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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucs' Release Week 10 Depth Chart: New Receiver Alignment

With Mike Evans on injured reserve, Sterling Shepard is now listed among the team's starting receivers, while rookie Tez Johnson continues to see an expanded role

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Each week during the regular season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' communications department publishes a "Game Release" to aid the media in coverage of their upcoming game. Within that release are a number of documents regarding the player roster, including a depth chart, which lists the pecking order at every position on offense, defense and special teams.

Each game week, we will be taking a closer look at that depth chart, pointing out any changes or relevant notes from the previous game and which players saw notable action in that game. Let's start on offense. Rookies are marked with an asterisk. Players we will be discussing in depth are highlighted in bold text.

OFFENSE

WR: Chris Godwin, Tez Johnson*

WR: Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson

LT: Tristan Wirfs, Benjamin Chukwuma*

LG: Ben Bredeson, Elijah Klein

C: Graham Barton

RG: Michael Jordan, Luke Haggard, Dan Feeney

RT: Charlie Heck

WR: Emeka Egbuka*, Ryan Miller

TE: Cade Otton, Payne Durham, Devin Culp

QB: Baker Mayfield, Teddy Bridgewater

RB: Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, Sean Tucker, Josh Williams*

The Buccaneers have realigned the three receiving spots on their offensive depth chart, reflecting the move of Mike Evans to injured reserve and the domino effect that followed. Chris Godwin remains in one of the starting spots, though he has missed three games and may not be ready to return in Week 10 due to a fibula injury. Rookie Emeka Egbuka is also still listed with the first team but the third designated starter is now veteran Sterling Shepard. Rookie Tez Johnson is listed behind Godwin, but he started the Bucs' most recent game in New Orleans and was second among the receivers in snaps only to Egbuka (51 to 41). Johnson led the team with five catches for 43 yards. Shepard was next at 24 snaps, or 41% of the total, and Ryan Miller saw an uptick in his playing time with 20 snaps.

Rookie running back Josh Williams played six snaps and got the first four carries of his NFL career against the Saints, gaining 11 yards. With Bucky Irving still out, Rachaad White again had the role of lead back and played 32 snaps to 20 for Sean Tucker, though Tucker led the team with 42 yards on 12 carries, scoring the fifth touchdown of his career.

Dan Feeney became the fifth different player to start at right guard for the Bucs this season and he played all 58 snaps. Iron man tight end Cade Otton played all but two of the team's offensive snaps and turned in four catches for 40 yards.

DEFENSE

DL: Elijah Roberts*, Greg Gaines

NT: Vita Vea, Elijah Simmons*

DL: Logan Hall, C.J. Brewer

OLB: Yaya Diaby, Chris Braswell, Markees Watts

ILB: SirVocea Dennis, John Bullock*

ILB: Lavonte David, Deion Jones

OLB: Haason Reddick, Anthony Nelson

CB: Jamel Dean, Benjamin Morris*, Kindle Vildor

CB: Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish*, Josh Hayes

S: Antoine Winfield Jr., Christian Izien, Sebastian Castro

S: Tykee Smith, Kaevon Merriweather

Rookie Elijah Roberts has assumed a starting role on defense, playing the spot on the front line previously filled by Calijah Kancey, who is on injured reserve. Roberts was moved to the top line on the depth chart after making his second consecutive start in New Orleans and playing 48defensive snaps, or 67% of the total. That was the most playing time for any of the team's down linemen, with nose tackle Vita Vea next at 41 snaps.

Seventh-year veteran Anthony Nelson stepped back into the starting lineup in Week Nine with outside linebacker Haason Reddick sidelined by injury, and had the best game of his career. Nelson played 45 snaps and won NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after combining a pick-six with two sacks and a forced fumble.

Rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish moved back into the slot after previously making one start each in place of outside corners Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum. In this case, it was Parrish who sustained an injury, leaving in the second half with an oblique strain. The Bucs responded by moving McCollum into the slot and playing another rookie, Benjamin Morrison, on the outside. Parrish collected his second sack of the season and had two tackles for loss before exiting.

SPECIALISTS

P: Riley Dixon

PK: Chase McLaughlin

KO: Chase McLaughlin

H: Riley Dixon

LS: Evan Deckers

PR: Kameron Johnson, Tez Johnson*

KR: Sean Tucker, Josh Williams*

KR: Kameron Johnson, Rachaad White

Chase McLaughlin made three field goals, all from 52 yards out or farther, against the Saints and was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Riley Dixon complemented that effort by averaging 50.3 yards on three punts, with a net average of 47.7 yards and one placed inside the 20.

Nelson saw his load on special teams lightened after he moved into a starting role on defense, but not by much. After playing 100% of the special teams snaps in the Bucs' previous two games, Nelson was on the field for 10 of 20 such plays against the Saints. That made cornerback Josh Hayes, who logged 15 kick-and-coverage snaps and contributed two special teams tackles, as the team's most active player in the third phase of the game.

View the top images of Tampa Bay's game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 26th, 2025 at Caesars Superdome.

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