Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rueben Bain Jr.

LB

Bain, whom the Buccaneers selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, opened Week 1 prep as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. However, he practiced without restrictions Thursday and Friday, which was enough for him to shed the injury designation and look toward making his NFL regular-season debut Sunday. Bain and Yaya Diaby are projected to be the Buccaneers' starting edge rushers, with Al-Quadin Muhammad, Anthony Nelson and David Walker all working in rotation.

Christian Rozeboom

LB

Rozeboom was a limited participant in all three practices this past week due to a foot injury. He's demonstrated durability over the past four years, playing in all but two regular-season games in that span, but his status for Week 1 may not be known until the Buccaneers release their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. If Rozeboom doesn't play, SirVocea Dennis would be the top depth option at inside linebacker behind Alex Anzalone and rookie second-rounder Josiah Trotter.

Justin Skule

OT

doubtful

Emeka Egbuka

WR

Egbuka initially sustained a sprained toe during an Aug. 12 practice that sidelined him until this week, but his ability to handle every practice rep Wednesday through Friday has him in the clear for Sunday. With numerous injuries affecting the Buccaneers' receiving corps last season, he still put up a 63-938-6 line on 127 targets in 17 regular-season games as a rookie. Considering Mike Evans is out of the picture, Egbuka should be the team's featured WR in a matchup against the Bengals that should produce plenty of splash plays.

Jalen McMillan

WR

McMillan reportedly looked good at practice earlier this week, but the Bucs have been listing him as a limited participant and apparently don't expect a contribution this Sunday. Continued practice participation does hint at a chance to be back for Week 2 against Cleveland. With McMillan likely inactive this week, Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka (toe) should get plenty of snaps, with Tez Johnson and Ted Hurst also candidates for routes/targets.

Sean Tucker

RB

Tucker returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant and reportedly is practicing again Friday. It sounds like it won't be enough for a Week 1 appearance, but he should have a decent chance to return Week 2.

Ted Hurst III

WR

Hurst is likely to begin his career in a depth role, though the rookie third-round pick out of Georgia State could see some involvement on offense out of the gate, especially if Jalen McMillan (knee) isn't cleared to face the Bengals in Week 1. McMillan practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, while Emeka Egbuka practiced fully after dealing with a recent toe injury. Egbuka and Chris Godwin figure to get most of the targets among Tampa Bay's wide receivers, though the 6-foot-3 Hurst showed the ability to stretch the field in college and may not need heavy volume to make an impact.

Baker Mayfield

QB

Though Mayfield's self-imposed deadline of the start of training camp for signing a new contract came and went without a new deal in place, the two sides revisited extension talks in the last few days and were able to find common ground. With the extension in place, the Buccaneers will avoid the risk of losing Mayfield in free agency next offseason and keep him on their books through 2029. Mayfield's first three seasons in Tampa Bay have been a resounding success, with the quarterback averaging 31.6 touchdown passes per season and having led the team to two playoff appearances.

Josh Hayes

CB

ir

Cade Otton

TE

Aside from adding sixth-round rookie Bauer Sharp to the TE room this offseason, it's status quo for the position group in 2026, with all of Otton, Payne Durham and Ko Kieft back. Otton himself re-signed with Tampa Bay on a three-year, $30 million contract in March to retain his standing as the team's top tight end. Over the last two regular seasons, he's recorded exactly 59 catches on both occasions, totaling 1,172 yards and five touchdowns on 168 targets across 30 contests.

Chase McLaughlin

PK

McLaughlin got limited opportunities early in his career, but he's played in 16 or 17 contests each of the past five years, the last three of which have been with the Bucs. He was incredibly accurate in making 94 percent of his FG attempts over his first two seasons with the club, and though that rate dropped a bit to 84 percent last year, McLaughlin also hit a career-high 11 field goals from 50-plus yards (on 12 attempts). He'll be in the final year of the three-year contract he inked in 2024, which could give McLaughlin additional incentive to make a big impact with his leg.

Kenny Gainwell

RB

Gainwell signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in March after leading the Steelers with 73 catches in the 2025 regular season. He's likely to fill a change-of-pace role while playing primarily in passing situations, much like Rachaad White did for the past couple seasons in a Buccaneers backfield that's expected to be led by Irving as long as the latter stays healthy. Tucker could be a thorn in the side of both Gainwell and Irving from a fantasy perspective if Tucker reprises his red-zone role from 2025, which helped him punch in a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.

