obviously we have to deal with what comes next."

Martin signed a five-year, $35.75 million contract ($15 million guaranteed) to return to the Buccaneers during the free-agency period.

ESPN's Jenna Laine and The Associated Press contributed to this report.