3 Buccaneers Players Who Need a Big Week in Joint Practice vs. Jaguars

These Tampa Bay Buccaneers players need a big week against the Jacksonville Jaguars if they want to stick around.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Chris Braswell (43) participates in training camp at AdventHealth Training Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to head to Jacksonville this week to face off against the Jaguars. It will be Tampa Bay's second joint practice of training camp after heading to New York to play the Jets, and it will also be the last part of training camp before the Bucs begin to prepare for Week 1.

Naturally, time is running out as cut day approaches. Many Buccaneers have secured their spots on the 53-man roster, but others among the rest of the 90-man roster are fighting for their spot and to stick in the NFL.

Plenty of UDFAs and career practice-squad players are going through that battle, but there are some veterans who could be in danger as well. Here are three Bucs players who need a big week to stick around on Tampa Bay's 53-man roster:

OLB Chris Braswell

Braswell was Tampa Bay's second-round pick in 2024, but he certainly hasn't lived up to that status. The former Alabama edge rusher has gotten very scarce playing time the past two seasons, and with two (technically three) new additions to the edge rushing room, he's in decent danger to miss out on the roster.

The problem? Braswell didn't participate in training camp last Thursday and didn't play in Week 2 of the preseason against the Chiefs. Braswell can't play if he's really hurt, obviously, but any time he isn't on the field is time that edge rushers like David Walker can show their stuff, and that would certainly spell disaster for Braswell.

TE Devin Culp

The Bucs are likely to keep four tight ends on the roster. Three of those tight ends (Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Ko Kieft) are already accounted for, but there will be a battle for TE4 — and it's a battle that Culp is certainly losing.

Culp is competing wiith 2026 sixth-round pick Bauer Sharp, and Sharp has impressed so far with his raw athleticism and willingness to do the dirty work. Culp showed flashes in 2024, but he hasn't been able to get on to the field very often. With the Buccaneers likely keeping Jalon Daniels on as a third QB on the 53-man roster, one position will likely get cramped. If it's tight end, Culp could be out if he doesn't really impress this week.

RB Sean Tucker

Tucker was set to be Tampa Bay's third back after the Bucs picked up his option as a restricted free agent this offseason, but something interesting happened during the team's second preseason game against the Chiefs.

Tucker was the fourth back to play, with running back Josh Williams getting the nod over him at RB3. That's at least something to note, and it might mean that Tucker's job isn't quite safe as we previously imagined in Tampa Bay. The team seems to like Williams and wants to see what he can do, so it would behoove Tucker to have a big week and then a strong preseason game against the Jaguars to secure his spot.

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