Pewter Report’s Bucs Training Camp coverage is presented by Synergy Outdoor Kitchens & More

Become the envy of the neighborhood – and the place to come for Tampa Bay watch parties and home tailgating – with a custom outdoor kitchen from Synergy Outdoor Kitchens & More! Get a FREE Coyote Portable Tailgate grill – an $800 value – with the purchase of a new outdoor kitchen Wesley Chapel • Sarasota/Bradenton • Tampa • Orlando / Call Synergy at 813-993-1531 or visit SynergyFL.com

After waiting nearly 225 days, the Bucs will finally play a football game Friday night. Granted, this is just the start of the preseason, but it’s Buccaneer football nonetheless. Todd Bowles and Co. have been up in Florham Park, New Jersey, this week for a couple of joint practices with the Jets. Now, it’s time to take the action over to MetLife Stadium for the 2026 preseason opener.

The Bucs are opening their three-game exhibition slate with a road game against the Jets before returning to Raymond James Stadium for the first time since January to host the Chiefs on Aug. 22. From there, they’ll wrap up the preseason Aug. 28 in Jacksonville against the Jaguars ahead of a Sept. 13 regular season opener in Cincinnati against the Bengals.

After taking a look at some of the top Bucs to keep an eye on throughout Friday night’s preseason opener on the offensive side of the ball, let’s flip over to the defense.

Bucs To Watch In Preseason Week 1: Defense

Bucs OLB David Walker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

OLB David Walker – No. 51

As much buzz as first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. has deservedly gotten throughout camp, it’s really been the David Walker show. After missing the majority of camp and his entire rookie season with a torn ACL in 2025, Walker is back and has been racking up sack after sack. He started with a streak of nine straight practices with a sack, and when the setting shifted to Florham Park this week, he continued to be a menace, drawing holding and false start penalties. Now it’s time for the former Central Arkansas star to make his long-awaited NFL debut on Friday night. With Bain unlikely to play much (if at all), all eyes will be on No. 51.

DT DeMonte Capehart – No. 90

Speaking of debuts, DeMonte Capehart is set to make his as well after becoming the Bucs’ fifth-round pick in this past April’s draft. The former Clemson Tiger is set to be a big addition to Tampa Bay’s defensive line both figuratively and literally, as he’s a 6-foot-5, 315-pounder. Todd Bowles talked this offseason about wanting to get bigger on defense, and the team did just that by signing A’Shawn Robinson and drafting Capehart. The rookie has yet to really take off as a pass rusher in camp, but he’s been stout against the run – as advertised. That’s an area to keep an eye on throughout Friday’s game.

NT Jayson Jones – No. 93

While he’s not a rookie, there’s still plenty of intrigue when it comes to the presence of Jayson Jones in the middle of the Bucs’ defensive line. Especially with Vita Vea holding in over a contract dispute, we’ve seen more and more of the depth that Tampa Bay has built at nose tackle, and it’s obvious why the team likes Jones, who went undrafted out of Auburn in 2025 and eventually made his way to the Bucs’ practice squad. He was actually set to debut with the team last September, but a torn bicep suffered in practice kept him from doing so. Now, we’ll get a real look at the 6-foot-6, 340-pound tackle against the Jets.

Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

ILB Josiah Trotter – No. 45

When the pads came on in camp, Josiah Trotter came alive. The second-round pick out of Missouri has been a force for Tampa Bay’s defense already, especially against the run. The way he slips off blocks and gets to the ball carrier has been evident from day one in pads, as was his aggressive style of play. He has to be nearing double-digit tackles for loss at this point in camp, and getting into a game setting for the first time at the NFL level is sure to bring out an even higher level of intensity from the young rookie linebacker.

ILB Caden Fordham – No. 46

This time last year, Nick Jackson and John Bullock made names for themselves as undrafted rookie inside linebackers. Bullock made the 53-man roster out of camp, with Jackson earning a spot on the practice squad before eventually getting the call up. Both are still around and contending for practice squad roles, but Caden Fordham is looking to steal their thunder and put together the type of August that both guys had in 2025. He had a stretch of impressive practices when pads first came on, but has gone relatively quiet since. The former NC State standout faces long odds to make the 53, but shining in the preseason could keep him on as a key practice squad player.

CB Pepe Williams – No. 28

Few players have done as much for their chances of making the final roster as Pepe Williams has over the last couple of weeks. The Bucs have been thin at cornerback, leading to increased reps for Williams. He’s taken advantage, too. Todd Bowles has taken notice, as has everyone else. But the true tests will come in the preseason, and the former Houston Cougar has to live up to the standard he has set. With very few options at cornerback behind Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish and the oft-injured Benjamin Morrison, there’s definitely a spot to be won. Friday is the start of the home stretch for Williams as he looks to earn it.

Bucs CB Ayden Garnes – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

CB Ayden Garnes – No. 24

Right there with Pepe Williams for a potential CB4 role is rookie Ayden Garnes. He got out to a hot start in camp himself, emerging as something of a sleeper early on. But as of late, he’s soared past sleeper status. His confidence has grown more and more by the day, and for good reason. He has a ton of momentum going into the Bucs’ preseason opener against the Jets, as he had two pass breakups in last Thursday’s practice, another one during Friday’s and two more on Sunday. And in Wednesday’s practice with the Jets, he tallied two more. Now comes a big opportunity under the lights for the rookie.

NCB Keionte Scott – No. 22

Add one more defensive rookie to this list, as Keionte Scott will get a chance to make his Buccaneer debut against the Jets as well. The former Miami Hurricane has been somewhat up and down in camp as he continues to adjust to the nickel cornerback role in Todd Bowles’ defense, but if his time in college taught us anything, it’s that he shows up the biggest when it counts the most. Scott was a bit behind to start camp after missing some time earlier this summer due to offseason surgery, but he’s picked it up a bit more as of late and is primed to make a good impression in Friday’s exhibition opener.

S Ifeatu Melifonwu – No. 35

With so much being made about the lack of depth at cornerback, the fact that the Bucs are also thin at safety has flown under the radar. Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith form one of the NFL’s more formidable starting duos, but behind them? Rashad Wisdom and Marcus Banks are still around from past camps and have spent time on Tampa Bay’s practice squad, but the fact that JJ Roberts still hasn’t returned from the injury that cost him his rookie season leaves questions back there. Ifeatu Melifonwu was one of the safeties the Bucs signed during camp, and he’s an interesting player to watch as the team tries to solve its depth safety situation.