Tampa Bay hosted Miami in the 2022 preseason opener on Saturday night, losing to the Dolphins, 26-24, in Todd Bowles’ first game as head coach. Kyle Trask led the Bucs into field goal range on the final drive, but Jose Borregales’ 49-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright. There were several key performers in Saturday night’s loss to Miami. Here were the most impressive Bucs against the Dolphins in the preseason opener.

QB Blaine Gabbert

Bucs QB Blaine Gabbert – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay’s initial offensive series was thwarted by a penalty, but Gabbert came out firing on the second series. He had two first down passes to Tyler Johnson for 12 and 21 yards, respectively. Then, he hit wide receiver Jaelon Darden for a 23-yard touchdown strike. Gabbert finished the game 5-of-5 for 56 yards.

Kyle Trask had some ups and downs in the game. He led two touchdown drives and had a beautiful TD pass to Jerreth Sterns. But Trask did throw an ill-advised pass to Rachaad White that resulted in an interception and fumbled when sacked. That fumble was returned for a Miami touchdown. Trask also took a bad sack late in the fourth quarter that forced the Bucs to punt. The second-year quarterback did end the night on a high note, leading the Bucs into field goal position at the end before Borregales’ miss.

Gabbert did nothing to lose the backup job tonight, but Trask likely gained some ground on the veteran.

OLB Cam Gill

Gill had three tackles on the opening series, one of which was a 6-yard sack of rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson at the Tampa Bay 10-yard line. Gill bull-rushed left tackle Larnel Coleman into the backfield to get the sack. That forced a Dolphins field goal. Gill also hurried downfield to make a touchdown-saving tackle on a 33-yard pass in the second quarter. Gill injured his foot and did not return to action in the second half. He finished with four tackles.

WR Tyler Johnson

Johnson continued the momentum he established in training camp with a pair of catches for 12 and 21 yards on a drive that ended with a touchdown. In the second quarter, Johnson caught a short pass from Kyle Trask, slipped a tackle and raced 22 yards for a first down on 2nd & 14. Johnson had six catches for 73 yards in the first half.

WR Jerreth Sterns

Sterns had four receptions for 51 yards, catching all four of his targets. He hauled in a 19-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter to pull the Bucs within two points, 23-21. Sterns also had a 20-yard catch on 4th & 12 to keep the Bucs’ final drive alive.

WR Jaelon Darden

Bucs WR Jaelon Darden – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Darden’s first catch in the preseason – and only one of the night – was a 23-yard touchdown down the middle on beautiful throw by Gabbert.

OLB Anthony Nelson

Like Gill, Nelson came through with a sack on third down that forced a Dolphins field goal. He finished with two tackles and also had a nice pressure on Skylar Thompson that resulted in an incompletion.

TE Ko Kieft

Kieft did a great job serving as lead blocker all night. Two of his best blocks came on Ke’Shawn Vaughn’s 1-yard touchdown run and on Rachaad Whites’s 12-yard run. After reviewing the tape, we’ll surely uncover more impact blocks from the rookie from Minnesota.

DL Pat O’Connor

O’Connor played a lot of snaps inside along the defensive line and had some great pass rushes during the night. He got home on a 3rd-&-15 situation with a nine-yard sack to force a Dolphins field goal.