The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the season with high expectations, but they will be missing two key offensive players.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin and tackle Tristan Wirfs will begin training camp on the sidelines, with both on the PUP list. Wirfs, who is recovering from off-season knee surgery, is projected to miss the season’s first four games.
The Bucs have signed three offensive players, hoping one of them can step in and hold the left side of the line down until Wirfs’ return. The Bucs re-signed guard Sua Opeta, along with guard Michael Jordan (not that Jordan), and tackle Tyler McClellan. Jordan has played guard his entire career for Carolina, Cincinnati, and New England. McClellan was drafted by the Chargers in 2024, but has yet to take a snap in the NFL as he was placed on season-ending IR.
Goodwin is still recovering from surgery to repair a dislocated ankle. He also had more surgery on his repaired ankle this spring, setting back his rehab and preparation for the season.
Expectations are sky high for the Buccaneers this season, with many in the locker room seeing a Super Bowl in their future. Lavonte David stated that one of the reasons he came back for his 14th season was to win another Super Bowl.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield said they must eliminate those mid-season lulls to reach their goal this season.
“We know we have potential. I think everybody in this building knows that. The roster that Jason has built, the chemistry that we have, the standard that Coach Bowles sets each day. Elite is the standard. We realized that we have had mid-season lulls. We have had to scratch late in the year to get into the playoffs”.
Despite making the playoffs and winning the NFC South, the Buccaneers had a 1-6 stretch in 2023 and a 1-5 stretch in 2024.
Head coach Todd Bowles almost begged the defense this offseason to create more turnovers, specifically interceptions. Practice on Wednesday morning saw Antoine Winfield and Bryce Hall get interceptions, much to the delight of the head coach.
Bryce Hall, who was injured in the opening game last season, is a full go at training camp and has left an enormous impression on Todd Bowles.
“From what he had to how he came back to where he is now is unbelievable. From what I saw of him, he is a tireless worker. He is in great spirits all the time. He worked at it. He earned it, and he had a heck of a day today as well.”
Bowles said there is open competition for some spots on the defense this season. Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish will push Jamel Dean, who seems to have regressed every season. It’s not about signaling out defensive backs or the linebackers; it’s a mindshift change from the defensive players, where the new mindset is to become ball hawks and create turnovers.
The Buccaneers ranked at the bottom of the league last season in takeaways.
My top three training camp position battles:
–Wide receiver: Emeka Egbuka vs. Jalen McMillian.
This would have been the best battle in training camp for the number three receiver spot behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Egbuka and McMillian will battle for the right to start as the number two wide receiver opposite Mike Evans until Godwin returns.
-Cornerback: Jamel Dean vs. Benjamin Morrison.
Dean is on thin ice. His propensity for constantly being injured and his inability to create turnovers have finally caught up with him. Morrison is a ball hawk and had nine picks in his first two seasons at Notre Dame. If Dean gets injured, look for Morrison to take control of the cornerback position, and Dean will then need to earn that starting role back.
-Punt Returner: Tez Johnson vs. Trey Palmer
Johnson is the favorite heading into camp, but he will get some good competition from Palmer, who underwhelmed in that role last year. This team will have Ebuka in the mix to compete for that role, too.