Buccaneers Players to Watch in Sunday’s Matchup With the Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are set to open their 2026 season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. The Bucs bring a mix of experienced veterans and emerging young stars to the table, and after a disappointing 2025 season, they’ll be out for blood in Week 1.

Here are Bucs to watch on Sunday when the Bengals welcome them to Paycor Stadium:

Quarterback Baker Mayfield

Mayfield has revitalized his career in Tampa Bay, taking the Bucs to the playoffs in two of his three seasons. He just signed a new massive contract, so he’ll be looking to prove he was worth the money, especially after falling off down the stretch last year when he threw just 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his last eight games.

He’ll be looking to get the Bucs back on track with a strong start on Sunday against Cincinnati’s revamped defense.

Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka

With the departure of longtime leader of the wide receiver room Mike Evans, it’s time for Egbuka to step up as the No. 1 option. Chris Godwin is getting older, and after a near 1,000-yard season as a rookie, Egbuka is a breakout candidate in Year 2.

It’ll be interesting to see how Tampa Bay exactly uses him and if Mayfield looks to him or Godwin more on Sunday.

Safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Winfield is one of the leaders in Tampa’s secondary as he enters his seventh season with the Bucs. He’ll be looking to get back to his 2023 form, when he recorded 122 total tackles, six sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and three interceptions. The safety wasn’t bad last season, but after the talent he showed a couple of years ago, there’s more to be desired.

Defensive lineman Vita Vea

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Vea signed a one-year extension worth $30 million last month as he gears up for Year 9 in Tampa Bay. He also had a down year last season, seeing a dip in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. He’s another leader on the Bucs defense who will be hungry to get back to form this season.

Cornerback Jacob Parrish

Similar to Egbuka, Parrish is a second-year guy who showed a ton of promise as a rookie. He had 76 total tackles and nabbed two interceptions, proving he can become a cornerstone of the secondary for years to come. The second-year corner will be lined up against Ja’Marr Chase a lot on Sunday, putting him in an important role right away.