Buccaneer Blitz

The Buccaneers couldn't get out of Jacksonville fast enough. And honestly? Neither could I.

After two days of joint practices that left Baker Mayfield publicly admitting the Jaguars out-physicaled his team, Friday night's preseason finale was supposed to be a chance to respond. To show some fight. To close out the preseason with at least a shred of competitive dignity before the real thing begins in 16 days.

Instead? Nineteen to nothing. Eighty-seven total yards. A 61-yard field goal. A 63-yard punt return for a touchdown. A Buccaneers offense that looked completely lost from the opening drive to the final whistle.

Yes, this is preseason. Yes, the starters didn't play. I know all of that. But preseason isn't supposed to look like that. Even with backups. Even with bubble players. You should still see a team playing with some fight, some ex*****on, some competitive pride. You should see a coaching staff that has installed something their depth players can run with confidence. You should see, at minimum, some hope.

Here's what makes it particularly unsettling. Think back to the 2024 preseason under Liam Coen as offensive coordinator. The space being created in both the run and passing game was visible to the naked eye. Routes were designed to get receivers open. Running backs were hitting lanes the scheme was generating. And it didn't matter who was playing — first team, second team, third team — everyone understood what they were running. That's the hallmark of a truly well-installed system.

I don't have that feeling right now. Not even close.

Through a full month of training camp and three preseason games, I genuinely do not know what to expect from this offense in Week 1. I don't know what Zac Robinson's scheme looks like at its best against a prepared NFL defense. I don't know if the run game has a clear vision or if the passing scheme has structure that holds up when games get tight. And if the Bucs fall behind early in Cincinnati against Joe Burrow? That is not a comfortable scenario to imagine right now.

To be fair… Baker didn't throw a pass in Jacksonville. Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Tez Johnson were all out. Tristan Wirfs was being managed. When that starting unit is healthy and together, this offense has real weapons and a proven quarterback. That matters.

But after four weeks of looking for clarity, I'm leaving the preseason with more questions than answers.

The one silver lining? We're done with Jacksonville. The bus has left. The plane has landed back in Tampa. And in 15 days, the games count. Here's hoping that once the lights come on for real, this offense remembers how to play football.

Because right now, I'm not sure it does.

Thanks to Bucs for the picture.

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PRESEASON WEEK 3 FINAL RECAP

Jaguars 19, Buccaneers 0

We’ll keep it real with you this morning. Last night's preseason finale in Jacksonville was ugly. A 19-0 shutout loss. Just 87 total yards of offense. A 63-yard punt return touchdown and a 61-yard field goal from the Jaguars that made it feel even worse. But before anyone panics, let's put this in proper perspective and break down what actually happened at EverBank Stadium. Here's your complete BuccaneerBlitz Preseason Week 3 recap!

FINAL SCORE: JAGUARS 19, BUCCANEERS 0 | BUCS FINISH PRESEASON 2-1

THE BIG PICTURE: CONTEXT MATTERS

Before anything else, here is the most important thing to understand about last night's loss. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rested virtually every starter of consequence. Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, Tristan Wirfs, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and the rest of the established veterans did not play a single snap. Rueben Bain Jr. was held out with his AC joint sprain. Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, and Zyon McCollum were all out with injuries.

This was a game played almost entirely by depth players and bubble players auditioning for their NFL lives. The final score is irrelevant. The performances of the individuals fighting for roster spots are what matters. Keep that framing in mind for everything that follows.

OFFENSE: 87 TOTAL YARDS AND A SHUTOUT

There is no gentle way to say it. The Buccaneers' offense was completely unable to generate any consistent production Friday night, finishing with just 87 total yards and going scoreless for the entire game. Third down was a disaster, drives stalled repeatedly, and the backup offensive line continued to struggle protecting the quarterback in a way that has been a recurring theme throughout the preseason.

