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5 Buccaneers to Watch Against Washington

A few players to keep an eye on during the Buccaneers' preseason finale.

The Buccaneers' 53-Man roster.

1. WR Kenny Bell
The Buccaneers have several wide receivers battling for a spot on the 53-man roster, and Head Coach Dirk Koetter has reiterated throughout training camp how close that competition is. As it stands, Bell appears poised to earn one of the five or six spots at wide receiver. He's currently the Bucs' No. 4 receiver on the depth chart behind Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans and Adam Humphries. He will see extensive playing time on Wednesday, potentially returning kicks in addition to playing on offense. He could solidify a spot on the Bucs' final roster with a strong performance against the Redskins.

2. RB Mike James
James has been the Bucs' No. 3 running back throughout training camp, but he's been sidelined for the past two weeks of the preseason with injuries. The Buccaneers will carry three running backs, with Doug Martin and Charles Sims being locks. If James returns to the field on Wednesday, it will be interesting to see how many reps he gets compared to Peyton Barber, who filled in during James' absence. It's worth noting that the Buccaneers may be able to hold onto both James and Barber if they sign James to the active roster and Barber lands on the practice squad.

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  1. TE Danny Vitale**
    Vitale is a draft pick, but that doesn't guarantee he will be on the 53-man roster. He's currently listed as the No. 4 tight end on the depth chart behind Cameron Brate, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Luke Stocker. Throughout camp, Vitale hasn't seen much action. That is sure to change on Wednesday. Vitale could potentially get 20 or more reps at tight end and fullback against the Redskins.

4. S Ryan Smith
Like Vitale, Smith's draft-pick status doesn't mean he'll still be a Buccaneer come Week 1 of the regular season. But he's flashed at times and is able to return kicks, which will help him in the long run. Smith is currently listed as the Bucs' fifth safety and will be battling with Isaiah Johnson for the No. 4 spot and a place on the 53-man roster.  

5. CB Josh Robinson
Robinson is a former starter in the NFL who impressed during training camp, but he still finds himself near the bottom of the depth chart at cornerback. Robinson will be competing with Johnthan Banks, a former second-round draft pick who began 2015 as a starter for the Bucs, for a roster spot. Keep an eye on how many reps Robinson gets on special teams. He has performed well as a gunner on the punt coverage team in practice.

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