The first week of Buccaneers training camp has already produced a handful of names worth watching, and the list is longer than the usual camp buzz. From an undrafted kicker refusing to miss, to veterans and rookies carving out real roles, Tampa Bay has seen several players make early cases for bigger opportunities.
B.T. Potter has been one of the clearest standouts.
In the practices covered here, he has made every kick he’s taken in camp and settled in nicely as the team’s second kicker behind Chase McLaughlin. That doesn’t change McLaughlin’s standing, but it does put Potter in position to potentially land on the practice squad as an emergency option if the Buccaneers need one.
On the defensive side, Pyburn has been active lately while working with the backups, showing up around quarterbacks Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels. That kind of pressure can matter in camp, and it has put him in the mix as roster cuts get closer.
In the wide receiver room, injuries to Tez Johnson, Jalen McMillan and others have opened the door for Dean Patterson and Dennis Houston to get more run. Both have taken advantage, stacking plays at every level against starters and backups. Based on what’s been shown so far, both could be practice squad candidates once the season gets here.
The secondary has also featured a pair of players making noise for different reasons. Damarion Williams is the veteran trying to stick after moving around the league, while Ayden Garnes is the undrafted free agent just getting started.
Both have held up well in coverage and broken up passes against backup receivers and even against starters such as Emeka Egbuka. At this point, both appear to be in the hunt for a roster spot and, at minimum, look like practice squad possibilities.
Up front, Simmons and Jones have given the Buccaneers useful depth while the Vita Vea drama lingers. Both were on the roster last year and have shown they can help against the run, with occasional flashes as pass rushers too. Simmons could fit as a backup nose tackle, while Jones looks like a possible backup defensive end in Todd Bowles’ scheme.
Walker has been another major bright spot. After missing all of camp and the entire season last year because of injury, he has come back on a mission and has been winning against starters and backups alike.
Given how he has looked, it is not a stretch to think he could be the third edge rusher behind Rueben Bain Jr. and Yaya Diaby. That would give Tampa Bay a promising pass-rush group with Diaby, Bain Jr. and Walker leading the way.
And then there is Gainwell, the veteran running back brought in this offseason after Rachaad White left for the Commanders. Gainwell has shown plenty as both a runner and receiver, and he looks like a strong complement to Bucky Irving on game day. There are even situations where he could end up handling the bulk of the reps depending on the matchup and the moment.
In Other News...
Kyle Trask Just Landed In A Spot Buccaneers Fans Will Notice
Kyle Trasks next stop in the NFC South comes with a familiar face on the sideline. The former Buccaneers backup quarterback, who also spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, has signed with the Carolina Panthers after previously working out for the New Orleans Saints earlier in the offseason. For Tampa Bay fans, the move is another reminder of how closely the divisions coaching and quarterback circles overlap.
The part that stands out is the reunion waiting for Trask in Carolina. He is set to link back up with head coach Dave Canales, who served as his offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay during the 2023 season, giving this signing a little extra familiarity beyond the usual roster churn. It also comes at a time when Carolina had reason to look for another arm, making Trasks arrival a notable depth move with a clear connection to his Buccaneers past. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A Benjamin Morrison Problem In Camp
Benjamin Morrison arrived in Tampa Bay with the kind of draft pedigree that usually buys a little runway, but the cornerback picture has become murkier as camp has rolled on. Injuries slowed his first season with the Buccaneers, and that interruption has carried into 2026, leaving the team to sort through a competition that has not gone according to script.
Keionte Scott, Damarion Williams and undrafted corner Ayden Garnes have all made noise in training camp, which only adds to the pressure on Morrison to get healthy and reestablish his place. For a secondary that wants answers before the regular season, the bigger question now is whether Morrison can get back on track soon enough to protect the role Tampa Bay had envisioned for him. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Camp Is Creating Early Winners And Losers On Defense
Eight training camp practices in, the Buccaneers defense is already starting to sort itself into early winners and players trying to keep pace. David Walker, Rueben Bain Jr., Josiah Trotter and Ayden Garnes have each drawn attention for the kind of energy and production that tends to stand out in camp, while Tampa Bay has also seen enough from its young defenders to get a clearer sense of who is making noise heading into the next stretch.
Benjamin Morrison has been on the wrong end of that early momentum, and not just because camp reps are at a premium at this point in August. The cornerback competition is already getting tighter, and Tampa Bay is about to test its depth even more with joint practices against the Jets before the preseason opener, which should give the coaching staff a better read on who is rising and who is slipping behind. [Read more 🡒]