The Bucs have six weeks off between now and the beginning of training camp as we’ve learned the official report dates for the rookies and veterans were announced. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, rookies of the Bucs will report to training camp on Monday, July 22 while the vets come a day later on Tuesday, July 23.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and RBs coach Skip Peete – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Many of the NFC South divisional opponents of Tampa Bay have similar schedules with brief differences. The Atlanta Falcons have everyone reporting on the same day and one day later than the Bucs on Wednesday, July 24. The Carolina Panthers’ veterans report on the same day as Tampa Bay, but they have their rookies come in almost a week earlier on Wednesday July 19. The New Orleans Saints, who are holding their training camp in Irvine, California, have rookies reporting on Sunday July 16 with the veterans reporting on July 23.

The first divisional matchup for Tampa Bay takes place in Week 5 on Thursday night for a highly coveted game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. The next week, Tampa Bay is on the road again in New Orleans for Week 6 before hosting Atlanta in Week 8. Their first game against the Panthers is on the road in Week 13. They close out the season in Weeks 17 and 18 with home games facing New Orleans and Carolina as well.

The Bucs Will Be Busy

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It’s going to be a busy and entertaining summer for Tampa Bay, who are looking to make the postseason for the fifth time in a row and win a fourth consecutive NFC South championship. They have kept their core offensive players together with new contracts for Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans while also adding rookies that may have an impact right away with lineman Graham Barton, wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Bucky Irving. In the midst of all of this, they are also playing under a new offense led by coordinator Liam Coen.

Tampa Bay’s defense has looked like it has filled a lot of weaknesses on their roster that may have been a question beforehand. They are undeniably better at safety with All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. and the reunion with newly signed Jordan Whitehead, plus rookie safety out of Georgia Tykee Smith is expected to have an important role on the team. Lavonte David is back and K.J. Britt gets a full season to be the starting linebacker while the Bucs are healthy up front on the defensive line and have an ensemble cast of contributors at outside linebacker.

A reason why the Bucs are going to be so busy is because they plan for a lot of competition against other teams this summer. Tampa Bay is going to have not one, but two separate joint practices coming up. They will travel to Jacksonville and practice against the Jaguars ahead of their game on August 17.

Bucs SS Jordan Whitehead – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The next week, Tampa Bay will play host to the Miami Dolphins for some joint practice before they matchup on August 23 against each other. The Bucs have often liked to schedule joint practices with other teams to have their players compete against someone other than their own teammates.

Given the schedule that the Bucs have this year, it’s better to get the competition going early.

“We play both Super Bowl teams, we play everybody that was in the championship game, plus the division itself and some other teams,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said before the break. “We’re going to have a hell of a schedule. We know how hot it’s going to be in summer, [so] it’s really just coming back in shape, ready to compete.”