ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- There are moments when wide receiver Solomon Patton is busy going about the business of trying to carve out a roster spot for the Denver Broncos -- a team that has won four consecutive AFC West titles -- that it can be difficult to remember just a few months ago the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't have room for him.
In May. When the roster can be at 90 players.
Patton, who continues to flash in the Broncos' passing game and be one of the most reliable candidates to be the team's punt returner, was cut loose this past May, waived by a team that finished 2-14 last season and had just begun its offseason program.
"I've said everything happens for a reason and I believe that," Patton said. "... Maybe we don't always know the reason. I'm just thankful this team wanted to put an opportunity out there."
The Broncos quickly claimed Patton off waivers, in large part because of his return potential. In seven games last season Patton averaged 11.2 yards per punt return for the Buccaneers and 23.1 yards per kickoff return.
The Broncos were one of the least productive teams in the league last season in the punt return game. In games in which the Broncos had at least one punt return (not including touchbacks, fair catches or punts that went out of bounds) they had fewer than 10 yards' worth of returns six times.
And they were one of four teams in the league that didn't have a punt return longer than 22 yards.
"We know that's a spot where we want somebody to step forward," Broncos special teams coach Joe DeCamillis said.
As a returner Patton has been the most reliable fielding punts. DeCamillis has noted Patton's decisiveness once he has the ball and an ability to run with power in traffic despite the fact he's listed at 5-foot-9-inches, 177 pounds.
"Solomon's the same thing we saw in the film," DeCamillis said. "He's extremely quick and extremely fast. He's a smaller guy, but he's very decisive. For a guy that's that size, he runs strong, which means he's going to break some tackles when he gets there, which for most of those guys, doesn't happen. We're impressed with him so far."
However, DeCamillis and Broncos coach Gary Kubiak want as few pure specialists on the roster as possible. They don't want to keep an extra kicker to use on kickoffs and they would prefer not to keep a returner who can't contribute on offense or defense.
Ultimately Patton's work as a receiver could tip the scales in his favor, but beyond their top three at the position -- Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer -- the additional spots will be decided on the combination of work the players can do on offense and on special teams.
Patton, working with the reserves, has still made impact plays in team drills, including two Friday when he caught long scoring passes from Zac Dysert and rookie Trevor Siemian. Like all of the Broncos' hopefuls, Patton will get his first chance at game action in Friday's preseason opener in Seattle.
"You know what, he's done that a couple days," Kubiak said. "I think I've mentioned that obviously we know returning is a specialty of his, but if he can go out there and make plays as a wideout, it's going to make him even more valuable to making this football team."
"It makes me feel awesome," Patton said. "[Kubiak] came into the huddle right before I made one of those catches and said, 'Receivers, it's either you catch the ball or nobody catch the ball.' I ended up catching that ... ball so it definitely made me feel way better about offense and trying to make this team."