The PewterReport.com Roundtable features the opinions of the PR staff as it tackles a Tampa Bay Buccaneers-related topic each week.

This week’s topic: Who needs a big game on Thursday to make the 53-man roster?

Scott Reynolds: DE Noah Spence
This might be a surprise pick considering that Spence was a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay, but I think he needs a big game on Thursday night to cement his place on the roster. As of right now, I think the Bucs put Spence on the 53-man roster, but if he doesn’t show up against Jacksonville and produce, I think he could be in some jeopardy. Here’s why. Spence entered training camp with the role of being the team’s situational pass rusher in nickel defense this year, but he’s had his struggles in camp.

Bucs DE Noah Spence – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Unfortunately for Spence he hasn’t had a good preseason, registering just one tackle, one QB pressure and half a sack in a fair amount of playing time. Other defensive ends, such as Will Gholston (10 tackles, two QB pressures, one tackle for loss and one sack), Will Clarke (six tackles), Patrick O’Connor (four tackles, one tackle for loss, one QB pressure and half a sack) and DaVonte Lambert (three tackles, one tackle for loss, one QB pressure and one sack), have had better production than Spence has in the preseason. Due to his size at 253 pounds, Spence is a one-trick pony that doesn’t have the versatility to move inside to play defensive tackle in a pinch as the other reserves do.

Unless he shows that he can rush the passer effectively and register a sack or two in the Jaguars game Spence could be in some trouble, especially if any of those other defensive ends has a better showing on Thursday night. Even if Spence makes the team, he doesn’t play a large role on special teams and isn’t stout against the run. So if he struggles to get to the quarterback and rush the passer in the preseason finale, he may be stuck on the inactive list come game days and not part of the 46 that wind up playing until he shows some real improvement.

Mark Cook: RB Shaun Wilson
I don’t think Spence is going anywhere, despite the type of game he has on Thursday night. Coaches have raved all offseason about his conditioning and body transformation and a few months working with Brentson Buckner isn’t enough time to truly evaluate Spence.

Bucs RB Shaun Wilson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While I like what rookie Shaun Wilson has done so far in camp, a lot will depend on how many running backs the Bucs decide to keep. We know Peyton Barber, Ronald Jones and Jacquizz Rodgers are safe so then it comes down to Dare Ogunbowale, Devine Redding and Wilson. There will be some talented and experienced backs who will be cut between Friday and Saturday as teams pair down their roster to 53 players, too. With Barber slated to start, you really only have Rodgers as an experienced back if Barber were to go down. Jones hasn’t proven he is ready, and while Wilson has flashed on special teams, I am not sure the organization is ready to go with such a young group lined up in the backfield. There was a reason Charles Sims was re-signed in the offseason.

Wilson needs to stand out and play mistake free football on Thursday night. He needs to essentially force himself on the roster and make it very hard for the team to part ways with him. And while he could be deemed safe after cut downs, he could be the first one released after the Bucs scan the other 31 team’s cuts.

Trevor Sikkema: WR Bobo Wilson
I don’t know how I became what appears to be the biggest Bobo Wilson stan in the media, but here I am.

Wilson only caught one catch last season, and it was for a touchdown in the Carolina game late in the year. Up to that point, Wilson had been a practice squad player for most of the season. Wilson was a raw player in 2017 as a rookie, but what he brought to the table and the flashes he showed with speed and explosiveness were rivaled only by fellow wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Anytime you can bring a less common element of success to a position, I tend to give you a little more leeway when it comes to making the roster and contributing to the team.

Bucs WR Bobo Wilson – Photo by: Getty Images

Even though Wilson is another year into the league and does look more polished than he did last year, his battle to make the squad is even more difficult this year. After missing about a week of training camp with an injury, Wilson loss out on opportunities in special teams to rookie running back Shaun Wilson, who proved his worth last game with a few great kick returns. Then throw in the fact that rookie wide receiver Justin Watson caught a touchdown pass up in Tennessee and Bobo Wilson is now not only behind as a receiver but also as a special teams contributor.

With one game left to go, Wilson needs to really ball out to have a chance to make the roster. If he doesn’t, it will likely be another year of starting on the practice squad for him.