No amount of preparation feels quite like the real thing.
You have to go all the way back to January, when the Bucs last took the field, and a new-look team played the Bengals on Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. Tampa Bay came out ready to bounce back after an 8-9 season in which they missed the playoffs.
They will have to wait another week for a chance to win.
The Bucs fell short, losing 33-27 to the Bengals in Week 1. Even with this defeat in a game that quickly slipped away, there were some positive players and moments worth discussing.
ILB Josiah Trotter
Josiah Trotter came on strong in the second half on Sunday, as he recorded his first NFL sack to stall out the Bengals’ offense and force a field goal. Trotter would do one better on Cincinnati’s next offensive drive, as he dropped back in coverage on third-and-5 and jumped a Joe Burrow pass to record his first interception — a 38-yard pick-six to bring the Bucs within a touchdown.
Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect
It was a game to remember for the second-round pick, who quelled concerns about his coverage ability.
Over the past 10 seasons only two NFL players have recorded a sack, an interception and 5+ tackles in their NFL debut:
– Buccaneers LB Josiah Trotter (today at CIN)
– Steelers OLB T.J. Watt (9/10/17 at CLE)— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) September 13, 2026
He was one of my main players to watch in my Slivon’s Slant column and on the Pewter Pregame show, and he put to rest any doubt that he can make an immediate impact as a rookie.
CB Zyon McCollum
Zyon McCollum made a headline-worthy statement sharing his thoughts about what the Bucs’ secondary could do against Joe Burrow heading into the season-opener.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for us,” McCollum said about facing Burrow and the Bengals’ passing attack. “There will be no better feeling when we take away three, four interceptions.”
That bold prediction failed to become reality, but that did not stop McCollum from having a solid game defending Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Tampa Bay’s highest-paid cornerback was solid from the start, breaking up as third-and-6 pass intended for Chase to force a stop.
Bucs CBs Zyon McCollum and Keionte Scott – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect
He had eight tackles while limiting Cincinnati’s All-Pro wide receiver to just two catches for 12 yards, which was a product of the athletic cornerback staying focused and understanding the task at hand. Coming into the year as one of the biggest defensive question marks, McCollum looked like the player the team envisioned when he signed a three-year, $48 million contract extension before last season.
WR Emeka Egbuka
For all the struggles the Bucs’ offense had with ball security (see my Most Disappointing column), Emeka Egbuka was the biggest bright spot. Egbuka looked more polished running routes and someone ready to build off the first half of his rookie year. He had five catches for a team-leading 63 yards.
Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect
What stood out about his performance was his ability to create separation and showcasing his yards-after-catch ability. With Jalen McMillan out with a knee injury, it was expected that Egbuka’s target share would increase. He was Baker Mayfield’s go-to guy early on and contributed with some key gains.
DT Calijah Kancey
The Bucs defensive line did not look as dominant as expected, but if there was a silver lining, it was watching Calijah Kancey. Seeing him healthy and playing in Week 1 is a bit of a milestone, but Kancey had what I counted as three pressures that affected Joe Burrow. Heading into his fourth season, No. 94 is looking to live up to his first-round potential. He got off to a good start at getting there in 2026.
K Chase McLaughlin
One of the biggest positive constants remains Chase McLaughlin’s accuracy connecting on field goals. He made 34-yard and 51-yard field goals to put points on the board. It did not decide the game, but McLaughlin made the most of his chances to kick it between the uprights.
WR Ted Hurst III
With Jalen McMillan out, there might’ve been some thought that rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst III could see increased work in his NFL debut. That wasn’t the case for much of the day, but when he got his chance to shine late in the game, he took it. Baker Mayfield targeted him on three straight plays during a fourth-quarter possession, and Hurst brought in all three for 36 yards. He played a key role in a touchdown drive that would cut the deficit to six with 3:19 to go.