Baker Mayfield and several Buccaneers starters make their preseason debuts against the Chiefs.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue their ramp up for the 2026 regular season with their only home game of the preseason when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs at 7:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.
While the Bucs are coming off a 24-16 win last week against the New York Jets to open the preseason, this week’s game will feature a number of starters on offense and defense who have yet to take the field.
On offense, fans will get their first opportunity to see quarterback Baker Mayfield, running backs Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell, wide receiver Chris Godwin and most of the first team offensive line. Defensively, most of the starters will play, including Rueben Bain Jr., Alex Anzalone and Antoine Winfield Jr., but will be missing defensive anchor Vita Vea. Vea, who recently signed a $30 million extension, likely won’t see the field until the regular season kicks off.
Against the Chiefs the offense will be led by Mayfield and primary backup Jake Browning, who missed the first preseason game with back strain he suffered in joint practices with the Jets. Mayfield didn’t play in any of the Buccaneers preseason games last season.
Last week backup hopefuls Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels led the offense to 245 total yards and 17 of the team’s 24 points. The offense was 6-of-14 on third down and committed zero turnovers.
Taking over the offense starting in the third quarter Daniels made the most of his extended playing time by completing 10-of-15 of his passes for 111 yards and led the team on two touchdown drives, with his last drive ending in a rushing touchdown.
Browning is in his first season with Tampa Bay after three seasons in Cincinnati. Serving as Joe Burrow’s backup, Browning played in five games last season, completed 64.8 percent of his passes, and threw six touchdowns to eight interceptions.
Browning said he is looking forward to the opportunity to compete for the backup position.
“I think anytime you’re in the NFL and you think you’re above any kind of competition, you’re in the wrong business,” Browning said. “I welcome any competition and feel pretty confident that I’ve been playing really well this camp.”
Kansas City opened the preseason with a 20-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. With starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes still recovering from a torn ACL, the Chiefs got a look at rookie Garrett Nussmeier and veterans Justin Fields, and Chris Oladokun. Despite the loss the Chiefs offense racked up 314 total yards and had zero turnovers against the Rams.
Like Browning, Fields is in his first season with the Chiefs after spending last season as the Jets’ starter for the first nine weeks of the season. Fields completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He also had four rushing touchdowns.
The Buccaneers are 5.5-point favorites and the point total for the game is 36.5.
