Training camp’s last big test brought out the edge in Jacksonville.
During the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first joint practice with the Jaguars, the defenses controlled the day and the offense never really found its rhythm. The Bucs have looked sharp through camp and preseason play, but Jacksonville showed up as their toughest challenge before the regular season gets rolling.
The most pointed response came from Jaguars linebacker/defensive end Joshua Hines-Allen, who took to X after seeing Tampa Bay’s practice clips roll out on social media.
"I keep seeing these one on one rushes from Tampa bay, those good rushes but the way we was doing them boys on that other field," Jaguars' LB/DE Joshua Hines-Allen said on X. "MAN!!!!"
That was his message, and it matched the tone of a practice that tilted heavily toward defense. Tampa Bay’s team videos leaned the same way, with the offense struggling enough that the highlight reel was mostly built around defensive plays.
On the field, the issues piled up. Baker Mayfield threw interceptions, the offensive line missed blocks, and the receivers kept losing at the catch point, which gave Jaguars defenders plenty of chances to break up passes.
The Buccaneers will get another shot in the second joint practice, but there’s no reason to panic if that one looks messy too. The bigger checkpoints are the final preseason game and then the regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, where Tampa Bay will need to have the problems from this practice ironed out.
There are reasons to expect cleaner work ahead. Tampa Bay’s offensive line is considered one of the league’s best when it’s healthy, and Tristan Wirfs is slowly working his way back. The receiving group also hasn’t been at full strength, so getting those pieces back should help the offense settle in.
If new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson can squeeze everything out of this group, Tampa Bay could end up with the kind of dangerous offense it had in 2024 under current Jaguars head coach Liam Coen.
In Other News...
Mike Evans Is Giving Buccaneers Fans A Familiar Worry Again
Mike Evans is already creating the kind of summer tension Buccaneers fans know all too well, only this time from afar. The veteran receiver, now in his first training camp with the 49ers, has been dealing with a string of minor injuries, and the most recent groin issue has kept him out of practice.
For a player who signed a three-year deal that includes guaranteed money and per-game roster bonuses, the timing is hardly ideal. The concern is not just about missed reps in camp, but about what this means for his availability and effectiveness when the season begins, which is exactly the sort of familiar worry that tends to linger around Evans when injuries start piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Defense Drew Attention After Jaguars Star's Practice Scare
The Jaguars and Buccaneers wrapped up a joint practice with a scare when Brian Thomas Jr. went down after injuring his left shoulder. The young wide receiver did not return to the field afterward, which immediately put the focus on how much contact was coming from Tampa Bays defense during the workout and how quickly Jacksonville could get its passing game back to full strength.
Liam Coen eased some of the concern by saying Thomas is expected to be ready for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, but the Jaguars are still juggling more than one receiver issue. Jakobi Meyers is also being managed, and that has pushed rookie wideouts into heavier workloads as Jacksonville tries to keep its passing attack on schedule through the final stretch of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Defensive Bubble Battle Is Down To A Few Final Jobs
The Buccaneers have spent the last stretch of camp doing what every team does this time of year: sorting the defense into locks, likely keepers and the handful of players still hanging on as final cuts approach. Joint practices and the preseason meeting with the Jaguars gave Tampa Bay another look at how the back end of the roster has held up, and the picture is starting to sharpen by position group as the team gets closer to trimming to 53.
A few of the names on the fringe have made a real case for themselves, while others are battling the harder truth of depth chart math and draft status. Some look set to survive on the active roster, some appear better positioned for the practice squad and some simply need a late push to avoid falling short, leaving the defenses final few jobs as one of the more interesting decisions left on the table. [Read more 🡒]