3 Players with something to prove on the Bucs in training camp

· Yahoo Sports

The Bucs did not finish the 2025 season the way they started, or how they wanted to.

The team came out of the gates firing, won several big games, including a game in Seattle where they defeated the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks, and finished 5-2. They had their Bye Week, and the floor collapsed on their season. Injuries caught up, roles changed, and coaching decisions became more hit-or-miss.

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All of that is set to reset in 2026, and it starts in training camp. Some of those players who were affected during the 2025 collapse are coming into camp with a chip on their shoulder. We wanted to preview some of them, starting with the player with the most to lose both on and off the field.

Baker Mayfield, Quarterback

We saw on the Netflix series Quarterback just how banged up Baker Mayfield was after the Bye Week. He went from being the MVP frontrunner to an afterthought. He now enters 2026 with a chip on his shoulder to show folks he can put together a complete season for the Bucs once again, while also showing he is worth a contract extension. This will be the final year on his latest deal with the team, and he needs to make a good impression on the team to earn a massive deal.

Bucky Irving, Running Back

Speaking of playing injured, Bucky Irving was never himself in 2025 either. He had a shoulder issue that he had cleaned up, but something was just off with him all season. Now, in 2026, he will have the backfield to himself in terms of getting the carries due to the departure of Rachaad White in free agency. The team did bring in Kenneth Gainwell, but that should be more of a passing game role for him. Irving can and should be considered the lead back, but if he falters again in 2026, the team is likely to make a change.

Calijah Kancey, Defensive Lineman

Calijah Kancey has been dealing with ups and downs ever since he entered the NFL in 2023. The former Pittsburgh defensive lineman is now in Tampa Bay and will be entering 2026 fully healed from a torn pectoral muscle that allowed him to play in just three games last season. He will be an integral part of the defense as he will now be a part of a defensive line that is made up of first-round picks. This will be the best defensive line he has ever played with, and he will need to capitalize on it.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 3 Players with something to prove on the Bucs in training camp

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