Jake Browning started and played into the second half but could not get much going behind a porous offensive line. The same pass protection issues that plagued him against the Chiefs were on display again Friday night in Jacksonville. Browning's limitations when the pocket collapses are becoming an increasingly clear concern. He finished the night without any particularly memorable positive moments, which was not what the coaching staff needed to see in his final preseason audition.

Jalon Daniels came in and provided a brief flash of the mobility and decision-making that has made him the feel-good story of this entire preseason, but even he couldn't generate points against a Jaguars defense that was flying around and playing with genuine physicality. The Bucs simply could not sustain drives, convert on third down, or find the end zone at any point in the game.

One name worth watching on the offensive side was Dean Patterson, who continued to make plays when the ball came his way. His consistent hands and reliable route-running throughout this preseason have made the strongest possible case for a roster spot. If there is one bubble offensive player who helped himself last night despite the overall offensive failure, it was Patterson.

DEFENSE: BETTER THAN THE SCORE SUGGESTS, BUT NOT WITHOUT CONCERNS

The Buccaneers' backup defense actually competed reasonably well for stretches of the game, which is encouraging given how young and inexperienced the personnel on the field was at any given moment.

But Jacksonville got on the board first when kicker Cam Little drilled a jaw-dropping 61-yard field goal to give the Jaguars a 3-0 lead in the second quarter. That was a gut-punch moment and a clear reminder of the special teams issues that have plagued this team throughout the preseason. A 61-yard field goal should not be a comfortable attempt for any kicker. The Bucs put Little in position to attempt it and he made it look easy.

The game's most spectacular play came in the fourth quarter when undrafted Jaguars rookie wide receiver Michael Wortham returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, giving Jacksonville their final margin of victory and putting an exclamation point on what was a dominant night for Jacksonville's special teams unit. A 63-yard punt return touchdown is a fundamental breakdown in coverage. Danny Smith's special teams unit has now given up an interception return for a touchdown, surrendered a 69-yard field goal, and now a 63-yard punt return for a score across three preseason games. That is a troubling pattern that must be addressed before September 13.

Undrafted Jaguars rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. was the best player on the field Friday night, recording 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and a near strip-sack that was ruled incomplete. The fact that an undrafted rookie was able to consistently get home against the Bucs' backup offensive line is concerning, even accounting for the fact that the starters were not playing.

INDIVIDUAL STANDOUTS FOR THE BUCS

Despite the ugly scoreline, several players used Friday night's stage to make a case for themselves.

Caden Fordham, LB: The undrafted free agent out of NC State once again looked like the most assignment-sound linebacker on the field when he was in the game. His instincts, his comfort in space, and his ability to process what's in front of him quickly stood out on a night when the defense around him was inconsistent. Fordham has done everything asked of him this preseason and then some. He has made this 53-man roster, and it wouldn't be a surprise if the coaching staff found a way to get him onto it.

Dean Patterson, WR: Consistent hands. Good route running. Made plays when targeted. Patterson has been one of the most reliable depth weapons on this entire roster throughout the preseason and last night was no exception. His case for a roster spot is as strong as it's been at any point this summer.

Josh Williams, RB: Williams continued to look more explosive and decisive than Sean Tucker in limited opportunities. With the 53-man cutdown deadline Tuesday, this backfield competition is now fully in the hands of the coaching staff and front office. Williams has done his job. The decision is theirs.

SPECIAL TEAMS: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

We cannot move past this without saying it directly. Through three preseason games under new special teams coordinator Danny Smith, the Buccaneers' special teams unit has been the single most consistent problem on this roster. Now a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Jaguars. These are not random flukes. This is a pattern. Coverage lanes are breaking down. Contain responsibilities are not being met. And the level of discipline and ex*****on that Danny Smith was brought in specifically to install is not yet showing up on the field in a consistent way.

The regular season opener is 16 days away. This has to be fixed. Now.

