{"id":378755,"date":"2026-08-23T01:38:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T01:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/378755\/"},"modified":"2026-08-23T01:38:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T01:38:40","slug":"buccaneers-players-you-should-watch-in-preseason-game-vs-chiefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/378755\/","title":{"rendered":"Buccaneers Players You Should Watch in Preseason Game vs. Chiefs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"97\">TAMPA, FL \u2014 The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/buccaneers\/onsi\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tampa Bay Buccaneers <\/a>are set to play their second preseason game Saturday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, and it&#8217;s arguably the most pressing game of the year \u2014 starters are expected to play.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9a\">The Bucs will put out starters that aren&#8217;t injured on Saturday, so there are a few we&#8217;re excited to get a look at. But even beyond those starters, there are a few players who played in the first preseason game against the New York Jets that we \u2014 and head coach Todd Bowles \u2014 are looking to get some more tape on before the regular season.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9d\">With all that in mind, here are four players to keep an eye on Saturday when the Bucs play the Chiefs:<\/p>\n<p>OLB Rueben Bain Jr.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01m0nrq74931ww87be5y.jpg\" alt=\"Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. (3)  participates in training camp at AdventHealth Training Center.  \" title=\"Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. (3)  participates in training camp at AdventHealth Training Center.  \" width=\"360\" height=\"203\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"9q\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. (3)  participates in training camp at AdventHealth Training Center.  | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9u\">Bain is a rookie, so in theory, he should have gotten some playing time against the New York Jets during the team&#8217;s first preseason game. Bowles felt confident in his work all training camp, though, and as a result, he sat him with the rest of the starters.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9x\">Now, though, Bain is set to make his debut on the edge and get his first NFL action. He&#8217;s looked strong in training camp against the Bucs and in joint practice against the Jets, but we haven&#8217;t really seen him take full reps without restriction so far this offseason. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"a0\">Now, Bain will get the chance to dazzle and put on the moves Saturday night, so definitely keep an eye out. <\/p>\n<p>QB Jalon Daniels<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01m0nrrt0nvqk3cx10vv.jpg\" alt=\"Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets  \" title=\"Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets  \" width=\"360\" height=\"203\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"ad\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets  | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ah\">Daniels looked strong during his preseason debut against the Jets, but he also played the second half of the game against lesser competition. It&#8217;s unknown if quarterback Connor Bazelak will once again play over him on Saturday, but if Daniels plays against some better competition, he&#8217;ll be one to watch.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ak\">Daniels played well without most of Tampa Bay&#8217;s star or even backup receivers, so it would be interesting to see him with some real weapons at his disposal. He&#8217;s a raw prospect, but if he plays well again, he could be an intriguing player for the Bucs to potentially stick on the 53-man roster. <\/p>\n<p>LB SirVocea Dennis <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01m0nrsqb1y2w7555ney.jpg\" alt=\"Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Sirvocea Dennis (8) participates in training camp at AdventHealth Training Center.  \" title=\"Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Sirvocea Dennis (8) participates in training camp at AdventHealth Training Center.  \" width=\"360\" height=\"203\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"ax\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Sirvocea Dennis (8) participates in training camp at AdventHealth Training Center.  | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b1\">UPDATE: Dennis was not dressed in pre-game warmups and won&#8217;t play. <\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis is also not dressed tonight. Means more snaps for rookie Josiah Trotter, as well as fellow rookie Caden Fordham, who has impressed in preseason and is battling for a 53\/PS spot.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Greg Auman (@gregauman) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/gregauman\/status\/2091301974289359062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">August 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b7\">Fans are really excited about linebacker Josiah Trotter this offseason, and for good reason. But so far, Dennis is the starter during first-team drills, and he&#8217;ll likely come out that way with the starters on defense too.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ba\">If he does, many will be watching to see if he has a strong performance after disappointing in a few respects last season when he had the starting job. If he doesn&#8217;t and Trotter starts instead, that will say a lot about where Bowles is with the linebacker room, and that&#8217;s worth watching as well anyway.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bd\">Either way, Dennis should get some reps. He needs a great offseason to convince the NFL sphere that he can start, and this will be his first chance. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-20\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bk\">Sign up to our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/buccaneers\/newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">free newsletter<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BucsGameday?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bucsgameday?s=21&amp;t=nyCeWGVWMsSpULqWCupqGA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">X<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/buccaneersgameday?igsh=NWVob203dzZpYnp0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for the latest news.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" preventdefault:click=\"\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\" on:pointerenter=\"q-BRiPWOoq.js#s_1NOcOpHWmT0\" on:touchstart=\"q-D9SNAstX.js#s_R8AiGTDeM28\" on:focus=\"q-BQAbxC21.js#s_gxiTM6qMMu8\" on:click=\"q-xLg4OwsX.js#s_lDqay9E5m5g[0]\" q:id=\"bo\">Follow<\/a><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"TAMPA, FL \u2014 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to play their second preseason game Saturday night against&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":378756,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-378755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=378755"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/378755\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/378756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=378755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=378755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=378755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}