Rainey missed Wednesday's practice due to an injured ankle, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Rainey's right ankle was encased in a walking boot during the aforementioned drills, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, which doesn't inspire confidence in his Week 14 availability. No matter, as the week unfolds, Rainey has two practices remaining to prove his viability for Sunday's game in Detroit.

Rainey (foot) didn't partake in practice Wednesday, Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune reports.

Rainey was donning a protective boot on his right foot during drills, placing a shadow over his Week 14 availability. His decreased usage as a runner has coincided with the reemergence of Doug Martin's mojo, but Rainey has still mustered offerings in the passing game of late, contributing 10 catches (on 14 targets) for 101 yards in the past four games. His recent output aside, Friday's injury report may reveal his status for Sunday's outing in Detroit.

Rainey had one carry for 11 rushing yards and two catches on two targets for 41 receiving yards Sunday against the Bengals.

Rainey seems to have found himself as the No. 3 running back in Tampa, with Doug Martin rushing 18 times for 58 yards and a touchdown, and rookie Charles Sims going for 55 total yards on nine touches (five carries and four receptions). It certainly doesn't give Rainey much of a fantasy upside, nor does a Week 14 matchup against the Lions, who are allowing the fewest rushing yards per game in the league this season.

Rainey had one carry for three rushing yards and four catches on six targets for 18 receiving yards Sunday against the Bears.

With Doug Martin back from his ankle injury, Rainey was very limited in the rushing attack, as rookie Charles Sims picked up six carries to Martin's 11. And while Rainey caught a decent number of passes out of the backfield, his yardage didn't move the needle much. The Bucs appear to be getting closer to using a committee approach, but it looks like Rainey will get the fewest touches of the three.

Rainey had five carries for four yards and failed to catch the only ball thrown his way during Sunday's win over the Redskins.

Rainey got the start in place of the injured Doug Martin (ankle), but it was rookie Charles Sims who led the backfield with 13 carries for 36 rushing yards, while also catching three passes on four targets for eight receiving yards. It is unclear what Rainey's role will be when Martin returns, which could come as soon as Week 12 against the Bears, but it appears like that Sims will be the starter.

Rainey had six carries for 14 rushing yards and four catches on five targets for 42 receiving yards Sunday against the Falcons.

Rookie Charles Sims (ankle) made his NFL debut and led the team with eight carries, though he turned them into only 23 yards, hardly the production that would automatically supplant Rainey as the starter in Doug Martin's (ankle) absence. Martin was unable to practice this week and didn't appear terribly close to play, so Rainey could very well get another start in Week 11 against the Redskins, though Sims will continue to take carries away.

Rainey is expected to take the lead role in the Tampa Bay backfield Sunday against the Falcons, as Doug Martin (ankle) has been officially ruled inactive for the contest.

Rainey will take on a significant role for the second straight week, going up against an Atlanta defense that has allowed 128 yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry to opposing rushers. Charles Sims (ankle) may take away a few touches, but it seems more likely coach Lovie Smith and the Buccaneers will ease the rookie into action during his first game of the 2014 NFL season. Mike James could also factor into the mix, but likely in a complementary role after receiving just four carries in Week 9. Rainey turned in a strong 4.6 YPC in last week's loss to the Browns, and if he can cash in another solid performance, he could continue to see extra touches even after Martin is back in the mix.

Rainey started Sunday's game against the Browns, with Doug Martin inactive due to an ankle injury, and he finished with 19 carries for 87 rushing yards and one catch on three targets for 34 receiving yards.

Rookie Charles Sims was inactive despite being activated from the injured reserve/designated to return list Saturday after recovering from an ankle injury, which gave Rainey very little competition for touches. Backup Mike James finished with four carries for nine yards, and ESPN.com's Pat Yasinkas even speculated after the game that Rainey played well enough to keep the starting job even when Martin returns. Up next is a Week 10 matchup against a Falcons defense allowing the ninth-most rushing yards per game this season, while allowing a league-high 13 rushing touchdowns, though Rainey's biggest issue will be a potential time-share with Sims and maybe Martin.

Rainey is expected to take the lead role in the Tampa Bay backfield Sunday against the Browns, as Doug Martin (ankle) has been officially ruled inactive for the contest, and will sit along with Charles Sims.

Rainey logged 144 yards on 22 attempts in relief of Martin during Week 2's matchup against the Rams, so the big-game potential is there, especially against a Cleveland defense that allows an average of 143.4 rushing yards per game. He's also an intriguing PPR play, having logged games of seven and six receptions earlier in the year. Rainey will have to hold off Mike James and third-round draft pick Charles Sims (ankle) to maintain his position on the depth chart moving forward, but his expected role Sunday afternoon brings him a lot of upside for this week. The Tampa Bay backfield situation is definitely one worth monitoring in the coming weeks while Doug Martin continues to work back from an ankle injury.

