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It’s already been a unique week for the Bucs as they continue to work their way toward the 2025 season opener. After last Saturday’s preseason-opening win against Tennessee, Tampa Bay had one practice at home Monday morning before heading up to Pittsburgh for the week. After practicing on their own in the Steel City Wednesday, the Bucs then matched up with the Steelers for a joint practice Thursday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium (it’s still Heinz Field to me).

Now, the two teams are set to do battle again Saturday night, this time under the lights at Acrisure Stadium (yes, still Heinz Field) as the preseason rolls on. The Bucs, 1-0 in exhibition play, meet the Steelers, who beat the Liam Coen-led Jaguars in their preseason opener last weekend.

This is Tampa Bay’s lone preseason game away from home, as the team will return to Raymond James Stadium when they wrap up the preseason slate next Saturday against Buffalo.

For now, though, let’s dial in on some of the key players to watch on the Buccaneers offense this Saturday night against the Steelers. We’ll then follow up with a breakdown of the defensive players to watch in a separate article.

Bucs To Watch In Preseason Week 2: Offense

QB: Teddy Bridgewater – No. 16

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that all starters outside of veterans Mike Evans and Lavonte David will be available to play Saturday against the Steelers before later telling Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that after reviewing how well Baker Mayfield played in the joint practice with the Steelers, he’ll also be held out Saturday night. So, of the other three quarterbacks on the roster, Teddy Bridgewater has to be the most intriguing signal-caller in this one.

Bucs QB Teddy Bridgewater – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bridgewater, who signed with the team last week, started seeing more reps in practice this week and now looks to be making his Buccaneers debut against the Steelers. After incumbent backup quarterback Kyle Trask shined in the preseason opener, his grip on the QB2 role seemed to get tighter. Of course, there was never any outright admission that Bridgewater was brought in to challenge Trask, but the perception widely seemed to be that the 10-year veteran could come in and push for the right to back up Mayfield.

Whatever his future role may be – perhaps it’s as simple as being QB3 and serving as another veteran voice in the quarterback room and locker room – it’ll still be unique to see the 2014 first-round pick get snaps at quarterback in a Bucs uniform Saturday night. After time with the Vikings, Saints, Panthers, Broncos, Dolphins and Lions, the Buccaneers are added to the list as Bridgewater’s career in the NFL continues.

RB: Josh Williams – No. 37

The Bucs run game was one of the big stories of last Saturday’s preseason win over the Titans, and the depth of the backfield should be on full display once again this week. While Owen Wright got the headlines last weekend and promises to play a fair share of snaps again Saturday once the starters come out, we’ll also get our first look at Josh Williams, an undrafted free agent out of LSU who has drawn rave reviews from team personnel throughout the summer.

Williams, who emerged as a sleeper on the Tampa Bay offense soon after signing with the team, was sidelined early in training camp with an injury. That cost him the preseason opener, but he returned to practice Monday morning and should be ready to go for his professional debut against the Steelers.

With Bucky Irving unlikely to play all that much and Rachaad White out with a groin injury, the bulk of carries in this game will be split between Sean Tucker, Wright and Williams. And considering Tucker’s RB3 role is secure and Wright had 18 carries in last week’s game, Williams may get the most looks down the stretch in this one.

That should give the rookie a good chance to make a case for himself to the Bucs brass as he looks to sneak onto the roster as RB4 or at least earn a practice squad role. Williams didn’t have a whole lot of production in his time at LSU, but Tampa Bay likes that he has good instincts as a runner and receiver.

It was also interesting to see him involved in practice even while he was out injured, as he was seen bringing plays into the huddle during 11-on-11s, something you don’t see a lot of from a guy who is out with an injury. So, the buzz has been building for Williams, and now is his chance to build on it in a game setting.

WR: Emeka Egbuka – No. 9

One of the early highlights of last Saturday’s preseason opener was first-round pick Emeka Egbuka making a contested catch 21 yards down the field on the Bucs’ opening drive. He came up just short of his first touchdown a few plays later, nearly bringing in a deep third-down shot from Kyle Trask. It was a quick debut for the rookie, but there was still a flash of brilliance in that big play early, and it was just the latest example of why Tampa Bay chose to select him with the No. 19 overall pick in this year’s draft.