WHAT LAST NIGHT TELLS US HEADING INTO THE REGULAR SEASON

Preseason is over. Here's the honest state of the union heading into 53-man cuts on Tuesday:

The starters on both sides of the ball are healthy, rested, and ready. Baker Mayfield didn't throw a single pass last night. Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, Bucky Irving, and the rest of the core are fully prepared for Cincinnati on September 13. None of that changes based on what happened in Jacksonville Friday night.

The offensive line depth without Tristan Wirfs is a genuine vulnerability. The special teams unit needs significant improvement. And the backup quarterback competition between Jake Browning and the electric Jalon Daniels is one of the most fascinating roster decisions Jason Licht and Todd Bowles face before Tuesday's cutdown deadline.

But the starters are good. The defensive front is scary. The receiving corps is deep and talented. And Baker Mayfield is locked in for what he knows will be the most important season of his career.

One bad preseason finale doesn't change any of that.

WHAT'S NEXT

The preseason is over, Bucs Nation. The real season is 15 days away. Stay locked to BuccaneerBlitz for full 53-man roster cutdown coverage, practice squad signings, and everything leading into the Cincinnati opener!

Thank you to the Bucs for the picture.

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BUCCANEERBLITZ | PRESEASON WEEK 3 PREGAME

Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | EverBank Stadium | Tonight, 7:30 PM ET

The preseason finale is HERE. Tonight at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play their final tune-up game before the 53-man roster cutdown deadline hits Tuesday September 2. For the starters, coaches, and front office, tonight is evaluation mode. For the bubble players, tonight is everything. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff!


TONIGHT IS ALL ABOUT THE ROSTER BUBBLE

Over 30 players will be sent to waivers after tonight’s game, but only a fraction will be asked back for the practice squad. Tonight’s game against the Jags will likely determine which players make the team, the practice squad, and those who will hit free agency.

Every single snap tonight matters. For Dean Patterson and Kam Johnson, tonight is the last audition for a wide receiver spot. For Caden Fordham, the undrafted gem out of NC State who has quietly emerged as the Bucs’ fifth linebacker option, tonight is the final stamp on a compelling training camp. For Josh Williams, who outshone Sean Tucker in the backfield against the Chiefs, tonight could decide who stays and who goes.

This is what the preseason finale is all about. Not the scoreboard. The people on it.

WHO WILL AND WON’T PLAY TONIGHT

For the Buccaneers: The starters are expected to sit tonight. Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs, Bucky Irving, Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith, Zyon McCollum, and the rest of the established veterans will watch from the sideline. Rueben Bain Jr. is dealing with an AC joint sprain suffered in Tuesday’s joint practice and will not play tonight. The Hurricane is being appropriately protected with the regular season opener at Cincinnati 16 days away.

The storyline to watch on the offensive side of the ball is whether Browning can shake off last week’s disastrous pass protection game and look like the reliable backup this team needs behind Baker Mayfield.

For the Jaguars: Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen confirmed throughout the 2026 preseason that veteran starters will not play in the preseason finale. Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Parker Washington, and Brenton Strange are all expected to sit. Both teams will be featuring their depth players tonight, which levels the playing field considerably and makes the individual battles all the more meaningful.


INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO TONIGHT

OUT: Rueben Bain Jr. (AC sprain), Emeka Egbuka (toe, week-to-week), Jalen McMillan (knee), Tez Johnson (groin), Tristan Wirfs (hamstring, being managed), David Sills V (knee)

QUESTIONABLE/MONITORING: SirVocea Dennis (groin), Christian Rozeboom (undisclosed), Benjamin Morrison (hamstring, being ramped up slowly)

RETURNING: The good news is that Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, Vita Vea, A’Shawn Robinson, and Jake Browning are all healthy and available. The receiver room depth will get a major workout tonight with the starters out.


FIVE PLAYERS WITH EVERYTHING TO PROVE TONIGHT

1. Jalon Daniels, QB Two preseason games. Two second-half takeovers. Two wins. The undrafted rocket from Kansas has been the feel-good story of this entire preseason. Tonight is his biggest opportunity yet. A strong performance seals his spot on this roster.

