The battle for the Bucs starting right guard spot, if there ever really was a battle, is over. Two-year starter Alex Cappa will start Week 1 against Dallas following his best game of the preseason. Backup Aaron Stinnie will still be one of the team’s top reserves. Cappa had struggled some early in the preseason in his return from a season-ending broken ankle suffered in January. But the fourth-year pro returned to form against Houston on Saturday night.

Bucs RG Aaron Stinnie – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Cap probably graded out the highest of the offensive line,” Arians said. “He had a real good ball game, so that’s pretty solidified. Aaron [Stinnie] is much better on the right side than he is on the left, but he’s got a bunch of left side snaps. So he did get better that way. We’re very confident in both those guys.”

Cappa has started all but three regular season games for the Bucs under the Arians regime. His improvement from a struggling rookie to a solid starting guard has been amazing to watch. Cappa did not allow a sack last season in 16 starts. The DII lineman was injured just before halftime of the Bucs Wild Card victory over Washington in the playoffs. Stinnie relieved Cappa for the next three games, helping the Bucs win a Super Bowl.

Arians also said that Stinnie will be the team’s top backup at either guard spot entering the season.