The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starters could finally see preseason action, as Todd Bowles expects them to play in next Saturday's preseason home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to FOX Sports' Greg Auman.
Bowles said he is still determining how much they'll play.
Every rookie but Rueben Bain Jr. played in Friday's 24-10 victory over the New York Jets. Bowles said the team has been impressed with the rookie's performance in practice, which is why he was sidelined.
He recorded three sacks against the Jets in joint practices throughout the week. New York's offensive line struggled to contain him, as he beat them early, pressuring Geno Smith.
The excitement around Bain's debut is palpable. Tampa Bay has posted about him often on social media, including two posts before Friday's game.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield will also take the field despite all the attention drawn from a failed contract extension.
Mayfield suited up during pre-game warmups on Friday to throw the ball. He took a picture with a superfan, who has a collection of all his jerseys since high school.
How he performs in the preseason won't carry much weight into the regular season, but it is an important season for him. Mayfield is playing out the final year of his deal and has postponed extension negotiations until next offseason.
Tampa Bay has the option to franchise-tag him to keep him from entering free agency. It would pay him nearly $47 million for one year, but the franchise quarterback wants long-term security.
Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and defensive tackle Vita Vea will not play against the Chiefs.
Egbuka is out with a sprained toe sustained in joint practices. He met with specialists to confirm it was sprained, and the Buccaneers are optimistic about a Week 1 return for the second-year receiver, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud.
Vea is holding out of participating due to a failed contract extension. The two-time Pro Bowler requested a trade two weeks ago, and both sides are currently at a standstill.
His agent, Collin Roberts, predicts his tenure will inevitably end in a trade. General manager Jason Licht is adamant about not trading his star defensive anchor and has said he wants to see him in Tampa Bay past 2026.
He has still been active, coaching his teammates during practices and attending the game on Friday. Linebacker Alex Anzalone said the team needs Vea.
Raymond James Stadium gets to see its starters play football once more, albeit likely on very few snaps. The long-awaited debut of Bain will happen.