The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened preseason with a 24-16 win over the New York Jets on Sunday, and while the scoreboard won’t go into any official record book, the performance still gave Tampa Bay something real to chew on.
Preseason results usually live in a separate world. The playbook is trimmed down, starters barely see the field across all three games, and the whole exercise is more about sorting through talent than chasing wins.
So no, the Bucs’ first victory of the summer doesn’t suddenly change the big picture. But it did shine a light on an area Tampa Bay has needed to shore up for a while: depth, especially on defense.
That showed up most clearly in the secondary. Undrafted corner Ayden Garnes delivered the biggest swing of the day, jumping a Bailey Zappe throw and taking it back for a touchdown.
It was the kind of play that fits the camp he’s had so far. Pepe Williams, now in his second year with the Bucs, also made his presence felt with solid tackling, while fourth-round pick Keionte Scott put together a strong enough outing to earn an 81.3 coverage grade from PFF and break up a pass.
There was encouraging work on the edge too. David Walker, who has been one of the most talked-about players in camp, helped force the throw that turned into Garnes’ pick-six. His pressure on Zappe was a direct factor in the play, and it was another sign that Tampa Bay may have found something useful in that room.
Those two plays accounted for seven points and went a long way toward deciding the game. More importantly for the Buccaneers, they came from the kind of depth pieces teams are always hoping will emerge in August. Even in a preseason setting, that matters.
The Bucs will be back home next Saturday for their second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the starters are expected to get a few reps. Before that, the team returns to training camp on Monday.
In Other News...
Ayden Garnes Is Giving Bucs Fans A Rookie Story To Love
Ayden Garnes has already given Buccaneers fans a preseason moment to remember, and it came from a player who arrived in Tampa Bay with plenty of reasons to be noticed. The undrafted rookie cornerback made a splash in the preseason opener with a 47-yard pick-six, the kind of play that can turn a camp battle into something much more interesting for a team sorting through the back end of its roster.
Garnes has been drawing attention for more than just his play on the field. Before his NFL career, he underwent a bone marrow donation procedure after being identified as a match during a collegiate drive at Duquesne University, a selfless act that potentially saved the life of a woman in her 20s. Now he is trying to turn that same blend of character and athleticism into a place on the Buccaneers roster, and he has given himself an early story worth following. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Get A Tristan Wirfs Boost As Emeka Egbuka Sparks Concern
Tristan Wirfs finally got back on the field for the Buccaneers during their joint practice with the Jets, a welcome sight for an offense that has been waiting to see its Pro Bowl tackle ramp up for training camp. Backup quarterback Jake Browning also returned after missing a preseason game with a back strain, while linebacker Christian Rozeboom was sidelined, adding another layer to a practice day that already carried some lineup shuffling.
The concern moment came with Emeka Egbuka, who left early after a lower-body toe issue while working against New York. The rookies departure briefly changed the tone of the session, even if the injury is not viewed as a long-term problem, and Tampa Bay will be watching closely to see how he responds as camp moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Defense Flashed As Tampa Bay Got A Crucial Camp Boost
The Buccaneers got a useful jolt at training camp practice as they continued preparing for their preseason matchup with Kansas City, and the defense made sure it was the group drawing attention. Jacob Parrish, David Walker and Yaya Diaby were among the standouts, with the unit stacking up pass breakups and sacks while showing the kind of activity Tampa Bay has been looking for as camp rolls on.
There was also a welcome sign on the injury front, with Tristan Wirfs, Benjamin Morrison and S JJ Roberts back on the practice field. The defensive highlights kept coming as the day went on, including takeaways that helped underline how sharp the group looked, even if there is still more to learn about how quickly that momentum can carry into game action. [Read more 🡒]