3 things to know for the Buccaneers preseason game against the Bills

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers close out their preseason Saturday against the Buffalo Bills, with most starters expected to sit out. That means one thing: it’s crunch time for depth players to make their case. Here are three things to know heading into tonight’s important finale:

Reserves Carry the Load

With the top performers resting, the onus falls on backups and young contributors to lead. Veteran playmakers like Teddy Bridgewater will steer the offense. Defensively, expect production from Anthony Nelson and rising players like Nick Jackson. Their performances will help define roster spots.

WR Depth Faces Real Tests

Tampa Bay’s receiver room remains deep and competitive. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr leaned on heavily in prior campaigns, players like Sterling Shepard, Ryan Miller, and Tez Johnson must step up. The preseason finale is their final audition. Shepard’s familiarity with the system and rapport with Mayfield could give him an edge as the battle tightens.

Safety Depth Is Thin, Eyes Are on Defenders

The safety room has taken hits. J.J. Roberts is sidelined for the season with a knee injury, and Christian Izien hasn’t practiced recently due to an oblique issue. That leaves players like Kaevon Merriweather and Shilo Sanders battling for depth roles. How they perform on Saturday, especially in coverage and situational awareness, could be the difference between making the roster or ending up on the practice squad.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 3 things to know for the Bucs preseason game against the Bills