Winner: Sean Tucker
Another undrafted rookie who is making good on some hype is running back Sean Tucker.
Tucker was getting hyped up as far back as May when Rachaad White revealed that the former Syracuse running back was being called ‘Baby Nick Chubb’ by the rest of the running backs.
“Then you see Sean too – they’ve been calling him ‘Baby Nick Chubb’ now around here,” White said at the time. “He don’t really like that, but it was just funny, joking with him. You can tell he’s ready to be out there.”
Tucker has a ways to go before he’s actually in a conversation with Chubb, but he looks the part of a formidable running back partner for White this upcoming season. On Saturday night Tucker led the Bucs in rushing with 37 yards on seven carries, including a monster run he tore off to set up a Trey Palmer touchdown.
Firmly believe that Sean Tucker should be RB2, if not 1B, to Rachaad White in TB.
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 20, 2023
Does a phenomenal job being patient then exploding past a tackle to gain chunk yardage.
Performed well in clutch moments today, including getting 15 on a 3rd-and-16 play, then converted 4th down. pic.twitter.com/KI9nBTpgVi
That’s the sort of explosiveness that was missing from the Bucs offense last season, as Tucker was instrumental in helping shorten the field on a crucial touchdown drive. This is now back-to-back weeks where he’s shown great field vision and ability to create space, and he’s building a strong case to earn a spot on the final roster.
Loser: Ke'Shawn Vaughn
For everything good that Tucker does this preseason, Ke’Shawn Vaughn seems to do the opposite. Vaughn carried the ball four times and went backwards each time, finishing the night with -8 rushing yards.
This comes a week after he totaled just four yards on seven carries against the Steelers, all of which combines to not bode very well for Vaughn’s future in Tampa Bay. If Tucker is playing himself into a job, the spot he’s going to take is presumably going to be Vaughn’s.