2. Jake Browning, QB After getting absolutely hammered behind a porous backup offensive line against the Chiefs, Browning needs a bounce-back performance tonight. His role as Baker Mayfield’s trusted backup is not in question. But his ability to stay composed and productive under pressure absolutely is.

3. Caden Fordham, LB The undrafted free agent out of NC State has been one of the most quietly impressive players of this entire training camp. With SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom both dealing with injuries, tonight could be Fordham’s night to cement his spot as the Bucs’ fifth linebacker. Play fast, play physical, play smart. That’s the assignment.

4. Dean Patterson, WR Six catches for 56 yards against the Chiefs. Consistent throughout camp and both preseason games. Tonight is Patterson’s chance to put the finishing touches on what has been an outstanding preseason audition and make the final 53-man roster.

5. Josh Williams, RB Williams has looked noticeably more explosive than Sean Tucker throughout the preseason, and tonight the two of them will almost certainly share carries in a head-to-head competition that could determine which one earns a roster spot. Big runs, decisive cuts, and physical running after contact are the expectation. Deliver tonight, Josh.

THE LIAM COEN SUBPLOT

There’s an added layer of intrigue to tonight’s matchup. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spent one year as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator before departing for Jacksonville this offseason. Todd Bowles addressed their relationship warmly this week, saying the two still talk and text regularly. But on the field tonight? No friends. Only football. The Bucs owe Jacksonville a better performance than what happened in joint practices this week, and tonight is the first chance to settle the score. Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker summed it up perfectly for his own bubble players: “We know everybody’s not going to make this roster, but I want the guys, a lot of the younger guys, to go out there and put some great things on tape because it’s 31 other teams out there that they’re interviewing for, and I wish all of them the best.” That sentiment applies equally to every Buccaneers player suiting up tonight.


HOW TO WATCH

Kickoff: Tonight, August 28, 7:30 PM ET Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL TV: WFLA-TV (Tampa), Local Jacksonville broadcast Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network Streaming: NFL+


WHAT’S AFTER TONIGHT

After tonight’s final whistle, the real work begins for Jason Licht and the front office.

Tuesday, September 2: 53-man roster cutdown deadline Wednesday, September 3: Practice squad signings begin Sunday, September 13: REGULAR SEASON OPENER at Cincinnati Bengals, Paycor Stadium

The preseason is almost over, Bucs Nation. The real season is 16 days away. Let’s close out the summer with a win and carry that momentum straight into Cincinnati. GO BUCS!

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BUCS/JAGUARS JOINT PRACTICE DAY 2 RECAP

August 26, 2026

After Tuesday’s humbling joint practice performance, the Buccaneers came back to the Miller Electric Center on Wednesday with something to prove. After Baker Mayfield publicly called out his own team’s physicality and the entire NFL world was watching, the Bucs needed a bounce-back day. Here’s everything that went down in Day 2!


BREAKING: RUEBEN BAIN, JR. SUFFERS AC SPRAIN

The news that sent a jolt through Bucs Nation this morning came courtesy of ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “Rueben Bain Jr. suffered an AC joint sprain during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Jaguars in Jacksonville. However, the team does not think the injury is serious, and he is expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.”

Let’s process this carefully. On one hand, Bain participated in Tuesday’s joint practice for most of the session, but was replaced by Al-Quadin Muhammad during the last part of team periods at the end of practice, which means the injury wasn’t severe enough to immediately pull him from the field. On the other hand, he sat out Wednesday’s practice entirely as a precautionary measure while the team monitors the sprain.


JOSH HINES-ALLEN CALLS OUT THE BUCS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Before we even get to Wednesday’s practice, we have to address what happened Tuesday evening on social media. After dominating the Buccaneers’ offensive line throughout Day 1 and beating Luke Goedeke multiple times, Jaguars edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen took to X with this gem: “I keep seeing these one on one rushes from Tampa Bay, those good rushes but the way we was doing them boys on that other field. MAN!!!!”

