AP

A week ago, Jordan Shipley lost his job a day after making no catches in a preseason game between the Falcons and Shipley’s Bengals. Tonight, Shipley will be making his debut as a member of the Buccaneers.

Speeding Shipley’s process is the fact that Tampa’s offense is similar to Cincinnati’s.

“I’m picking it up,” Shipley said, via Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times. “Most of the stuff we’ve installed, I think I’ve got it.”

Shipley, a third-round pick in 2010, also could be returning punts against the Patriots, giving Tampa a potentially more sure-handed alternative to Preston Parker.

“I did it all through high school, all through college,” Shipley said. “I got to do some in my rookie year in the preseason, and I had a couple of good returns. I really love it.”

Shipley needs to do something positive tonight. Cuts are coming, and in one more week from now he could be caught in the scrum of players who are looking for their next NFL opportunity.