The Buccaneers have spent multiple days in training camp sorting out what this team really is, and one theme has started to show itself: there’s more edge here than there was a year ago.
Todd Bowles has talked about building a “killer instinct,” and the early signs suggest Tampa Bay is buying in. The intensity has spilled over into real skirmishes, both inside the team and in the joint work with the New York Jets.
It’s not Bowles’ favorite part of camp, but it has been part of the picture. A'Shawn Robinson, Alex Anzalone and Rakeem Nunez-Roches have all added some bite, while rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter has even been willing to jaw with veterans.
It’s the kind of thing that’s tough to quantify, and it could look different once the games count, but for now it’s a noticeable shift.
Friday will bring the Bucs’ first preseason game in 2026, which means the team is about to get its first live look at some of the players who have stood out in camp. One of the biggest names in that group is edge rusher David Walker.
Walker, a fifth-round pick out of Central Arkansas last year, missed 2025 after tearing his ACL in training camp. This summer, he’s been one of the buzz players around the team thanks to his pass-rush win rate, physical approach and command of the playbook.
Bowles put it this way: “Just his energy and his athleticism [have] showed up," Bowles told reporters. "We didn’t get to see him in pads last year, but to see him out there and the way he moves.
He moves like an inside [linebacker], but he plays outside [linebacker] and he [has] great power. To see him out there playing fast and not worried about his knee is great.”
The next step is obvious: carry that camp production into a game. If Walker does that in the preseason, he’ll give himself a real shot to push for the EDGE3 role alongside Al-Quadin Muhammad.
And then there’s the receiver group, which may be even deeper than expected. Tampa Bay already knew it had talent there, but camp has added another layer to that belief.
Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan have all made plays, Tez Johnson has put together one of the best camps on the roster, and undrafted rookie Dean Patterson has also kept showing up with catches and impact moments. The room is a little banged up right now, though nothing sounds long-term.
If everyone is ready for Week 1, the Bucs could have a dangerous collection of weapons for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
In Other News...
Buccaneers QB Depth Suddenly Puts An Unproven Rookie In Spotlight
With Baker Mayfield inactive and the backup situation thinned further by injury, the Buccaneers are heading into their preseason opener against the Jets with an unusual quarterback setup. It has opened the door for Connor Bazelak, the undrafted rookie who won the third-string job, to move into a much larger role than anyone expected this early in camp.
Bazelak has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game, but his college path gives Tampa Bay at least some reason to take a longer look. He played at Missouri, Indiana and Bowling Green, piling up more than 12,000 passing yards and 66 touchdowns over 58 games, and now the Bucs will get a closer read on how that production translates when the snaps start coming fast. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Roster Battle Took Center Stage In A Messy First Look
A preseason win over the Jets rarely tells the whole story, and this one was more about sorting through the roster than celebrating the final margin. Tampa Bay used the 24-16 result as a first real look at how the depth chart is shaping up, with the coaching staff getting plenty to evaluate across offense, defense and special teams.
The quarterback competition drew most of the attention, especially the uneven showings from Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels, but they were far from the only players who left an impression. There were a few bright spots mixed in with the rough patches, which is exactly what makes these August games useful for a team trying to separate the fringe contributors from the players who can actually help when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Open Preseason With Pressure On A Few Critical Roster Battles
The Buccaneers open preseason play against the Jets with the first-stringers expected to stay on the sideline, which shifts the spotlight to the roster fringe where camp jobs are often won or lost. For Tampa Bay, the early games are less about the final score than about giving coaches a longer look at players trying to separate themselves in a few tight position groups.
Among the names worth tracking are outside linebackers Chris Braswell and Anthony Nelson, who are both in the mix for a limited spot in the pass-rush rotation. Tight end Devin Culp is also trying to carve out a place in a crowded room, and his path looks more difficult than most as the Buccaneers begin trimming the field ahead of the regular season. [Read more 🡒]