Bold words. The kind of bulletin board material that every competitor in that Buccaneers locker room saw, read, and filed away. Hines-Allen had a genuinely dominant Day 1 and earned the right to feel good about his performance. But publicly calling out your opponent the night before Day 2 of joint practice? You better be ready to back it up. Did the Bucs’ offensive line and Baker Mayfield respond? That was the dominant storyline of Wednesday morning.


BAKER MAYFIELD BOUNCES BACK: TED HURST DELIVERS AGAIN

After a two-interception performance on Tuesday that Mayfield himself described as an eye-opener, the franchise quarterback came out on Wednesday with sharper decision-making and more efficient ex*****on throughout. The biggest highlight of Baker’s day came on a dime thrown to Ted Hurst III in the back left corner of the end zone, with Hurst catching it over Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones for the touchdown.

That’s now multiple joint practice sessions where the rookie wide receiver has gone up against legitimate NFL cornerbacks and won contested reps in the end zone. Hurst also made a couple of plays on second-year cornerback Travis Hunter, hauled in a big pass over the middle of the field over the top of the Jaguars defense, and the Bucs coaches and players who spoke to media afterward were all talking about how Hurst is ramping up on the mental side of things, learning the offense, understanding defensive coverages, and the defensive backs he’s facing. That mental acceleration is just as important as the physical gifts.


TRAVIS HUNTER VS. TED HURST: THE MATCHUP OF THE WEEK

One of the most entertaining individual battles of the entire preseason period played out Wednesday between two of the most celebrated rookies in this year’s draft class. Hurst lined up one-on-one with Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter in what was an entertaining, give-and-take battle. Hunter, who is exclusively playing defense for Jacksonville this preseason, is one of the most unique talents in football. The fact that Hurst more than held his own against him across multiple reps is a significant statement about where the rookie receiver’s game currently stands heading into the regular season.


TRISTAN WIRFS TAKES THE FIELD IN 11-ON-11

The moment we’ve has been waiting for all preseason finally happened Wednesday. Tristan Wirfs took the field and participated in 11-on-11s for the first time all summer. Wirfs is being brought back slowly, taking a snap or two before coming off the field. Even if it was just a handful of snaps, seeing the NFL’s best offensive lineman back in team drills is an enormous development heading into the regular season opener 18 days away. The plan is clearly to manage his workload carefully through the preseason finale Friday. But he’s moving. He’s healthy. And that changes everything for this offense.


DEFENSIVE LINE: THE ONE THING EVERYONE AGREES ON

Here’s the one area where both fan bases, both coaching staffs, and even Josh Hines-Allen himself agree: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive line has been outstanding across both days of joint practice. Vita Vea, Rueben Bain Jr., and Calijah Kancey ate on their one-on-one reps. This defensive line is going to be a problem for quarterbacks. Even on a day where the Bucs’ offense struggled, the interior defensive line was dominant in one-on-one pass rush drills and in run defense. Add a healthy Vita Vea now locked in through 2027 to a group that already includes Bain Jr. and Kancey, and this is legitimately one of the scariest defensive fronts in the NFC.


INJURY CONCERN: SIRVOCEA DENNIS AND CHRISTIAN ROZEBOOM

Two additional injury developments surfaced on Wednesday. SirVocea Dennis is dealing with a groin injury, and Christian Rozeboom is also injured. Dennis had been fighting for his starting linebacker job all preseason against Josiah Trotter and Alex Anzalone, and this injury couldn’t come at a worse time with the 53-man roster cutdown deadline looming on September 2. Rozeboom’s injury is also worth monitoring given the depth concerns at linebacker. Todd Bowles will address both situations at his Thursday press conference ahead of Friday’s preseason finale.


