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The Bucs have released their first official depth chart in advance of Friday’s preseason opener at New York against the Jets.

And the initial Bucs depth chart comes with some surprises.

Four rookies – outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr., inside linebacker Josiah Trotter and cornerbacks Keionte Scott and Ayden Garnes – have received plenty of action with the starting defense during training camp, yet Bain, the team’s first-round pick, is the only rookie starter listed.

Here is the official Bucs depth chart the team released on Tuesday morning.

Bucs Depth Chart Has Some Surprises On Defense

There are a couple of surprises on Tampa Bay’s initial depth chart – mostly on defense – and I’m not talking about the fact that Vita Vea is listed as the starting nose tackle despite his “hold in” over a contract dispute and his supposed back injury. Despite missing every training camp practice so far, Vea, who traveled with the team to New York, is the unquestioned starter at nose tackle whenever he decides he’s ready to join the team on the field.

The first real surprise is the fact that Benjamin Morrison is listed as a second-string cornerback opposite rookie Keionte Scott despite not practicing in team drills even once in training camp due to a hamstring injury. As expected, Jacob Parrish, who has had a good camp, is listed as a starting cornerback opposite Zyon McCollum, which is what we’ve seen since camp opened on July 29. When the Bucs are in nickel defense, Scott has typically entered the game to play cornerback in the slot with McCollum and Parrish outside.

Bucs CBs Benjamin Morrison and Keionte Scott – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Rookie Ayden Garnes and Damarion “Pepe” Williams, who was on the practice squad last year, have also had very good camps and have rotated in as starting outside cornerbacks with the first team. With Morrison barely practicing due to his recovery from yet another hamstring injury it’s kind of a farce that he is listed as a second-string cornerback this year just because he played in 10 games last season as a rookie. Morrison has yet to prove he can stay healthy in Tampa Bay.

Another surprise is the fact that SirVocea Dennis, last year’s starting middle linebacker, is still listed as the starter. Todd Bowles has continued to start Dennis – largely due to his experience as a four-year player. But it’s been rookie Josiah Trotter, the team’s second-round pick, who has made way more splash plays in practice. In fact, it’s hard to recall Dennis making any splash plays in the first two weeks of camp. It’s only a matter of time before Trotter wins the starting Mike linebacker job – and when he does it will not be a surprise.

Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Photo by: Adam Warren/PR

Second-year outside linebacker David Walker has been the Bucs’ best player in camp with an absurd streak of at least one sack in nine straight practices. Walker has played mostly on the third team opposite Chris Braswell, but was finally elevated to second team during Sunday’s practice where he got two sacks on offensive tackle Ben Chukwuma. Al-Quadin Muhammad and Anthony Nelson, who are the second-string outside linebackers, have both had quiet camps. Walker’s production has more than warranted a rise up the depth chart, but so far that hasn’t happened in an official capacity.

The final surprise on the defensive depth chart is listing second-year safety J.J. Roberts as a second-string defensive back. Roberts, whose promising rookie season ended with a torn ACL in joint practices at Pittsburgh, hasn’t practiced the entire offseason or in camp. The Bucs have added two safeties in Ifeatu Melifonwu and Xavier Williams as a result. Not sure why Roberts is listed as a primary backup when he hasn’t practiced in nearly a full calendar year.

Fewer Surprises On Tampa Bay’s Offense

Tampa Bay’s offense had far fewer surprises on the depth chart than the defense did. New wide receiver David Sills V, who played last year in Atlanta under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, is listed on the second-string ahead of Kam Johnson, who was WR6 last year on the Bucs roster. Sills is dealing with a banged up knee and has missed the last three practices, but he’s made more plays than Johnson has – so let’s classify this as more of an interesting note rather than a surprise.

It’s no surprise that Ted Hurst III and Tez Johnson are also on the second team at wide receiver, as we’ve seen that play out in camp.

Bucs WR David Sills V – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It’s also noteworthy that undrafted free agent wide receiver Dean Patterson IV is listed as a third-string receiver on par with Tez Johnson and Garrett Greene, while more heralded undrafted free agent receiver Eric Rivers, who has struggled in camp, is listed on the fourth-string along with Dennis Houston, who was on Tampa Bay’s practice squad last year.

The fact that rookie tight end Bauer Sharp is listed as the fifth tight end on the depth chart behind Devin Culp is also a surprise. It seems like Sharp has had more reps with the second-team offense and made more plays. Cade Otton is the unquestioned starter and is having a very good camp. Payne Durham is TE2 and it appears Ko Kieft is TE3 right now. As expected, it’s Sharp, the team’s sixth-round pick, versus Culp for the final tight end spot on the roster.

Even though Danny Smith wasn’t in Tampa Bay last year, the starting return specialists remain the primary returners from a year ago. Kam Johnson is listed as the punt returner and a co-kick returner alongside Sean Tucker, who is also listed as a co-kick returner. Tez Johnson is the current No. 2 on punt returns while running backs Josh Williams and Kenny Gainwell are the backups on kick return.