The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t get much going in the first half of their preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the scoreboard reflected it. Jacksonville took a 3-0 lead into the break in a half that featured more grind than fireworks as both teams wrapped up preseason work before turning the page to Week 1.
Still, there were a few clear winners and losers on the Tampa Bay side.
Anthony Nelson kept making plays in the pass rush. He got to quarterback Nick Mullens for a sack in the first quarter and nearly turned it into a strip sack as well. Nelson has done enough this preseason to lock himself in as a dependable depth piece up front, and he looks set to help Tampa Bay again in 2026.
Tez Johnson also stood out among the receivers. Early in the half, he used a sharp double move to secure a first down and keep a drive alive.
He did put one ball on the ground, but that pass came from quarterback Jalon Daniels and was thrown behind him, which softens the blame. Even with the drop, Johnson looked like the best receiving option on the field for Tampa Bay and appears positioned to serve as the team’s WR4 or WR5.
On special teams, Jake Dixon turned in a solid first half. He averaged 45.3 yards per punt and placed two kicks inside the 20, giving Tampa Bay some help in field position. Dixon has been part of the discussion in recent weeks, but Friday gave him something steadier to build on.
Not everyone had a clean start. Kameron Johnson had a chance to help himself in the roster fight, especially with his special teams value, but his night as a receiver got off on the wrong foot.
He dropped a third-down pass that hit him in the chest and would have moved the chains for Daniels. That kind of miss is the sort that sticks out, even if Johnson is still likely safe.
Sean Tucker also faded after a promising opening snap. He burst for eight yards on his first carry, then managed only seven yards over his next four attempts, finishing at roughly 1.8 yards per carry. Tucker is trying to earn Tampa Bay’s RB3 role after the team picked up his option during the preseason, but this was the kind of half that won’t help his case.
The roughest performance of the bunch belonged to Daniels. He started the night with a real opportunity to strengthen his bid for the QB2 job, but the first half did him no favors.
His throws lacked touch at times, and he was consistently a step behind his receivers, including the behind-the-target ball to Tez Johnson. Late in the second quarter, he also lost the ball after dropping a snap.
Daniels still has to get more comfortable feeling pressure in the pocket, and the numbers weren’t pretty: 7 of 14 for 54 yards.
He has flashed earlier this offseason, but Friday was a reminder that he still has work to do before taking on a bigger role.
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Buccaneers Have One Last Roster Battle Fans Need To Watch
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Jalon Daniels is among the names worth tracking as he tries to make a push for the backup quarterback job, while Ayden Garnes has helped himself with his play on defense throughout the preseason. Kam Johnson also remains in the mix by doing the kind of special teams work that can tip the scales for players who need to stand out in more than one phase, which is exactly the sort of detail that can decide these final roster calls. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Backup QB Battle Just Put One Roster Spot In Focus
The Buccaneers quarterback room has become one of the more interesting parts of their preseason, with Jalon Daniels and Jake Browning competing for the backup job behind Baker Mayfield. Todd Bowles has kept the final-game plan close to the vest, leaving open the possibility that both quarterbacks will get work against the Jacksonville Jaguars as Tampa Bay continues sorting out its depth chart.
What makes the situation notable is that this may not be a simple winner-take-all battle. Tampa Bay could keep three quarterbacks on the active roster after final cuts, which would allow the team to hold onto both Daniels and Browning if it decides the room is too valuable to trim. The preseason finale should help clarify the pecking order, but the bigger roster question may linger a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Cutdown Day Could Reward A Few Camp Standouts
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Among the names drawing the most attention are Garnes, Patterson, Fordham and Williams, all of whom have put together encouraging stretches when it mattered most. Their cases are built on different strengths, and the Bucs also have to weigh where the roster still needs help, which makes the final decision process feel especially open-ended. Even with cutdown day looming, nothing has been officially decided yet, and a few late camp heroes may still have a chance to turn strong summers into a spot on the 53. [Read more 🡒]