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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Peyton Barber runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL game in Santa Clara, Calif., on Oct. 23, 2016.

(AP Photo)

When running back Peyton Barber left Auburn with two seasons of eligibility remaining, he said he wanted to reach the NFL as soon as possible to help his mother.

"It was just because there were some things I was going through with my family," Barber told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. "I don't know if anybody knows: My mom, she's homeless right now."

That wasn't exactly the case, but Barber's mother didn't have a place of her own. She was living with her daughter and three grandchildren in a small apartment in Georgia.

"Homelessness is a strong definition," Lori Barber said at the time. "Do I have a home of my own? I do not. Do I have a bed of my own? I don't. Where we're living is a little crowded, but we're making it work. We're taking our 50 cents and stretching it out to make it a dollar."

But Barber set out to help her, and securing an invitation to the Scouting Combine was a big check mark on his to-do list to reach the NFL. But neither that nor his 1,017 rushing yards for Auburn in the 2015 season got him drafted - a setback for anyone seeking a steady NFL paycheck.

Barber joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, trying to earn a roster spot as a rookie free agent. He didn't.

But Barber did secure a place on the Bucs' practice squad. He stayed there only four days. The injuries started early in Tampa Bay's backfield, opening a roster position, then playing time for Barber.

Barber is signed to a minimum contract, but that's still a weekly check of $26,470.59 (before deductions).

"My mom is doing good," Barber told espn.com's Jenna Laine last week. "I just bought her a new apartment."

In Tampa Bay's 34-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers last week, Barber rushed for 84 yards on 12 carries. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a 44-yard run.

"It felt great," Barber said. "God is good. He's definitely blessing me a lot."

Doug Martin ran for 1,402 yards last season. But Tampa Bay's No. 1 ball-carrier hasn't played since the second game of the season because of a hamstring injury, and he's been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders.

Charles Sims, the Bucs' intended No. 2 running back, is on injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury in the fourth game of the season.

Jacquizz Rodgers has stepped up to run for 255 yards in Tampa Bay's previous two games. He's been backed up by Barber, and the Bucs added Antone Smith before last week's game to provide veteran depth.

"I think (running backs coach) Tim Spencer did a really good job of subbing our backs," Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter said. "We had some certain special plays tagged for Antone, just because he hadn't been there quite long enough. And then we just went intermittently in some series, Tim was subbing Peyton in there.

"It's like anything else, though. When those other guys go in there, they have to be productive. If they're not productive, then shoot, as a play-caller, I'm going to be saying, 'We've got to get Quizz back in there.' But I think that was important, and it was real gratifying to see Peyton get that touchdown run in the fourth quarter."

Barber got his first carries on Oct. 10, picking up 6 yards on three rushing attempts in a 17-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers. After the Bucs' bye week, Barber had a bigger role as Tampa Bay made it two wins in a row last week.

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The Buccaneers host the Raiders at noon CDT Sunday. At 3-3, Tampa Bay is one-half game behind the 4-3 Atlanta Falcons, who lead the NFC South. Oakland is tied with the Denver Broncos for first place in the AFC West at 5-2.