Rainey is expected to start against Cleveland on Sunday since Doug Martin (ankle) did not practice all week, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Rainey will need to hold off Mike James and rookie third-round pick Charles Sims, but Rainey is much more proven than the other two. Considering he has above average pass-catching skills and is facing a Cleveland defense allowing 4.8 yards per carry, Rainey could have a surprising amount of fantasy upside this week.

Rainey had eight carries for 25 rushing yards and a team-high six catches on six targets for 41 receiving yards Sunday against the Vikings.

Rainey continues to be Doug Martin's backup, despite slightly better production, but the latter is reportedly very much on the trading block before Tuesday's trade deadline, and any move there would surely increase Rainey's fantasy value. However, fantasy owners should be warned that rookie Charles Sims is close to a return from an ankle injury, and with the Bucs now 1-6, they could see what they have with the former West Virginia Mountaineer instead of letting Rainey run the season out.

Rainey had seven carries for 42 yards and failed to catch any of the three passes thrown his way during Sunday's 48-17 loss to the Ravens.

The Bucs trailed 28-0 after the first quarter and 38-0 at halftime, forcing them to all but abandon the run. Starter Doug Martin had 45 rushing yards on 11 carries but did nothing to really separate himself from Rainey. Martin remains the starter, but he continues to leave the door open for Rainey to grab more touches. The battle for carries will take a week off, as the Bucs head out on bye in Week 7 before hosting the Vikings in Week 8.

Rainey had six carries for 21 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's overtime loss to the Saints. He added three receptions for 21 yards.

Rainey's workload has dropped off significantly since Doug Martin's return, with Martin out-carrying Rainey 28 to 10 over the past two games. Rainey's nine-yard touchdown run made this a decent fantasy day, but he is tough to recommend in most formats as long as Martin continues to get the bulk of the work.

Rainey carried four times for two yards and caught one pass for 16 yards in Sunday's win over the Steelers.

Meanwhile, fellow RB Doug Martin returned to action and saw the bulk of the Bucs' carries Sunday, rushing 14 times for 40 yards and a TD in the contest. While Rainey figures to see his share of touches in the coming weeks, as long as Martin can stay healthy, it looks like Rainey will work in a complementary role out of the team's backfield.

Rainey had 11 carries for 41 yards and seven receptions for 64 yards, but he also lost a pair of fumbles in Thursday's 56-14 loss to the Falcons.

Rainey was briefly benched following a first-quarter fumble, and he then lost another at the beginning of the second half. Most of his fantasy production came on short passes in garbage-time, but he did run hard, if not smart, throughout the game. Mike James also struggled, logging just four yards on four carries and minus-five yards on one reception. With 10 days before the Bucs' next contest, Doug Martin (knee) has a pretty good chance to return. While Rainey still figures to have a role -- possibly even a sizable one -- in the Tampa Bay offense, he didn't help his own cause with the fumbles.

Rainey's teammate, Doug Martin is inactive for Thursday's game against the Falcons, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Rainey, who recorded 174 total yards in Week 2 against the Rams, is slated to head the Bucs' Week 3 rushing attack against a Falcons' defense that has allowed five TDs on the ground, along with an average of 154.5 rushing yards through two contests.

Though Rainey's teammate, Doug Martin, is in line to test out his knee in advance of Thursday's game against the Falcons, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport suggests that Martin appears unlikely to play in the contest.

While the situation merits continued attention leading up to Thursday's kickoff, it appears as though things are trending in a direction in which Rainey will have a chance to build off his strong effort (22 carries for 144 yards and three catches for 30 yards) in Week 2 against the Rams.

Rainey had 22 carries for 144 yards and caught three passes for 30 yards in Sunday's 19-17 loss to St. Louis.

Rainey looked great while filling in for an injured Doug Martin (knee), averaging a strong 6.5 yards per carry. Rainey's performance is even more impressive when you consider that the Rams completely shut down Adrian Peterson in Week 1. It's too early to tell if Martin will play next week, but Rainey has probably carved out a bigger role, regardless.

Rainey will start at running back for the inactive Doug Martin (knee) on Sunday against the Rams.

The knee injury suffered by Martin in Week 1 is severe enough to force an absence, which Rainey will attempt to take advantage of. Due to Martin's season-ending shoulder injury a year ago, Rainey started the last seven games in 2013, accumulating 129 carries for 487 yards (3.8 YPC) and five rushing touchdowns. While he only hauled in 10 receptions for 16 yards during that stretch, Rainey did record a score through the air as well.

With Fox's Jay Glazer reporting that the Bucs are planning to deactivate Doug Martin for Week 2, Rainey is in line for a start.

There are conflicting reports about the Bucs' intentions, and with them playing a late-afternoon game, you might not want to rely on this information if you have a decent alternative to start ahead of Rainey.