Buccaneers Studs and Duds From First Half vs. Chiefs

TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have completed the first half of their second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Tampa Bay's starters played for two drives, but after that, their night was over and the backups headed onto the field.

It was a short showing for starters, but a few of them still impressed, as did some backups. Unfortunately, some other players didn't impress against the Chiefs in the first half, and their play stood out for the wrong reasons.

Here are some studs and duds from Tampa Bay's first half against the Chiefs during Saturday's preseason matchup:

Studs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Anthony Nelson (98) participates in training camp at AdventHealth Training Center. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

OLB Yaya Diaby

Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby had a great two drives with the starters out and playing. Diaby had two key pressures across both series, and he caused incompletions and stalled the Chiefs on both occasions. He had the help of the rest of the line, but his ability to get to Chiefs QB Justin Fields would be a boon for the Bucs if it could continue during the regular season.

LB Caden Fordham

Fordham is trying to make the roster, and so far, he's doing a good job at making his case.

Fordham had four combined tackles, three of which were solo tackles. He also had one tackle for loss, disrupting a run play, which helped the Bucs get a stop on defense. He has some competition in the room with the likes of Nick Jackson and John Bullock, but so far, he's made a strong impression in Tampa Bay.

OLB David Walker

It was a great pass-rushing night, as you can tell. Walker didn't get any sacks in the first half, but he did have three pressures, the last of which came on a pretty lethal spin move.

This spin move by David Walker 🌀🤯

📺: #KCvsTB on WFLA
📻: @98rocktampabay
📲: In-market on the Bucs app pic.twitter.com/pZdISQ9xoj
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 23, 2026

Walker tore his ACL and couldn't play in 2025, but now that he's been able to get some reps in 2026, he's looked really strong in camp and in preseason. This is the second time he's shown how good his spin move is in the preseason, and the Bucs will hope he can do the same thing in the regular season, too.

OLB Anthony Nelson

Nelson had a strip sack on Fields that didn't result in a turnover, but it did result in the Chiefs losing yards and punting back to the Bucs. He also had another half-sack later in the second quarter to make the Chiefs kick outside the red zone.

The whole edge unit looked strong during the first half, but Nelson made a play just as he's apt to do during the regular season in key moments. He'll serve as EDGE4 as it stands, and plays like that will keep him around on the roster.

Duds

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ted Hurst III (17) reacts after catching a pass for a first down against the New York Jets | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

WR Ted Hurst

Hurst didn't get much action across the two quarters, but unfortunately, he did cause a 15-yard penalty. He slapped the helmet of a Chiefs defender, which brought the Bucs back on their drive and caused them to punt.

LMAOOOOO https://t.co/JPPypXnR6W pic.twitter.com/qVxyGtbUFd
— KROCK (@TheRealKrock_) August 23, 2026

Hurst is competing to get some serious snaps in 2026. He has the talent, but he'll have to be smarter if he wants to make a big impact in Tampa Bay.

OT Marshall Foerner

Unfortunately, it can take just one bad play as a tackle to land here, and that's what happened to Foerner. Foerner failed to pick up edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah, and quarterback Jake Browning got hit so hard that he had to leave the game temporarily. That's never a great look, and unfortunately, Foerner getting swiftly beaten on the line is the main reason it happened.

Marshall Foerner toasted and Jake Browning laid out because of it. pic.twitter.com/sY843TmdCp
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) August 23, 2026

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