While the fourth preseason game is typically a snoozer, it’s all too important for fringe roster players trying to make a name for themselves. Who capitalized on their last chance to boost their stock? Who didn’t?
At long last, the preseason has come to an end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In their final game of the 2018 preseason, the Bucs hosted their northern neighbors, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The preseason finale was an opportunity for players at the back end of the roster to hit the field in hopes of making the team.
In just a few days we’ll have a final 53-man roster, and it will be full-steam ahead towards the regular season. Tampa Bay finished the preseason with a 2-2 record and saw their starters, including quarterback Jameis Winston, put on several impressive performances. The back-ups, however, were a different story.
With three layers of bench players on display Thursday night, the Buccaneers were blown out at home by the Jacksonville Jaguars, 25-10. It’s clear from this game and the other three that while the team can certainly field a competitive starting eleven players, the Buccaneers are in serious trouble if they’re forced to tap into their well of backup offensive linemen, cornerbacks, safeties and more.
It wasn’t all bad, though, as several players solidified their status among the last 53. We’ll go over a few of those guys, before taking a look at who struggled to separate from the pack.