The Bucs walked into Week 4 already carrying a mess, and it only got messier once Baker Mayfield went down. That opened the door for undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels to make his first NFL start against the Packers, with Green Bay’s fans turning Raymond James Stadium into something close to a road environment. The result was a 17-14 Packers win, and Tampa Bay left with plenty to sort through after another loss.
Still, a few Bucs stood out in a game that didn’t offer much beyond the basics.
Sean Tucker was one of the few bright spots on offense, and the Bucs finally gave him a real chance to matter. He didn’t touch the ball much - only three carries for 10 yards - but he made those snaps count.
Tucker moved the chains on fourth-and-1 with an eight-yard run, then finished off a second-and-goal chance from two yards out with a touchdown that tied the game in the second quarter. Sometimes, the simplest answer is the right one, and giving Tucker the ball proved that point.
On defense, A’Shawn Robinson delivered the kind of punch the Bucs needed late. As Green Bay was driving and threatening to stretch the lead to two scores in the fourth quarter, Robinson stripped the ball from Kaleb Johnson.
Zyon McCollum recovered it, and Tampa Bay stayed alive. Robinson has been one of the defense’s real tone-setters, and that play was another reminder of why he matters.
Jacob Parrish also came up with a critical takeaway in the fourth quarter. With the Packers knocking on the door just outside the red zone, Parrish picked off Jordan Love to give the Bucs another chance. It was a strong response after he was flagged for defensive pass interference in the first quarter, and he had already flashed earlier with a tackle for loss.
Josiah Trotter keeps looking like more than just a promising rookie. The second-round pick brought real physicality to the middle of the defense and piled up nine tackles.
Through four games, he’s not spotless, but the signs are hard to miss. He may already be the best player on this defense.
Elijah Roberts also continued to look like someone worth keeping around. He stays productive whenever he’s on the field, and he’s showing steady growth as both a pass rusher and a run defender. Whether he ends up starting full time in 2027 or settles in as a rotation piece, he’s making his case.
And then there’s Chris Godwin Jr., who keeps doing his job no matter how the offense looks around him. He came in having caught 10 of 11 targets, then hauled in six of seven against Green Bay.
He catches just about everything thrown his way. The problem is that he isn’t being used enough to do more.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Suddenly Face A Bigger Baker Mayfield Problem Than Expected
Baker Mayfields thumb injury has turned into a much bigger issue for the Buccaneers than a short-term scare. The veteran quarterback suffered a dislocated thumb and is expected to miss multiple games, with his return hinging on how quickly he regains grip strength. For Tampa Bay, the timing is especially tricky because Mayfield had been in the middle of another season as the teams starter after appearing in three games so far.
The immediate answer is rookie Jalon Daniels, who has been named the backup and will start while Mayfield is out. It puts an abrupt spotlight on Tampa Bays quarterback depth and raises the stakes around how the offense functions without the player the Buccaneers signed to a multi-year deal. The bigger question now is not just who starts next, but how long the team has to live without Mayfield and what kind of shape he is in when he finally returns. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fan Goes Viral For A Gameday Moment Bucs Fans Pounced On
A gameday photo from the Packers-Buccaneers matchup quickly took on a life of its own, with a Green Bay fan in a cheese-themed outfit drawing plenty of attention on social media. Buccaneers fans, already tuned into a rough start for their own team, jumped on the image and helped turn a random moment from the stands into one of the evenings louder online talking points.
It fit the mood around Tampa Bay, where the Bucs came in at 0-3 and were turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback because of Baker Mayfields injury. Green Bay arrived at 1-2, but the game was about more than the records for Tampa Bay supporters, who had little patience to spare and plenty of time to notice, and react to, anything that stood out. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Became The Center Of Tampa Bay's Biggest Debate
The Buccaneers slow start has pushed Todd Bowles into the middle of a conversation nobody in Tampa Bay wanted to have this early. At 0-4, with a 3-12 record stretching back to last season, the losses are piling up fast enough to turn every miscue into a referendum on direction, execution and leadership. Bowles stepped to the podium after the latest setback and owned the mess, taking responsibility while insisting he still believes he can guide the team out of it.
Bowles has handled the public side of the slump the way a veteran coach usually does, but the frustration around the team is only growing because so many of the defeats have stayed within reach. Close games tend to sharpen the focus on the head coach, and if the Buccaneers keep coming up short in those spots, the accountability debate will only get louder. For now, Bowles is asking for patience, even as the results make that a harder sell by the week. [Read more 🡒]