Buccaneers release veteran DT Sims, who has knee injury

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released defensive tackle Ryan Sims.

The ninth-year pro was let go Tuesday after being inactive the past three games because of a knee injury. He made six tackles while starting one of six games he appeared in this season.

Sims was a first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2002. The Bucs acquired him in a trade in 2007. His most productive year with Tampa Bay was 2009, when he started 16 games and had 48 tackles and one sack.

The Bucs didn't immediately fill the roster spot. Sims became expendable because of the emergence of rookie Al Woods, who was signed off the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad Nov. 3.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press