The Buccaneers are back at Raymond James Stadium tonight for their second preseason game, and the opponent brings a familiar kind of measuring stick: the Kansas City Chiefs. Tampa Bay is trying to carry over the momentum from its preseason opener win over the New York Jets, while also using this game to keep sorting out a few roster questions.
One of the biggest decisions still hanging out there is the backup quarterback job behind Baker Mayfield. Mayfield is locked in as the starter, but the battle for the No. 2 spot remains unsettled.
Jalon Daniels and Jake Browning are still going at it for that role, and there’s a real chance the picture gets clearer after the Chiefs game. Browning brings the experience edge, while Daniels has stood out in a big way during his first training camp.
There was also a major development on the defensive side of the ball. Vitavia signed a $30 million extension with the Buccaneers to keep him on the roster for another year. That deal came after he had asked for a trade earlier in training camp, and it gives Tampa Bay a boost up front by keeping the defensive line stout heading into the season.
Across the field, the Chiefs are expected to get a look at first-round pick Mansoor Delane in preseason action against the Bucs. Delane was the top cornerback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft out of LSU, and Steve Spagnuolo is eager to see what Kansas City has in him.
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 🡒]