Buccaneers undrafted rookies Jack Pyburn and Ayden Garnes make impact plays in preseason win over Jets.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense had a strong showing in their first preseason game against the New York Jets on Aug. 14. Along with holding the Jets to just one offensive touchdown in the 24-16 win in East Rutherford, N.J., head coach Todd Bowles’ defense might have also uncovered two defensive gems in undrafted free agents Jack Pyburn (OLB) and Ayden Garnes (CB).
Pyburn, who played at Florida and LSU, and Garnes, who played at West Virginia and Arizona, had their names called numerous times during the game—most notably after momentum-shifting plays.
Garnes made the biggest game of the day midway through the second quarter by intercepting a Bailey Zappe pass 47 yards for a touchdown to give the Buccaneers their first score of the game and tie the game 10-10.
“It’s great to see his confidence grow. He doesn’t have a lack of confidence from that standpoint, but it’s about understanding and learning the entire system,” Bowles said on Monday. “It’s not just the great plays, it’s the little things that could cause big things as well. He’s got a short memory, he’s very talented, he’s coming along. He’s got some things to learn but we like how he’s progressing.”
Pybrun made his presence known early in the second half. After the Jets took a 13-10 lead with a field goal at the end of the first half and receiving the second-half kickoff, Pyburn ended any momentum the Jets had with a sack of Zappe on third-and-3 for a loss of seven yards. Tampa Bay then took the lead for good on the next drive as the offense—led by quarterback Jalon Daniels—marched down the field 80 yards in 12 plays, capped by a Josh Williams touchdown. Pyburn would get his second sack with two minutes left in the game.
On Monday Pyburn said his performance against the Jets is the product of a change in mindset.
“I’ve always been a good football player and had a good college career, but didn’t perform how I wanted to perform and part of that was the mental side of the game that I didn’t fully tap into,” Pyburn said. “When I sat on the couch on the day of the draft and I didn’t get drafted, I had to look at myself in the mirror and decide, ‘Who do I want to be?’ Did I want to say ‘why me, why me?’ or did I want to say ‘Why not me?’ I chose ‘Why not me’ and have worked harder than I ever have in my life to be where I’m at and I’m going to continue to.”
Last season at LSU Pyburn registered 132 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.
Currently, Garnes is listed as the third LCB and Pyburn is listed as the fourth ROLB on the Tampa Bay depth chart.
The Buccaneers (1-0) will play their lone home preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) at 6:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 22.
