With roster cuts on the horizon, every snap in the preseason carried extra weight for Buccaneers players fighting to make the 53-man roster.
Some players made the most of their opportunities, showing the coaching staff they belong in Tampa Bay this season, while others struggled to make an impact and could find themselves on the outside looking in. Here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Buccaneers’ preseason.
Winners and Losers in Buccaneers’ Preseason 2025 preseason
Winner: Tez Johnson
This preseason wasn’t perfect for Tez Johnson. He missed the opener due to injury and muffed a punt in Week 2 against the Steelers.
But Johnson really shined as a receiver, and it felt like he made a man miss every time he had the ball in his hands. He caught four passes for 24 yards against Pittsburgh, then followed it up with an impressive eight catches on eight targets for 58 yards and his first NFL touchdown in the preseason finale.
While his roster spot was already pretty safe, he could find himself climbing the depth chart after such a strong preseason performance where he led the team in receptions.
Loser: Shilo Sanders
After making his presence felt with a few hard hits against Tennessee in the preseason opener, Sanders struggled throughout the rest of the preseason.
He missed two tackles against the Steelers, and missed a few more tackles against the Buffalo Bills in the finale, while also being called for a defensive pass interference.
If that wasn’t enough, he threw a punch at Bills tight end Zach Davidson and got himself ejected in only the second quarter from the most important game of his career.
Despite a thin safety room and a chance to secure a spot after J.J. Roberts’ season-ending injury, Sanders failed to take advantage and looks poised for the practice squad at best.
Winner: Kyle Trask
The Buccaneers dialed up the pressure on Trask by signing Teddy Bridgewater to compete for the backup job. Trask responded by performing well in two of his three preseason games, while Bridgewater appeared in just one game before unexpectedly missing the finale due to illness, giving Trask a golden opportunity to solidify his spot as the backup.
Trask finished the preseason 28-for-43 (65%) for 241 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions while Bridgewater finished the preseason 6-for-11 for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
After struggling mightily against Pittsburgh, he bounced back with an efficient game against Buffalo. He certainly didn’t wow anyone, but as a steady game manager entering his fifth year in Tampa, his efficiency and familiarity with the locker room could prove to be enough to secure the No. 2 quarterback job.
Loser: Chris Braswell
The 2024 second-round pick has failed to live up to his premium draft status. He finished his rookie season with just 18 total tackles and 1.5 sacks, and the team is counting on him to take a step forward in his sophomore campaign.
Braswell did notch one sack this preseason, but overall he was quiet and failed to make much of an impact. Most of his reps came against backup offensive linemen, making it an ideal chance to show growth heading into year two. Instead, Braswell left the impression that he still has plenty of work ahead in his development as a pass rusher.
Winner: Ryan Miller
Perhaps no player did more to help their case over the last few weeks than Miller.
He started the preseason with a bang in the opener against the Titans in catching six passes for 66 yards to set the tone. He’s proven to be a reliable target at the bottom of the depth chart and looks poised for a roster spot after leading the team with 95 receiving yards this preseason.
Winner: Josh Williams
The undrafted running back out of LSU made a name for himself this preseason and could force the front office to think hard about carrying a fourth running back after keeping only three last season.
In Week 2 against Pittsburgh, the Buccaneers managed just 41 rushing yards as a team at a miserable 1.7 yards per carry. But Williams stood out, accounting for half of those yards and averaging 4.2 per carry.
In the preseason finale against the Bills, he added 28 rushing yards, but his real impact came on special teams with three kick returns for 108 yards, an average of 36 per return. Williams’ versatility as both a runner and returner could make him tough to leave off the roster.
Loser: Trey Palmer
Palmer had a very promising start to his NFL career, playing in all 17 games as a rookie and catching 39 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns. But since then, his role has steadily shrunk.
Last season, he managed just 12 receptions, and heading into this offseason he badly needed a strong performance to separate himself in a crowded receiver room. Instead, a hamstring injury sidelined him for much of the summer, keeping him out of practice and the first two preseason games.
When he finally saw the field in the preseason finale, Palmer caught just one pass for 12 yards and had a costly drop on third down. With players like Ryan Miller and Tez Johnson making the most of their opportunities, Palmer didn’t do enough to stand out, and he could end up being one of the odd men out when roster cuts roll around.
Winner: Jacob Parrish
Parrish didn’t play in the preseason finale, confirming his status as the starting nickel cornerback heading into the regular season.
In limited preseason action, he totaled four tackles and three passes defensed, standing out as one of Tampa Bay’s most impressive young players. If his performance in camp and the preseason is any indication, Parrish looks like he’s going to be a baller for the Buccaneers.
Winner: Nick Jackson
Jackson had his work cut out as an undrafted linebacker trying to earn a roster spot, but he made the most of his preseason opportunities.
In the opener against Tennessee, Jackson totaled six tackles, including two for loss, leading Tampa Bay in both categories. He also added a sack and an interception.
He followed that up in Week 2 with three more tackles, including another sack.
In the preseason finale, he tied for second-highest in total tackles with six, finishing the preseason with an impressive stat line: 15 total tackles, two for loss, two sacks, and an interception. Jackson is practically guaranteed a spot on the practice squad at the very least, but he also has a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster.
Loser: Kameron Johnson
Kameron Johnson was the breakout star of last year’s preseason, even earning a spot on the 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent. Injuries derailed his rookie season, and while he did make up for his two crucial drops in the preseason finale with a 57-yard kick return and a 30-yard reception, it may not be enough.
Johnson now appears to be on his way out of Tampa Bay’s crowded receiver room despite the front office loving his potential as both a receiver and returner, but there is still a good chance the team brings him back on the practice squad.
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