The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are just hours away from their preseason opener against the New York Jets.
Bucs starters aren’t expected to play, but the stakes remain high for several Tampa Bay players.
Here are five Buccaneers to watch during tonight’s preseason opener.
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers players to watch against the New York Jets
QBs Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels
With Baker Mayfield sitting out with the starters and backup Jake Browning dealing with an injury, Bazelak and Daniels are expected to take all the reps against the Jets.
The two are competing for the QB3 spot, which will likely be on the practice squad.
Bazelak is entering his second season after signing with Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie in 2025. Last preseason, he completed 32 of 46 passes (69.6%) for 261 yards and a passing touchdown. He actually outdueled Kyle Trask for the QB3 spot last year.
Daniels was signed as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason. The developmental rookie has a long way to go, but the team is enamored with his long-term upside thanks to his live arm and dual-threat ability.
The Bucs like both quarterbacks, but there may only be room for one. Their performance throughout the preseason will determine who wins the QB3 spot, and that battle begins tonight.
OLB David Walker
All eyes are on Walker as he looks to prove that his dominance at practice can translate into game situations.
Walker missed his rookie season last year with a torn ACL, so he’ll be making his NFL debut against the Jets.
The second-year pass rusher has stolen the show during training camp, recording a sack in nine straight practices.
He’s taken most of his reps against Tampa Bay’s backup tackles, but with the Jets playing their starters tonight, Walker will get game reps against a pair of first-round offensive tackles in Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou.
It'll be intriguing to see how he fares in a game environment against starting-caliber talent.
WR Ted Hurst III
Hurst has been one of the biggest training camp darlings throughout the entire NFL.
The hype train has left the station as Hurst has made a series of highlight reel catches and drawn comparisons to Mike Evans due to his wide catch radius and contested-catch ability.
The Ted Hurst III hype is REAL ‼️ pic.twitter.com/yFEp7NsvMi
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 12, 2026
The rookie third-round pick could be in for a big night with almost the entire wide receiver corps expected to be sidelined against the Jets. Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, and David Sills V are all dealing with minor injuries, and Chris Godwin Jr. is expected to sit out with the starters.
Hurst could be the No. 1 receiver in his first NFL game, and that’s a great chance to make a statement.
CB Ayden Garnes
Garnes has come out of nowhere as an impressive undrafted rookie and is making his case for a roster spot as a depth cornerback.
Todd Bowles has taken notice of Garnes’ strong camp performance and acknowledged his athleticism and coverage skills.
The cornerback room is thin behind the starters, so if Garnes can continue to build on his momentum throughout the preseason, he’ll cruise his way to a roster spot. The Jets game is a huge opportunity for the rookie.
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