WHAT’S NEXT

Friday, August 28: PRESEASON FINALE vs. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | EverBank Stadium, 7:30 PM ET

Two days of joint practices with Jacksonville are done. The preseason finale is Friday night at EverBank Stadium, and for every player on the roster bubble, it is the most important game of their lives. 53-man roster cuts must be made by Tuesday, September 2. After that, the focus shifts entirely to Cincinnati and the regular season opener against the Bengals. Stay locked to BuccaneerBlitz for full preseason finale coverage!

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https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/report-rueben-bain-ac-sprain-132137625.html

Report: Rueben Bain has an AC sprain, is expected to play in Week 1 Buccaneers first-round pick Rueben Bain is dealing with a shoulder injury.

JAGUARS JOINT PRACTICE DAY 1 RECAP

August 25, 2026

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traveled to Jacksonville for the first of two joint practices with the Jaguars ahead of Friday’s preseason finale and it was a wake-up call. A loud one. The offense struggled badly. Baker Mayfield threw two interceptions. And after practice, the franchise quarterback didn’t sugarcoat a single thing. Here’s your BuccaneerBlitz Jaguars Joint Practice Day 1 recap.


BAKER MAYFIELD: “THEY OUT-PHYSICALED US”

Let’s lead with the most important post-practice quote of the entire preseason. Baker Mayfield did not hold back after Tuesday’s session and deserves enormous credit for his honesty. “They were playing with their hair on fire. If this was a full game I don’t think we would’ve come out on the winning side of it,” Mayfield told reporters. “It’s a little eye-opener. I need to go back and watch the tape because it’s never as good or as bad as you think it is. I think from my standpoint, they out-physicaled us.”

That is your franchise quarterback publicly calling out his team’s physicality and competitiveness three days before the preseason finale and 19 days before the regular season opener against the Falcons. That is leadership. That is accountability. And that is exactly the kind of message this team needed to hear after riding a 2-0 preseason record into Jacksonville feeling perhaps a little too comfortable. The Jaguars came out with fire and the Buccaneers did not match it. Baker said so himself. Now let’s see how this team responds on Wednesday.


OFFENSE WAS DOMINATED: A ROUGH DAY FOR BAKER AND THE BUCS

There is no gentle way to put this. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came out looking to put in a strong showing against the Jaguars, but that didn’t end up happening. The team got beaten on both sides of the ball, but it particularly struggled on the offensive side of things.

Baker Mayfield threw two interceptions on the day. One was a ball too high for Chris Godwin that got picked off on a tip, and the second was a ball thrown directly to safety Antonio Johnson. Overall the offense looked quite bad, with Mayfield doing his fair share of overthrowing the football on multiple occasions.

Cornerback Montaric Brown made his presence felt, picking off Mayfield.

This was an ugly day for the Bucs offense. Let’s acknowledge it, learn from it, and fix it.


🛡️ DEFENSE: UP AND DOWN BUT WITH BRIGHT SPOTS

The Bucs defense did better than the offense on Tuesday, but it was still an up-and-down day. On the positive side, the Bucs had quite a few pass breakups from the likes of Ayden Garnes and Zyon McCollum.

Garnes and McCollum both had moments of genuine quality in coverage, disrupting timing routes and contesting throws at the catch point. For Garnes especially, who has been working to build on his pick-six heroics while shoring up his technique, these are encouraging signs heading into the final preseason game.

But it wasn’t all positive on the defensive side. Parker Washington catching a touchdown in double coverage over both Jacob Parrish and Antoine Winfield Jr. is not something you want to see from your two most experienced defenders in that coverage. Lawrence also found Brian Thomas Jr. on the very first play of team drills for a deep touchdown, catching the secondary completely off guard with an early shot downfield. These are the kinds of mental lapses in coverage communication that Todd Bowles will have zero tolerance for heading into the regular season.


THE LIAM COEN SUBPLOT

There is an added layer of meaning to this week’s joint practices that deserves acknowledgment. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spent one year as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator before departing for Jacksonville this offseason. Todd Bowles addressed the reunion directly, “Me and Liam have always been great. It’s been great the whole time. Our relationship hasn’t changed a bit. We talk. We text. We bounce things off each other.” Coaches battling against their former colleagues in joint practices brings out the absolute best in preparation and scheme installation on both sides. You can be sure both staffs came in trying to make a point Tuesday. Based on Day 1, Jacksonville made theirs more convincingly.


