ALLEN PARK -- Kevin Ogletree was surprisingly cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, then agreed to sign with the Detroit Lions just two days later.

It has been a whirlwind week for the receiver, and that means he has some studying to do if he plans to play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

And given Detroit's depth crisis at receiver, he does.

Kevin Ogletree celebrates after scoring his only touchdown with Tampa Bay. He signed with the Lions this week.

"I hope (to play)," Ogletree said in front of his new locker Thursday. "I'm in my playbook at night time, until I close my eyes, so all the work is being put in for that. I just want to help us.

"I want to play Sunday for sure. It's a Sunday in October, so I expect to play. We'll see what happens when that time comes around."

Detroit played last week without starting receivers Nate Burleson (broken forearm) and Patrick Edwards (high ankle sprain). Now it's practicing this week without star Calvin Johnson (knee), and still is trying to ease Ryan Broyles (ACL surgery) back into things.

That leaves just Kris Durham and Micheal Spurlock, the latter of which is used primarily on special teams anyway.

That's a depleted corps.

Ogletree has experience in both the slot and outside, and could be used in either positioning. He practiced with the Lions for the first time Thursday and is wearing No. 11.

"I think he'll give us some depth there that will help us," offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "We looked at quite a bit of his target tapes from the last couple years, and (he) showed some promise. It's early, we don't know a whole lot about him yet. We'll see.

"He'll probably be asked to do something for us because of our receiver depth, but we'll decide when that'll be. This week, next week, we'll see. We're just really thin at receiver right now."

Ogletree said he isn't real familiar with Detroit's offensive scheme, but added none of the concepts are foreign to him and he expects to pick things up expeditiously.

The biggest hurdle appears to be the lingo, which often is the case when transitioning to a new scheme.

"He's a veteran player. It's just a matter of getting terminology down and stuff like that," coach Jim Schwartz said. "He knows how to run a route. He knows do all the technique stuff he needs to do. It's a little different than getting a rookie or somebody with no experience up (to speed)."

Ogletree is a fifth-year veteran out of Virginia. He played his first four seasons in Dallas, where he put together his best pro season in 2012. He caught 32 balls for 436 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs.

He had eight catches for 70 yards and one touchdown through four games this season with the Buccaneers, but was released Monday.

Tampa Bay has been blasted nationally in the past week for its handling of quarterback Josh Freeman. Ogletree declined to talk about the situation there, only saying he didn't anticipate his own release.

"I never expected it, so maybe. Maybe," Ogletree said, when asked if he was surprised by the move. "But I'm here now. This is great.

"Things happen, and they all happen for a reason," he also added. "I'm just happy to be here. I want to contribute and help this team the best way I can."