Each week during the regular season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ communications department publishes a “Game Release” to aid the media in coverage of their upcoming game. Within that release are a number of documents regarding the player roster, including a depth chart, which lists the pecking order at every position on offense, defense and special teams.
Each game week, we will be taking a closer look at that depth chart, pointing out any changes or relevant notes from the previous game. Let’s start on offense. Rookies are marked with an asterisk. Players we will be discussing in depth are highlighted in bold text.
- WR: Mike Evans, Trey Palmer
- WR: Chris Godwin, Kameron Johnson*
- LT: Tristan Wirfs, Justin Skule
- LG: Ben Bredeson, Royce Newman
- C: Graham Barton*, Robert Hainsey
- RG: Cody Mauch, Elijah Klein*
- RT: Luke Goedeke
- WR: Jalen McMillan*
- TE: Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, Devin Culp*
- QB: Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask
- RB: Rachaad White, Bucky Irving*, Sean Tucker
Tight end Cade Otton and wide receiver Chris Godwin played the most snaps of any of the Bucs’ offensive skill-position players against Denver, staying on the field for 52 and 51 plays, respectively, out of a possible total of 57. Godwin had a team-high nine targets in the passing game, one more than Otton. Veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who was elevated from the practice squad due to an injury to rookie Kameron Johnson, got in the game for four snaps.
Rookie running back Bucky Irving was the team’s most productive offensive player, accounting for 84 yards from scrimmage, or 36% of the team’s total output. He was out-snapped by starter Rachaad White, 42 to 18, but Head Coach Todd Bowles said on Monday that Irving has “earned more reps” going forward.
Justin Skule once again filled in for Luke Goedeke at right tackle, as Goedeke continues to recover from a concussion suffered in Week One. Bowles had mentioned the possibility of a rotation on Friday before the game, but Skule took every snap, as did the other four starting offensive linemen. Robert Hainsey got in one offensive snap in a jumbo package at the goal line.
- DL: Calijah Kancey, C.J. Brewer, Ben Stille
- NT: Vita Vea, Greg Gaines
- DL: Logan Hall, William Gholston
- OLB: Yaya Diaby, Anthony Nelson, Markees Watts
- ILB: K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell
- ILB: Lavonte David, SirVocea Dennis
- OLB: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Chris Braswell*, Jose Ramirez
- CB: Jamel Dean, Tyrek Funderburk*
- CB: Zyon McCollum, Josh Hayes
- S: Antoine Winfield Jr., Christian Izien, Tavierre Thomas
- S: Jordan Whitehead, Tykee Smith*, Kaevon Merriweather
There are two changes on the defensive side of the depth chart in Week Four based on roster moves made late last week. Defensive lineman C.J. Brewer was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad, as the team continues to deal with numerous injuries at that spot, and cornerback Keenan Isaac was waived to open a spot. Brewer played 24 defensive snaps against the Broncos, or 35% of the total.
K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis continue to split the reps at one of the off-ball linebacker spots next to Lavonte David. Britt started for the third game in a row but in this case, against the Broncos, the two played nearly an identical number of snaps, with 35 for Britt and 34 for Dennis. Britt finished with six tackles and Dennis had four stops.
Rookie outside linebacker Chris Braswell played 23 of the 68 defensive snaps and was responsible for both of the Bucs’ two hits on quarterback Bo Nix. Another rookie, nickel back Tykee Smith, was on the field for 60% of the defensive snaps and accounted for six tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defensed.
- P: Jake Camarda
- PK: Chase McLaughlin
- KO: Jake Camarda
- H: Jake Camarda
- LS: Evan Deckers
- PR: Trey Palmer, Kameron Johnson, Jalen McMillan
- KR: Bucky Irving, Kameron Johnson
- KR: Sean Tucker, Jalen McMillan*
The Buccaneers’ Week Four release went out before any roster moves were made, but there will likely be a change at long-snapper after Evan Deckers left the Denver game with a hamstring injury. One obvious possibility would be the return of Zach Triner, who handled that job for the Bucs from 2019 through last year and was in training camp again this summer with the Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers continue to use the duo of running backs Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving on most kickoff returns. However, wide receiver Trey Palmer filled in for Irving on one of those reps against Denver.
For the second game in a row, outside linebacker Anthony Nelson played 100% of the team’s special teams snaps. Defensive backs Kaevon Merriweather and Tavierre Thomas and linebacker J.J. Russell all played 21 of a possible 22 snaps in that phase of the game.