The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to get their first real taste of game action at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night, and they’ll do it in front of a home crowd for the only time this preseason when they face the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and the Bucs are expected to give their starters a short run - likely a series or two - with Baker Mayfield among the players on the field. That gives Tampa Bay a chance to sharpen timing and start building chemistry with Zac Robinson, the team’s new offensive coordinator, before the regular season arrives. It’s also the second of three preseason games for the Bucs, making it an important early look at how the first-team group is coming together.
Kansas City, meanwhile, will be without Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs quarterback is not expected to play Saturday night as he continues working back from a torn ACL and LCL in his knee.
He has taken part fully in camp workouts, but this will not be his first preseason appearance. Justin Fields is expected to get the start for Kansas City instead.
Tampa Bay will also be missing one of its biggest names up front. Defensive tackle Vita Vea will not play despite agreeing to a new contract extension with the team this week. He is still working his way back into football shape.
Even for fans who aren’t heading to the stadium, there’s a little extra reason to watch. Former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden is back in the broadcast booth for the game, working play-by-play alongside former Tampa Bay cornerback and Super Bowl champion Ronde Barber. Gruden led the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl title after the 2002 season and later spent time as a color analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football after leaving Tampa Bay in 2009.
Mayfield said he’s glad to see Gruden around the organization again and appreciated the energy he brings.
"Honestly there’s no telling what’s gonna happen up there in the booth, but it should be a lot of good football talk," Mayfield said. "Just having him around and having him still involved around the building. It’s great."
The game will air locally on NBC and stream on NFL+.
After Saturday night, Bucs fans will have to wait until September to see the team back at Raymond James Stadium for a regular-season game. Tampa Bay’s first home game is Sept. 20 against the Cleveland Browns.
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