Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles reveals level of offensive line depth concern after shutout

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered their preseason finale with confidence in their starting offensive line, but Friday night’s 19-0 shutout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars raised questions about what lies behind that first unit. With the Tampa Bay resting their starters, the game gave Todd Bowles and his staff another opportunity to evaluate the players competing for depth roles ahead of final roster decisions

The results were not encouraging. The team managed just 87 net yards of offense while allowing five sacks. When asked after the game about his level of concern regarding the offensive line’s depth, Bowles made it clear that the starters remain a different conversation. However, he did not dismiss what he saw from the group against Jacksonville.

“I like the first five and when everybody’s healthy,” Bowles said. “I’ll look at the tape. If you judge by tonight, yeah there’s concern. I’ll look at the totality of the tape and see where it came from.”

The former player-turned-tactician’s answer reflects the distinction between Tampa Bay’s confidence in its projected starters and the uncertainty surrounding the players expected to step in if injuries strike during the regular season. The Buccaneers have Tristan Wirfs, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke anchoring a starting group that is expected to be among the team’s strengths when healthy.

That health qualifier is an important one, especially after the Buccaneers dealt with significant injuries along the offensive line in 2025. Tampa Bay’s offense struggled as the unit was forced to shuffle personnel throughout the season, making reliable depth a priority heading into 2026.

Friday’s performance did little to provide immediate reassurance. Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, who had helped lead comeback victories in Tampa Bay’s first two preseason games, completed eight of 15 passes for 57 yards and was sacked three times before leaving the game in the third quarter. The Buccaneers also struggled to establish the run and failed to find any offensive rhythm throughout the night.

Bowles had already voiced concerns about the line’s performance during the game, saying the Buccaneers needed more push up front and better protection for their quarterback.

Still, the head coach stopped short of drawing a final conclusion from one preseason outing. With roster cuts approaching, the film from Jacksonville will factor into a broader evaluation of the offensive line room.

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