The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one more preseason test left, and then the real roster math begins. After Friday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team will have to trim from 90 players to 53 by Sunday. But a handful of under-the-radar names may have already done enough to make the decision easier.
One of the strongest cases belongs to Garnes. The undrafted player has been busy making plays in both training camp and preseason, and his interception return for a touchdown in preseason Week 1 stands out on the list.
With the Buccaneers’ cornerback depth behind Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish looking uncertain, there’s a path for Garnes to grab a spot. Benjamin Morrison cannot stay healthy, Keionte Scott is a rookie and Damarion Williams is also fighting for a place on the roster, which opens the door wider for Garnes to crack the 53 and possibly contribute during the regular season.
Williams himself has also made a push. He has been one of the more impressive corners through camp and preseason, and he profiles as a veteran backup option if Tampa Bay wants to keep help around in a room that still needs it. Like Garnes, he has turned in a strong enough summer to make himself part of the conversation.
At receiver, Patterson has put together a solid case as a pure pass-catcher. Injuries have slowed players like Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan, and Patterson has taken advantage with a string of strong practices.
Five receiver spots may already be spoken for with Egbuka, Chris Godwin, McMillan, Tez Johnson and Ted Hurst III, but there appears to be room for one more. The question now is whether Patterson can separate himself on special teams, where he may need to show he can help on kickoff and punt coverage or perhaps as a returner.
Fordham has also forced the issue at inside linebacker. He has been described as the most impressive player the Buccaneers have had at that spot this preseason and in training camp, and the appeal is easy to see: he tackles cleanly and adds value on special teams. Tampa Bay is likely to keep SirVocea Dennis, Alex Anzalone, Josiah Trotter and Christian Rozeboom, but Fordham could stick if the team decides to carry a fifth linebacker into the 2026 season.
In Other News...
Bucs Need More Than Baker Mayfield To Fix A Costly Problem
Baker Mayfield has become one of the Buccaneers tone-setters on offense, the kind of quarterback who can bring some snap to a huddle that too often looked flat early last season. Tampa Bay knows the issue well by now: slow starts piled up, the energy lagged, and it all played a part in a disappointing finish. With Chris Godwin and Tristan Wirfs among the players stressing urgency, the message around the building has been that the offense has to arrive ready from the first series instead of trying to wake itself up later.
Wirfs, back after his injury, has been especially pointed about the offensive lines responsibility in helping set that tone. Mayfield can supply the fire, but the Bucs know that emotion alone will not solve a problem that showed up repeatedly over the course of last season. The line is expected to do more than protect him, too, with Tampa Bay wanting it to help carry the energy that the offense lacked and turn those sluggish openings into something closer to a statement. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Backup QB Battle Just Put One Roster Spot In Focus
With Baker Mayfield firmly installed as the starter, the Buccaneers have one of their clearest preseason questions centered on the backup quarterback job. Jalon Daniels and Jake Browning are both in the mix, and Tampa Bays staff has spent camp sorting through how each fits behind a veteran starter as the roster clock ticks toward final cuts.
Todd Bowles has not said who will open the final preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but both Daniels and Browning are expected to play, giving the Buccaneers one last look before decisions have to be made. The interesting wrinkle is that Tampa Bay could keep three quarterbacks on the active roster, which leaves open the possibility that this battle is not only about who backs up Mayfield, but whether both contenders end up sticking around. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Have One Last Roster Battle Fans Need To Watch
The Buccaneers are down to their final preseason tune-up against the Jaguars, and the game comes with the kind of roster intrigue that usually matters more than the score. With the cut deadline looming, a handful of players are trying to turn a few encouraging August snaps into a place on the 53-man roster, and the spotlight is on the backup spots as much as the usual position battles.
Jalon Daniels has given Tampa Bay something to think about at quarterback, while Ayden Garnes has kept building momentum on defense and Kam Johnson has made a case through special teams value. None of that is settled yet, which is exactly why this game matters for the players on the bubble - one more chance to make the staff think twice before the roster gets trimmed. [Read more 🡒]