The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting into the part of preseason where every snap matters a little more, and that means the pressure is building for players trying to hang onto a roster spot. Some guys have already put themselves in position to stick. Others have started sliding the wrong way.
One of the names in that second group is Braswell. For a former second-round pick, seeing third-quarter action in the first preseason game of his third year is not a great place to be.
Last week’s usage told the story, and it could look the same again this week. With the additions of Rueben Bain Jr. and Al-Quadin Muhammad, the return of David Walker and the emergence of undrafted players like Jack Pyburn, Braswell appears to be sinking further on the depth chart.
I really do believe that Braswell is on the roster bubble for this team in 2026 and might have to really show up in the next two preseason games to make the 53-man roster.
The return game is another spot that looks unsettled. Todd Bowles recently told the media that the team’s return job is wide open, which is not good news for Kamerson Johnson.
Johnson has handled the main return duties for the Buccaneers over the past couple of seasons, but he’s now working under a new special teams coordinator in Danny Smith and facing a much deeper field of competition. If he can’t deliver value again on special teams, his time on the roster could be in danger when cuts are made.
Quarterback is also a spot worth watching. Preseason Week 1 belonged to Jalon Daniels, and that left Bazelak with fewer chances to make his case.
The return of Jake Browning in preseason week two only makes that path narrower. Bazelak had a middling first preseason game, and if he doesn’t start producing with the opportunities he gets, he could lose the backup quarterback battle and maybe even a roster or practice squad spot.
Bowles has already said the backup quarterback job is open, so the door is still there - but it won’t stay open forever.
There’s also some uncertainty at punter. Dixon’s performance in Week 1 was mixed, and the concern is still his slow windup to kick.
That motion can leave him vulnerable to blocks, and that’s the kind of problem that can carry straight into the regular season. Dixon is not likely to overhaul his style at this point, which raises the question of whether the Buccaneers might eventually bring in competition at punter if the issue continues through the rest of the preseason.
In Other News...
Baker Mayfields Preseason Debut Comes With One Troubling Bucs Question
Baker Mayfield is set for his first preseason snaps of 2024 when the Buccaneers host the Chiefs, giving Tampa Bay a chance to get its starting quarterback into game speed before the real pressure starts. The bigger storyline, though, is on the edge of the line, where Tristan Wirfs is unlikely to go because of a hamstring injury, leaving the team to sort through its left tackle options on the fly.
Justin Skule and Benjamin Chukwuma are both in the mix to fill that spot, but their availability has been uncertain after recent practice absences, which complicates the picture even more. With that kind of instability protecting Mayfields blind side, Tampa Bay may choose to keep his preseason workload short and limit the exposure rather than risk a costly hit in August. [Read more 🡒]
Vita Vea Just Sent A Clear Message About Todd Bowles
The Buccaneers locked up Vita Vea with a contract extension, keeping one of the most important pieces of the interior defensive line in place as the team continues to shape its identity under Todd Bowles. It also gave Vea a chance to speak with the kind of authority that comes from being a franchise cornerstone, and he did not waste it when the conversation turned to the coach.
Amid the criticism that followed Tampa Bays late-season slide in 2025, Vea came to Bowles defense and said the staff had the team prepared. He made clear the issue, in his view, was not the game plan but the way the Buccaneers executed it on the field, a public show of support that says plenty about where at least one veteran stands as the organization sorts through the fallout. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Fitzgerald Faces The Pressure Panthers Fans Will Be Watching
Vita Vea was back on the Buccaneers injury report Thursday as he continued working through a back issue, a reminder that Tampa Bay still has a few moving parts to sort out before the real ramp-up begins. The veteran defensive tackle is expected back next week for the joint practices in Jacksonville, and he has also made it clear he wants to stay in Tampa Bay while standing firmly behind head coach Todd Bowles.
Across the division, Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald is dealing with a different kind of test. He is not battling for the starting job, but he is still battling the pressure that comes with being the one everyone watches, and special teams coordinator has pointed to Fitzgeralds growth and preparation this offseason. For Tampa Bay, it is one more familiar NFC South subplot to keep an eye on, especially when a specialists confidence can become part of the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]