WHAT’S NEXT

Tomorrow, Wednesday August 26: JOINT PRACTICE DAY 2 vs. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS The Bucs have one more crack at the Jaguars in practice before Friday’s game. After Tuesday’s performance, expect a dramatically more physical and competitive showing from Tampa Bay. Baker Mayfield’s post-practice comments will be on the bulletin board at EverBank Stadium Wednesday morning.

Friday, August 28: PRESEASON FINALE vs. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | EverBank Stadium, 7:30 PM ET

The preseason finale is the last audition for every bubble player on this roster before final 53-man cuts on Tuesday September 2nd. Stakes couldn’t be higher. The Buccaneers owe Jacksonville a much better showing than what they gave them Tuesday. Stay locked to BuccaneerBlitz for full Day 2 joint practice coverage and Friday’s preseason finale recap!

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The Pewter, The Problematic, and The Painful: Grading the Bucs' Preseason Week 2 vs. the Chiefs

The Buccaneers are 2-0 in the preseason. The scoreboard says 16-15 and that's a great thing. But as always, Bucs fans deserve the honest breakdown, not just the celebration. Here's the full picture from Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium.

THE PEWTER (The Good)

Jalon Daniels, QB
We have officially moved past the point of calling this a pleasant surprise. Jalon Daniels is looking like a legitimate NFL quarterback. In two preseason games, the undrafted kid from Kansas has engineered five scoring drives, both coming entirely in the second half of games the Bucs were losing at halftime. He went 9 for 14 for 71 passing yards including a two-yard touchdown pass across his body to Ko Kieft, rushed for 23 yards, and his play on the move really stood out during a night when Jake Browning was pressured on 58% of his dropbacks and sacked three times. The contrast between what Daniels provides and what the backup line gave Browning all night was staggering. More on that in a moment.

The Outside Linebacker Group
Let's give this position group its proper flowers because what the Bucs' outside linebackers showed Saturday night against the Kansas City Chiefs was genuinely special. Anthony Nelson was an absolute force, totaling 1.5 sacks including a strip sack on Justin Fields in the first quarter that completely changed the complexion of the opening quarter. He then combined with Mohamed Kamara for a massive 20-yard sack on a third-down attempt that pushed the Chiefs back and forced a field goal attempt. Kamara himself was consistently disruptive throughout the night, collapsing pockets and giving Chiefs quarterbacks no comfort zone from the edge. Rueben Bain, Jr. and Yaya Diaby continued their strong camps with consistent pressure of their own. All of the outside linebackers showed up, all contributed, and all made a compelling case that this position group has genuine NFL-caliber depth.

The Cornerback Group: Steady, Physical, and Locked In
Through two preseason games, the Buccaneers' cornerbacks have been one of the most encouraging position groups on the entire roster. Zyon McCollum was physical and assignment-sound all night, doing his job quietly and consistently while the playmakers around him got the headlines. Roman Parodie delivered the game's defining play, reading the bobbled ball in the air perfectly for the fourth-quarter interception that set up the go-ahead touchdown and ultimately won the game. McCollum spoke to the media after the game and his confidence in this group's ability to execute scheme under pressure came through clearly. The corners are playing with purpose and discipline. That's exactly what Todd Bowles needs from this group heading into the regular season.

Caden Fordham, LB
Undrafted free agent linebacker, Caden Fordham, out of NC State has looked good no matter when he’s been inserted into game action. He doesn’t look out of place even playing late in the first quarter. He assignment-sound, physical, instinctive, and comfortable in space. Through two preseason games, Fordham has quietly made a compelling case that he is this team's fifth linebacker. While others around him at that depth have looked out of place at times, Fordham has looked like he belongs. Keep your eye on this one. The Buccaneers may have found a legitimate contributor hiding in plain sight.

