By Five Buccaneers Who Can Win a Roster Spot in Preseason Finale Against Jaguars
By Ken Filler | Tampa Bay Sports Journal
TAMPA — For most of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday night’s preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars will be about getting through the game healthy and turning the page toward Cincinnati.
For a handful of players, however, it could be the biggest football game of their lives.
The Buccaneers travel to Jacksonville for Friday’s 7:30 p.m. preseason finale at EverBank Stadium, and shortly afterward the front office must turn a 90-man training-camp roster into the final 53.
That makes every snap important.
The Buccaneers improved to 2-0 in the preseason with Saturday’s 16-15 comeback victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, and several players on the roster bubble strengthened their cases. Now comes one final opportunity.
Here are five Buccaneers who can win — or solidify — a roster spot in Jacksonville.
1. Jalon Daniels, QB
At this point, the question may have changed from whether Jalon Daniels makes the roster to whether he has done enough to become Baker Mayfield’s primary backup.
The undrafted rookie has been one of the best stories of Tampa Bay’s preseason.
Against Kansas City, Daniels completed 9 of 14 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, added 19 yards rushing and directed three consecutive scoring drives as Tampa Bay erased a 9-0 deficit.
It was the second straight week in which Daniels provided a spark off the bench.
Todd Bowles has noticed. “He did a good job closing out the game for the second week in a row,” Bowles said. “He made some plays, some clutch plays.”
Bowles also acknowledged Daniels still has plenty to learn, but added that the rookie “makes things happen, and he gives us a chance to win.”
That is exactly what you want from a young quarterback.
Daniels has brought an element the other quarterbacks behind Mayfield don’t provide.
When protection breaks down, he can escape. When a play isn’t there as designed, he can create something. Most importantly, the moment hasn’t looked too big for him.
Daniels described his approach after the Chiefs game simply: whenever his number is called, he intends to play with complete confidence.
Jacksonville represents one final test.
Another productive night should make it extremely difficult for the Buccaneers to expose Daniels to waivers.
TBSJ thinks he has done enough to earn the No. 2 QB position behind Baker Mayfield.
What he needs in Jacksonville
Protect the football, command the offense, and continue making plays when the structure breaks down.
2. Dean Patterson IV, WR
If there is one Buccaneer who could force Jason Licht and Todd Bowles into an uncomfortable roster decision Friday night, it might be Dean Patterson IV.
The Lutz native has quietly become one of camp’s most interesting stories.
Patterson wasn’t drafted. He initially had to earn his way onto the roster through a tryout before signing with Tampa Bay in May. Now he’s pushing for a place on the 53.
Against Kansas City, Patterson caught six passes for 56 yards, leading the Buccaneers in receptions while tying for the team lead in receiving yards.
His 24-yard sideline reception from Daniels helped set up Tampa Bay’s first touchdown.
Bowles liked what he saw.
“I thought he showed up,” Bowles said.
The coach specifically praised Patterson’s ability to turn short completions into additional yardage.
Patterson has also been stacking productive practices. Earlier in camp, Bowles praised the rookie for studying and taking advantage of increased opportunities when other receivers were sidelined.
The problem is numbers.
Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson and third-round rookie Ted Hurst III occupy valuable spots in the receiver room.
Kameron Johnson brings return ability.
That leaves Patterson fighting for whatever room remains.
Right now, Patterson is in the mix for a roster spot in large part because of special-teams considerations.
That’s why Friday is enormous for him.
What he needs in Jacksonville
Another productive receiving night, plus anything he can provide on special teams, would make the decision considerably harder.
3. Ayden Garnes, CB
Somebody forgot to tell Ayden Garnes he was an undrafted rookie.
Garnes has played like a man who expects to make this football team.
The former Arizona cornerback entered camp competing for one of Tampa Bay’s final outside cornerback positions.
His combination of size and speed, including a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, made him intriguing before the preseason even began.
Then came the Jets game.
Garnes delivered one of the biggest defensive plays of Tampa Bay’s preseason, intercepting Cade Klubnik and returning it 47 yards for a touchdown.
He finished that game with three tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and the pick-six.
His work hasn’t been limited to games, either.
Garnes earned first-team practice reps earlier in camp when Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum were sidelined.
The Buccaneers have a history of finding undrafted defensive backs who become useful NFL players, and Garnes looks like the latest candidate.
TBSJ has him making the final roster along with Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, Keionte Scott and Damarion Williams.
What he needs in Jacksonville
Avoid the major mistake, tackle well, and show the coaches he can contribute on special teams in addition to playing corner.
4. Kameron Johnson, WR/Returner
Kameron Johnson may be involved in one of the most fascinating roster battles on the team because his value isn’t measured strictly by receptions.
Johnson was Tampa Bay’s primary return specialist last season. He handled every Buccaneers punt return and led the team with 27 kickoff returns while averaging 11.2 yards per punt return, which ranked 10th in the NFL.
When you’re deciding between the fifth, sixth, or seventh receiver, special teams can break the tie.
Johnson strengthened his case against Kansas City with a 22-yard reception and continued to work as both a punt and kickoff returner.
TBSJ projects that he makes the team as Tampa Bay’s sixth receiver largely because of his versatility.
Patterson may be making more noise as a receiver, but Johnson can answer with something every NFL coach loves:
The Buccaneers have a deep receiver room, and Patterson is doing everything possible to make the coaches reconsider the numbers.
Johnson needs to remind them Friday why his return ability matters.
What he needs in Jacksonville
Make something happen in the return game and contribute offensively when opportunities come.
5. Rashad Wisdom, S
This is exactly the kind of roster battle that can be decided by one tackle on kickoff coverage.
Rashad Wisdom knows that better than most.
Wisdom made Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster coming out of training camp last season before a quad injury derailed much of his year. His NFL experience leans heavily on special teams, where he recorded three coverage tackles in limited action.
The top of the safety room is established with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith.
The Buccaneers also added proven special-teams standout Miles Killebrew.
That means Wisdom’s path to the roster is straightforward: be dependable defensively and indispensable on special teams.
TBSJ has Wisdom making the roster as the fourth safety ahead of JJ Roberts, who continues working his way back from last year’s ACL injury.
But nothing at the bottom of an NFL roster should be considered settled before the final preseason game.
What he needs in Jacksonville
Tackle, communicate, avoid coverage mistakes, and make himself impossible to ignore on special teams.
Jacksonville Is More Than a Preseason Finale
For Baker Mayfield, Antoine Winfield Jr., Vita Vea and the other established Buccaneers, Friday night is the final preseason hurdle before the real games begin
For Daniels, Patterson, Garnes, Johnson and Wisdom, it means much more.
It’s an audition.
The beauty — and cruelty — of the final preseason game is that one play can change a career.
A touchdown catch, interception, explosive return or special-teams tackle could be the difference between hearing your name called into the coach’s office and seeing your name on Tampa Bay’s opening-day roster.
The Buccaneers have spent a month evaluating these players in meetings, practices, joint workouts, and preseason games.
Now it’s time for the final exam..