Look for more of the same from Egbuka in his second preseason game, especially with Mike Evans sitting out. Egbuka and second-year receiver Jalen McMillan will once again start and serve as the primary targets for Kyle Trask, assuming he gets the start at quarterback for the Bucs. While no one wants to rush Evans or Chris Godwin out the door, perhaps seeing this duo get some work as the team’s starting wide receivers is a glimpse into the future in Tampa Bay.

Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With Godwin still sidelined on his road to recovery from the season-ending injury he suffered in October 2024, it’s looking likely that he may begin the season on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, which would cost him the first four games. If that comes to fruition, Egbuka will be thrust right into the spotlight in his first four games as an NFLer, as he’ll step right into Godwin’s role. That makes these preseason reps all the more valuable for the 22-year-old.

WR: Ryan Miller – No. 81

Who on the Bucs offense helped their stock more in the preseason opener than Ryan Miller? He was the go-to guy for Kyle Trask for much of the first half, catching six passes for 66 yards (11.0 avg.), with his biggest play being a 21-yard catch. He left the game at one point after taking a hard hit, but he cleared concussion protocol and reentered the game. He only had one target upon his return, and he was laid out for his troubles, which was a harsh welcome back onto the field. Still, it was a spectacular 2024 debut for Miller.

The third-year receiver who was once a tight end at Furman was a steady replacement in the offense’s time of need last year after he came up from the practice squad during an injury crisis. Seeing action in 11 games, he caught 12 of his 20 targets for 128 yards (10.7 avg.) and two touchdowns. His first career touchdown catch came in the clutch against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football, as his 1-yard score helped Tampa Bay tie the game with 27 seconds to go.

Miller certainly helped his case for a roster spot last week, taking advantage of a long list of injuries at wide receiver to potentially take the lead in the race for one of the final depth spots at the position. With Tez Johnson, Kameron Johnson and Trey Palmer all out of action, the 6-foot-2, 221-pound 25-year-old stole the show as he looks to prove he’s worth more than just a practice squad spot this season.

WR: Tez Johnson – No. 83

Like Josh Williams, Tez Johnson spent a lot of time on the sideline early in training camp due to an injury. But he, too, returned to practice on Monday and should be good to go for his professional debut Saturday night in Pittsburgh. That’ll be exciting for Johnson, the Bucs and the Buccaneer fans, as pretty much anything Johnson does or says winds up being exciting. The 2025 seventh-round pick out of Oregon is a playmaker, and it shouldn’t take him long to leave an impression on this game against the Steelers.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Whether it’s his ability to create separation from defenders, his yards-after-catch work or his usefulness on end-arounds, Johnson is bound to show some of what makes him such an intriguing player in the Buccaneer offense. His size is always going to be a discussion point, but his college tape proves that it hasn’t mattered yet. The NFL is a different animal, but there’s little doubt that he has the confidence and overall ability to keep winning at the next level.

Not to mention, Johnson should get some reps in the punt return game Saturday night. He’s firmly in the mix to win that job out of training camp, and it’s a job he declared would be his just moments after Tampa Bay drafted him in April. Over five collegiate seasons (three at Troy, two at Oregon), he returned 56 punts with a 9.3-yard average per return and one punt return touchdown, which game last year for the Ducks.

TE: Payne Durham – No. 87

One of the subjects of Pewter Report’s Training Camp Diary series, tight end Payne Durham played 25 snaps in the Bucs’ preseason opener last Saturday, though the majority of them were run blocking snaps. That gave the third-year tight end very little chance to leave his mark on the game, but with the way Tampa Bay ran the ball, might Durham get his wish, which is for offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard to run more 12 personnel (two-tight end sets)?

