Tampa Bay Buccaneers release Markus White, perhaps for Da'Quan Bowers' return

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released defensive end Markus White, perhaps clearing room for defensive end Da'Quan Bowers to play his first game of the 2012 season, tweets Tampa Bay Bucs beat writer Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

Bowers has missed all of the Bucs' games this season while recovering from an offseason Achilles injury that was once thought to cost him all of 2012. Bowers is eligible to be activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list this week, opening up the possibility that White's release could mean a return for the second-year defensive player from Clemson.

Bowers had 1.5 sacks in his rookie 2011 season to go along with 22 tackles and four passes defensed.

White never saw any action for Tampa Bay after signing to the practice squad in September from the Washington Redskins, who drafted him in 2011. He was later claimed by the Redskins from the Bucs' practice squad, but was released in October.