The Buccaneers are about to get their first real test against another team, and the Jets are coming to town with joint practices set before the clubs meet in the preseason opener on August 14th. For Tampa Bay, this is the kind of stretch that can tell you a lot about where players stand once the lights come on against a different jersey.
A handful of Bucs will be worth tracking closely, starting with Trotter. He has already shown enough in camp to suggest he can handle a starting inside linebacker role this season next to veteran Alex Anzalone.
He’s been active against the run and has held up in coverage when asked to deal with running backs and tight ends. The Jets should give him a different kind of challenge, especially with Kenyon Sadiq in the mix, and that work could help sharpen him for more athletic tight ends down the road.
Hurst has also made a strong early impression. The Bucs’ third-round pick has been steady in camp and especially effective in the red zone, where his size gives quarterback Baker Mayfield and the other quarterbacks a reliable target. Against New York, he’ll get a chance to see how he handles different cornerbacks and different coverage styles.
On the defensive side, David Walker has been one of the most productive pass rushers in camp. He’s beaten just about every offensive lineman he’s faced so far, and now he gets to measure that pressure against a new group of blockers. For Walker, the joint practices should offer another useful step as he continues settling into his first full training camp and adjusting to NFL competition.
Zyon McCollum has put together a solid camp of his own. He hasn’t locked down the No. 1 cornerback job, but he also hasn’t piled up mistakes. That kind of consistency matters, and the Jets’ revamped receiving group gives him another chance to show he belongs in that top spot for Tampa Bay.
Then there’s Chris Godwin, who has looked healthy and sharp throughout camp. With Mike Evans gone for the 49ers, Godwin appears to be on track to become the new WR1 in this offense. The Jets have brought in several new pieces in their secondary this offseason, which should make this a useful measuring stick as Godwin keeps building on both his health and his play.
In Other News...
Bucs Secondary Battle Just Got Tighter After Latest Camp Roster Move
The Buccaneers are still sorting out the back end of their roster, and the secondary got a small but meaningful shake-up during training camp. Chase Lucas had been a limited presence throughout camp, leaving Tampa Bay with little reason to keep waiting on his spot while the team continues sorting through a crowded group of defensive backs.
Xavier Williams now steps into the mix on the 90-man roster, bringing size and some experience to a safety room where every rep matters. With several players still competing for roles in the secondary, the move tightens an already competitive battle and adds another name to watch as the Buccaneers try to narrow down who fits best. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Camp Has Created A Real Roster Bubble Surprise
Nine days into training camp, the Buccaneers have already found one of the more interesting names in the roster conversation, and it comes from a place that usually does not make the first wave of headlines. Dean Patterson, an undrafted free agent wide receiver from Tampa and a former Georgia Tech player, has been popping in practice while helping fill the gaps left by injured wideouts, giving the staff a closer look at a player whose path to a job was never going to be straightforward.
What has helped Patterson stand out is not just the local backstory, but the way he has handled the mental side of camp while making plays when the opportunity comes. Todd Bowles has pointed to that preparation, and with the preseason still ahead, Patterson now has the chance to turn a strong start into something more lasting as Tampa Bay sorts through the back end of its receiver group. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs First Round Pick Could Force His Way Into A Huge Role
Rueben Bain Jr. arrived in Tampa Bay as the kind of first-round pick who can reshape a defense quickly, and the Buccaneers are already treating him like more than a developmental project. Selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Bain drew plenty of praise from coaches, teammates and analysts for his football IQ and overall skill set, the sort of traits that can help a rookie earn trust fast once training camp opens.
For a team looking for more impact off the edge, Bain is expected to compete for a starting job right away and could push his way into the top pass-rushing role before long. There was some concern about his arm length during the pre-draft process, but the Buccaneers still made him a first-round priority, and now the focus shifts to how quickly he can turn that belief into production. [Read more 🡒]