The Tampa Bay Buccaneers closed out the preseason with easily their worst offensive performance of the season-preview slate, falling 19-0 to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday night. Here are five takeaways from Tampa Bay's final tune-up before the regular season.
1. Jalon Daniels Didn't Take Control of the QB2 Battle
Jalon Daniels entered Friday with considerable momentum after leading comeback wins over the Jets and Chiefs, but his first preseason start didn't go nearly as smoothly. Daniels completed 8 of15 passes for 57 yards and was sacked three times while also losing a fumble on a botched snap. He didn't get much assistance, with Dean Patterson IV, Kameron Johnson and Garrett Greene all dropping passes, but this was still an opportunity for Daniels to make a strong closing argument for the backup
job. Jake Browning didn't take advantage either, completing just 2 of4 passes for two yards and taking two sacks. However, failing to capitalize may have left the door open for Browning.
2. Jack Pyburn Couldn't Have Done Much More
Jack Pyburn made Tampa Bay's roster decisions even harder. Pyburn recorded two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a pass defended, giving him another disruptive preseason performance.
The problem for Pyburn has never been whether he has flashed enough to warrant consideration. It's how Tampa Bay finds room for him in a deep edge rusher group. With Yaya Diaby, Rueben Bain Jr., David Walker, Anthony Nelson and Al-Quadin Muhammad among the options at the position, Pyburn needed to make himself difficult to cut, and he planted his flag Friday.
3. Tampa Bay's Defensive Depth Continues to Impress
While the offense couldn't get anything going, the defense provided another encouraging look at just how deep Tampa Bay's front could be. The Buccaneers finished with four sacks, with Pyburn accounting for two while Nelson and Josiah Green each added one. Elijah Roberts also continued his strong preseason with another disruptive performance. After Tampa Bay spent much of the offseason reshaping its front seven, the preseason has provided encouraging evidence that Todd Bowles could have considerably more options to work with in 2026.
4. Benjamin Morrison Finished the Preseason on a Positive Note
Benjamin Morrison played the first half and came away healthy while also making a key fourth-down pass breakup in the end zone. Given Morrison's injury history, simply stacking healthy reps has been an important part of his preseason. Tampa Bay doesn't need Morrison to immediately become a star. It needs him available and continuing to develop. Friday was the first positive step.
5. The Backup Offensive Line Remains a Concern
The Buccaneers allowed five sacks and managed just 120 total yards while failing to record a first down in the second half. The running game never provided much support, leaving Daniels and Browning in difficult situations. The performance reminded everyone of the difference between Tampa Bay's starting offensive line and the depth behind it. Tristan Wirfs' return to practice has the projected starting five coming together at the right time, but injuries are inevitable over a 17-game season. Finding reliable answers behind those starters remains one of the bigger questions heading into Week 1.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Five takeaways from Buccaneers' 19-0 preseason loss to Jaguars
