TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened training camp with a revamped defensive front demanding attention, led by first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. and the return of three-technique Calijah Kancey from a torn pectoral muscle that wiped out most of his 2025 season.
Bain, the former Miami Hurricane, impressed during rookie minicamp and OTAs with his bend around the rush arc and explosive power. Head coach Todd Bowles overhauled the defensive line during the offseason, adding A’Shawn Robinson, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Rakeem Nuñez-Roches alongside Bain. David Walker, who tore his ACL during camp a year ago and missed the entirety of his rookie campaign in 2025, also returns to the mix.
Kancey was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 17 last season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the Bucs’ Week Two win over the Texans. He logged just 97 total snaps in 2025. A healthy Kancey alongside nose tackle Vita Vea gives Tampa Bay one of the more disruptive interior pairings in the NFC.
The Bucs also added veteran inside linebacker Alex Anzalone, who will take on the weakside linebacker role in Bowles’ hybrid defense. Anzalone accumulated 52 solo tackles, 95 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and one interception for the Detroit Lions in 2025. He will be tasked with dropping into coverage and blitzing more than he has in previous years, but his range and run-defense instincts fill a clear need.
On offense, tight end Cade Otton enters camp as a focal point for new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Otton finished second on the Bucs with 59 receptions for 572 yards and one touchdown last season while playing 993 snaps — rarely leaving the field thanks to his blocking ability. Robinson’s reimagined scheme is expected to maximize Otton’s versatility as both a receiving and blocking weapon.
Wide receiver Jalen McMillan is another name to watch after a 2025 season derailed by a serious neck injury suffered in a preseason contest against the Steelers that landed him on injured reserve. McMillan returned in Week 15 against the Falcons and played 138 total snaps, including his first 100-yard receiving game against the Dolphins in Week 17. The coaching staff confirmed that Emeka Egbuka has primarily worked at the ‘Z’ spot and Ted Hurst at the ‘X,’ leaving McMillan’s exact role in the formation as one of camp’s key storylines.
The Bucs will continue training camp practices through the preseason schedule, with roster cuts shaping the 53-man squad ahead of the regular season.