Durham has seen an increase in reps throughout training camp, as has second-year tight end Devin Culp. That came as a result of the hamstring injury that cost Cade Otton a large chunk of camp and the first preseason game. Otton returned this week, but considering his TE1 role is well established and he’s still coming off an injury that the team will want to be careful with, don’t be surprised if Durham gets the start against Pittsburgh.

Culp’s four targets last Saturday were the only four among the tight end group. Perhaps that number goes up this week and Durham gets a chance to put his pass-catching ability on display. He’s a big-bodied target who is perfect for third down and red zone targets, and he’ll look to continue the ascension he started late in 2024 as the 2025 season truly gets underway.

OT: Ben Chukwuma – No. 70

As important as it’ll be to see Charlie Heck get more reps on Saturday night – this time with the rest of the starting offensive line – there’s also going to be continued intrigue whenever Ben Chukwuma comes into the game. The Georgia State product is being looked at as a bit of a developmental project for the Bucs considering his football career started only a couple of years ago. With that in mind, there will be some ups and downs as he transitions into the NFL. But thus far, there have been encouraging signs for the rookie.

Bucs offensive tackle Ben Chukwuma – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Chukwuma did pick up a holding penalty last week, but he largely played well over his 49 snaps, which were the third-most of any player on offense. Overall, Pro Football Focus gave him a 64.3 grade for the game, which is above average. What really stood out with how he graded out was the 78.5 pass blocking grade he earned. All 49 snaps of his came at left tackle, and he’s likely to once again play the majority of the game come Saturday night. Given how low he is on experience, these preseason reps are especially crucial for Chukwuma.

The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Chukwuma started out as someone the Bucs could potentially carry low on the depth chart or even on the practice squad. But with the injury to All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs bumping swing tackle Charlie Heck up into a starting role, Chukwuma may have a bigger role than originally planned to start the season. Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds has written that he believes Chukwuma could be the team’s swing tackle as early as next year, but he may get an early audition for that role considering the current situation the Bucs find themselves in with Wirfs’ injury.

G: Cody Mauch – No. 69

Right guard Cody Mauch stepped up in a big way last year as he played out his second season in the NFL. But he looks to be well on his way toward taking an even bigger leap in year three. His goal entering this past offseason was similar to that of last offseason, which was to put on more muscle mass. He said last month that he’s up to 319 pounds, which is up from last year. He added that he likes where he is, and it has shown thus far in training camp.

Now, with the starters set to get their first bit of preseason action Saturday night against the Steelers, Mauch will get a chance to put that added mass to work against a talented defensive line. The starting group may not play a whole lot, but it should still be a great bit of fun to see Mauch do battle while he’s out there. He has the potential to really take off this year, and his 2025 preseason debut could be the launching point.

It’ll also be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard operates the offense while the starting line is in. With Tristan Wirfs’ injury, will Grizzard lean more heavily on Mauch and right tackle Luke Goedeke by gearing the run game more toward the right side of the line? Perhaps Saturday night will give us an early clue.

C: Elijah Klein – No. 79

Elijah Klein is something of a Swiss Army knife on the Tampa Bay offensive line. He has mixed in at tackle in a pinch in the past, but his true home is on the interior of the offensive line. As recently as last year when he was drafted in the sixth round by the Bucs out of UTEP, you would’ve said his home is, more specifically, at guard. But that has changed this offseason.

Bucs OL Elijah Klein – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Klein has been taking reps as the Bucs’ second-team center, and he very well could earn that job by the end of preseason. With Robert Hainsey gone this season, the backup center role is currently vacant, and Klein is battling with a pair of undrafted rookies, Jake Majors and Ben Scott, to back up Graham Barton. Klein had a hiccup last week with an errant snap, which he said Monday that he’d like to have back. He’s likely to get another run of extended playing time Saturday after leading the offense with 59 snaps last week against the Titans.

Where Klein plays the majority of his snaps should give us a glimpse into where the Bucs are with him right now as far as his primary position. Last week, he played 41 snaps at center and 18 at right guard. To an extent, it seems Klein will simply fill in where the team needs him. But if he continues to see a majority of time at center, he could become a heavy favorite to be the backup behind Barton entering 2025.