Buccaneers add Solomon Patton to the roster, release Louis Murphy

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added yet another player to the active roster from the practice squad, as they've called up undrafted rookie Solomon Patton, presumably to handle return duties against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. The news was first reported by Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

Louis Murphy was released to make room on the roster. The Bucs confirmed all four of their moves on Saturday via their PR account on Twitter.

Patton did not make the final cut despite seemingly earning the starting job as the punt and kick returner, but as the Buccaneers went through the week without adding any return men to the roster, the likelihood of Patton being promoted increased by the day.

So the former Gator will take to the field with the Bucs in his first career game on Sunday, and will likely step right into the starting returner position. Chris Owusu, Bobby Rainey and Mike James have taken turns returning kicks this summer, but none did so as well as Patton.

Murphy stood out during the preseason as Mike Glennon's top target, but he clearly didn't pass Chris Owusu on the depth chart, and apparently isn't as valuable as Russell Shepard, who is one of the Bucs' leaders on special teams.