Dean Patterson and Kam Johnson, WR
The depth receiver competition is one of the best stories of this entire preseason. Patterson led all receivers with 6 catches for 56 yards including a gorgeous 24-yard toe-tap reception that reminded everyone watching why this kid has been turning heads all camp. Johnson matched that yardage total with his own standout performance. The final few roster spots at wide receiver are now a genuine competition, and both men made it significantly harder on the coaching staff to make those decisions. That's exactly what you want to see from your depth players in preseason football.

THE PROBLEMATIC (The Bad)

Jake Browning's Night
Let's be clear about something important before we get into this: a significant portion of what happened to Jake Browning Saturday night was not on him. He completed 9 of 12 attempts for 84 yards and showed good decision-making throughout. But the circumstances around him were genuinely brutal. Browning was pressured on 58% of his dropbacks and was sacked three times. That is an indefensible rate for any quarterback to operate under, and the responsibility for that lands squarely on the offensive line, primarily the horrible tackle play. Browning did what he could. His line let him down repeatedly and badly.

Zac Robinson's Play Calling With the Starters
This one needs to be said. When Baker Mayfield wasn't handing off to a running back, he was throwing screens. Two drives. Zero points. No downfield shots. Now, the coaching staff may have simply been protecting their starting quarterback in a preseason game, and that's a defensible choice. But if that's the plan, Zac Robinson needs to find a better balance between protecting Baker and actually showing the offense something meaningful. Preseason games matter for rhythm, timing, and chemistry. Everyone knows how big of a fan I was of Liam Coen as early as Preseason, because his offense flowed immediately. A glorified walkthrough isn't helping anyone.

THE PAINFUL (The Ugly)

Dropping Bain and Diaby Into Coverage: Todd Bowles Doing Todd Bowles Things
Here is the one that had this observer genuinely shaking his head Saturday night. On the first defensive series of the game, six total plays,Todd Bowles dropped Rueben Bain Jr. and Yaya Diaby into coverage not once but twice. Let that sink in.

Rueben Bain Jr. The "Hurricane." Your first-round pick. The most terrifying pass rusher on this roster. Dropped into coverage. Twice. In six plays.

This is the Todd Bowles coaching quirk that drives fans absolutely crazy and with good reason. There is a time and a place for the occasional surprise coverage drop from a pass rusher, and that element of unpredictability has genuine value in the right situation. But Bowles doesn't use it as a surprise. He uses it as a regular part of his rotation, and that is a fundamentally different thing. A surprise is valuable precisely because it is unexpected. When you do it repeatedly, it stops being a surprise and starts being a waste of your best pass rushers.

Rueben Bain Jr. and Yaya Diaby were brought to this defense to get after the quarterback. That is what they do best. That is what they were built for. Asking them to drop into coverage instead of letting them tee off on an offensive tackle and make life miserable for a quarterback is asking a thoroughbred racehorse to pull a plow. The concept isn't wrong. The frequency is. Bowles needs to match his players to what they do best, use the coverage drop as a genuine surprise element when it matters most, and otherwise let his pass rushers rush. The league is too good at exploiting mismatched personnel for Todd Bowles to keep doing this and expect different results. It's a small sample size in a preseason game. But it's a pattern we've seen before. And it's one worth calling out early.

The bottom line: Two preseason wins. A pass rush group that is legitimately exciting. A cornerback group playing with discipline and purpose. And an undrafted rookie quarterback who keeps winning football games. But beneath the wins, the offensive line depth without Tristan Wirfs is a legitimate vulnerability, Todd Bowles' insistence on dropping his best pass rushers into coverage is a pattern that needs addressing, the special teams unit has problems that need fixing, and the clock is ticking on all of it with the regular season opener 20 days away. Win the moment. Fix the problems. Get Wirfs healthy. The rest will take care of itself.

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