Tampa Bay opened with a 29-7 preseason win over Tennessee, but the spotlight centered on Rachaad White, who left with a groin injury on his final carry. Bowles labeled it day-to-day, signaling a precautionary approach rather than a long-term setback. With the run game critical to Tampa’s plan, White and Bucky Irving are the top two backs tasked with shouldering workloads in 2025, while Sean Tucker and Owen Wright provide depth and potential breakout bursts if White misses time.

Sanity for Buccaneers fans came in Bowles’ update, which eased fear of a serious issue. The team still explored other backs—Tucker and Wright—who flashed in the Titans tilt, and Wright ripped off 87 yards and a TD on 13 carries, suggesting a real floor if White’s groin lingers. Tampa’s next test against Pittsburgh could lock in rotation notes and highlight how the backfield might distribute carries once regular-season hits. Fantasy managers should monitor White’s status closely, with Irving and Tucker looming as viable insurance/floor options.

Overall, the playbook emphasizing the run remains intact, but the health guardrails around White will shape early-season usage. If White sits again, Irving and Tucker become intrinsic depth players with upside in favorable matchups, while Wright’s preseason showing hints at a potential sleeper path in deeper fantasy formats as the backfield committee crystallizes.

TB’s backfield is crowded, but undrafted Josh Williams is making noise. He’s trying to secure the RB4 spot behind Irving, White and Tucker, rallying back from an early camp injury to rejoin practice and suit up for joint sessions with the Steelers in preseason. New signing Owen Wright flashed in the Titans game with 87 yards and a TD on 18 carries, heightening Williams’ urgency to stand out in practice and Saturday lights. With White day-to-day with a groin issue and Wright keeping soreness in check, Williams has a real chance to carve a path to the 53-man roster if he keeps showing the vision, burst and elusiveness the staff liked coming in.

Coaches stress the importance of Williams seizing opportunities this week, knowing healthy RBs are precious at the moment. TB deploys a dynamic ground game, and Williams’ skill set fits the scheme, giving him a practical shot if he can recapture form quickly. For fantasy managers, Williams is a late-round dart in deeper leagues or a watch-list stash in standard formats, since a few handled touches or an injury could thrust him into meaningful Week 1 opportunities.

The Buccaneers opened the 2025 preseason with a 29-7 win over the Titans, and a night off for most starters turned the spotlight to the depth chart. Sean Tucker seized his chance after Rachaad White tweaked his groin, flashing a brisk, decisive style that suggested a real shot at supplementary work if White misses time. Kyle Trask handled a big stage in the first half, delivering 12-of-16 for 129 yards and threading a tight window to a bold target down the sideline. Ryan Miller stood out as a reliable option with 5 catches for 63 yards before the game paused for a concussion evaluation. On defense, Jacob Parrish showed early-life ink, snaring two PBUs in his first preseason action. Nick Jackson capped the night with a sack and an interception, a feat no Buc had done in preseason play since 2017. Owen Wright closed with a late TD, signaling depth and potential roster flexibility behind the big three-headed backfield. The result underlined how quickly a deep camp can translate into real roster pressure and fantasy relevance for a handful of players who weren’t on the radar a month ago.