Each week after every Bucs game, we’ll take a closer look at the snap count distribution for the Tampa Bay offense and defense. We’ll assess what we can learn from who played the most and least from the game.

Here is a closer view of which players received the highest and lowest number of snaps in the Bucs’ 35-7 blowout loss on Sunday afternoon against the 49ers in Week 14.

Bucs Offense

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs were trailing by so much before halftime that they were forced to throw it often the rest of the game. This gave a lot of playing time to Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Julio Jones, who played 69, 66 and 55 out of 76 snaps. A lot of the issues between Evans and Tom Brady remained and Godwin made one nice play down the field over the middle, but was mostly confined to the always-forced screen pass.

Jones made five catches, which were his most in a single game as a Buc. He’s fit in quite well as Tampa Bay’s third receiver since coming back from injury. Russell Gage is still working his way back from a hamstring problem. His 25 snaps show they’re easing him into the lineup, but he did have the Bucs’ lone touchdown in the game.

We saw a lot of Rachaad White and Leonard Fournette on Sunday, with White regaining the lead in snaps over Fournette 40 to 36. Last week, it was Fournette with the lead, but that may have been because of White’s fumble. The usage that both Bucs had in this game should be the right amount moving forward. White ran most efficiently while Fournette led the offense in receptions.

Cam Brate’s return cut into the playing time of Cade Otton. The rookie tight end had 45 snaps to Brate’s 28 and Otton made four receptions compared to Brate catching two. However, Otton only had five targets to Brate’s four. The Bucs seem to only target Otton in the second half even though he’s proven time and again that he can be a huge force in the offense. We haven’t seen them make any adjustments, so I’m not expecting a change to come any time soon.

Bucs Defense

With Vita Vea leaving the game early after four snaps, everyone else along the defensive line received more playing time. Will Gholston actually led all of the interior defensive linemen with 41 out of 63 snaps. Rakeem Nunez-Roches was next with 39, and Akiem Hicks, who had the most snaps in their last two games, was in for 37. Logan Hall got some garbage time action and even Deadrin Senat got a huge boost in his play.

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and 49ers QB Brock Purdy – Photo by: USA Today

There were more injuries that the Bucs had to deal with outside of Vea’s. This included Jamel Dean and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka leaving the game early, with neither returning. Dean was still able to play 65% of the game and the Bucs had a new wrinkle to the defense with Dee Delaney in at slot corner, so it was Zyon McCollum that had to take over on the outside. McCollum also had an injury, but only missed a little time. McCollum had 24 snaps in replacement and Delaney clocked in at 19.

Anthony Nelson had the most snaps out of all the outside linebackers for the second week in a row. It was one of his better games as a Buc this season, as he recorded seven tackles and a forced fumble. He also had an interception that was negated due to a penalty. Carl Nassib had 10 more snaps than Tryon-Shoyinka because of his injury and had another good game. Genard Avery played another situational role that could increase based on Tryon-Shoyinka’s availability next week.