Bucky Irving

RB

Irving figures to get most of the rushing opportunities in Tampa Bay's backfield, though Gainwell is likely to play in passing situations after leading the Steelers with 73 catches in the 2025 regular season and subsequently signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in March. Tucker was used frequently in the red zone last season, leading the Buccaneers with seven rushing touchdowns. Irving saw his rushing touchdown total dip to one in 10 games during his injury-plagued 2025 campaign after scoring eight regular-season rushing touchdowns as a rookie. Despite the competition for touches, Irving maintains the highest ceiling in Tampa Bay's backfield given his success in 2024.

Chris Godwin Jr.

WR

"I would be remiss if I did not mention [Godwin] for all he has done for this organization and talk about being a consistent, steady, Mr. Clutch player, that is him and he looks very, very good out there right now," Licht relayed Monday. For the first time in his NFL career, Godwin enters the season out of the shadows of Mike Evans (groin), who signed a three-year contract with the 49ers in March. Godwin logged 1,000-plus yard seasons four times from 2019 to 2023, and he was the league leader in receptions before dislocating his ankle in Week 7 of the 2024 season. He was limited to nine regular-season games last year due to a fibula injury, but Godwin is fully healthy entering the 2026 campaign and will serve as a go-to target in the passing game for quarterback Baker Mayfield. Godwin could operate in an elevated role early in the season depending on the statuses of Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) for Week 1 against the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Billy Schrauth

G

The rookie fifth-rounder sprained his knee in early August and was unable to participate in the preseason. The reserve offensive lineman is now back in action and healthy for the regular season. Schrauth is set to be a reserve option at guard in case Ben Bredeson or Luke Goedeke must miss time during the 2026 season.

Keionte Scott

CB

Scott suffered a knee injury in last Friday's preseason finale against the Jaguars. The rookie fourth-rounder has recovered from the issue and is all set to suit up for practice. Scott is set to be one of the primary backups for the Buccaneers' secondary throughout the 2026 regular season.

Mohamed Kamara

LB

Kamara suffered a sprained left knee in the Buccaneers' preseason finale against the Jaguars last Friday. The linebacker was promptly waived with an injury designation and cleared waivers. Kamara will now spend the entirety of the 2026 regular season on IR unless he is waived with an injury settlement.

David Sills V

WR

Sills appears to have picked up an undisclosed injury at some point during the preseason. The wide receiver played in one of the team's preseason contests, reeling in one of two targets for minus-1 yard. Sills will now be forced to miss at least four contests while on IR, and the earliest he can return to action is Week 5 against the Cowboys on Oct. 8.

Jalon Daniels

QB

After entering camp as an undrafted rookie in a crowded quarterback room, Daniels appears to have climbed into the No. 2 role behind Mayfield. The decision gives him clear roster security and places him next in line if Tampa Bay needs a backup to step into game action. Daniels won the job after a strong preseason during which he completed 27 of 44 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown without being picked off.

Tez Johnson

WR

Johnson recorded his one catch on his initial target of the night, which came with 5:47 remaining in the first quarter on the Buccaneers' second possession. Friday's action was the first of the preseason for the 2025 seventh-round pick, who'd missed the first two exhibitions due to an Aug. 4 groin strain. Johnson outperformed his draft slotting as a rookie with a 28-322-5 line over 16 regular-season games a year ago, and he should have a good chance of reprising a depth receiver role to open the 2026 season.

Deshawn McKnight

DT

McKnight suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday night's preseason game against the Chiefs. The rookie defensive lineman will now miss the entirety of the 2026 regular season unless he is waived with an injury settlement. The Buccaneers signed rookie wide receiver Matthew Henry in a corresponding move.

Tristan Wirfs

OT

Wirfs looks to be ready for the season after a hamstring injury early in camp kept him sidelined for a spell. He returned in limited fashion last week and is now progressing to full-team work and one-on-ones against starters.

Zyon McCollum

CB

The cornerback had missed the previous week of practice sessions and was not expected to suit up for Week 2 of the preseason. While there's still a chance McCollum sits against Kansas City, he at least appears to be healthy again. McCollum started all 13 regular-season games he played during the 2025 campaign and is projected to start again in 2026.

Vita Vea

DT

Vea, who is now under contract with the team through the 2027 season, made a trade request at the start of training camp, likely eyeing his AAV at the time ($17.75 million, or 19th most among interior defensive linemen). Per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com, Tampa Bay had no plans to trade Vea, though teams had checked in on the situation multiple times over the last few weeks, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. With Vea's new deal in place, the new money value of $30 million would rank fifth in AAV at his position in the NFL.

JJ Roberts

S