As Expected, Josiah Trotter Is Your Bucs Starting Inside Linebacker
September 8th, 2026
Inside LB Josiah Trotter.
The weekly Bucs game release included the expected depth chart for Week 1 at Cincinnati on Sunday.
And scheduled to stand next to fellow inside linebacker Alex Anzalone will be rookie second-round pick Josiah Trotter.
Joe remembers back in training camp when Joe noted Trotter would be starting over SirVocea Dennis, someone (maybe a member of Trotter’s family?) completely unloaded on Joe. Went absolutely apes(p)it on Joe.
Oh, Dennis knows the defense. He has elite quickness. Only a total moron would suggest Dennis won’t start.
Yeah, well, Joe saw all but one practice and Joe has never seen an NFL team waste its time with a rookie playing on the first-team defense for most of training camp if they didn’t plan to start him, unless someone was hurt.
And everything KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles said for the past six weeks suggested Trotter would start. So Joe hopes whoever that was who killed him on Twitter has to blow his nose in his Dennis’ jersey.
Some other interesting nuggets.
* Despite being paid $7 million a year, Kenny Gainwell is not listed as a starter. Bucky Irving is. This doesn’t mean Gainwell won’t get plenty of touches.
* Sean Tucker and Kameron Johnson are your kick returners. Johnson will also handle punt returns.
* It appears Keionte Scott has won the nickel corner position.
Your first-, second-, and third-team Bucs, per the depth chart, are listed below:
September 8th, 2026 at 12:49 pm
I start hurst at the no 3
September 8th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
Dennis better shine on STs, Fordham nipping at his heels.
September 8th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
I don’t think anyone who knows this team wanted or expected Dennis to do anything but play ST.
September 8th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Why would Gainwell be listed as the starter? I think it’s pretty clear to everyone Bucky is the starter unless he gets outperformed by Gainwell and that hasn’t happened.
September 8th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
So I’m guessing the Bucs will wait until after week 1 to activate SMB. If he is active, then I believe his contract would be fully guaranteed. And before the ‘Glazers are cheap’ morons start yapping, it’s a pretty common cap management deal that a lot of teams do if you’re not certain if a vet will be with you for an entire season, or if they have health concerns.
September 8th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Tbbucsfan Says:
September 8th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Why would Gainwell be listed as the starter? I think it’s pretty clear to everyone Bucky is the starter unless he gets outperformed by Gainwell and that hasn’t happened.
———–
Everyone?
People around here want to cut and replace the RB on a weekly basis. If a RB is in an awful scheme and gets no blocking, it doesn’t matter, they think every RB should be Barry Sanders and be able to average 6 yards a carry – no excuses. And if you can’t get it done 17 weeks a year, it’s time to spend a 1st rounder on a new RB … only for them to be cut after week 2 when they open their career with 57 yards at 3.7 a carry because the Bucs OC just runs up the gut on every single first down and teams stack the box knowing that.
September 8th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Thought prior to Training Camp that Anzalone & Rozeboom might be the 2 starting the season, only because of their experience. But once the pads came on, there was no doubt that Trot was gonna be our MLB.
September 8th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
There never was a competition. Still got to see trotter play real snaps. Can’t wait to see him face three of the top NFL players in league listed by ESPN. Bijon Mccafrey Gibbs and throw in Saquon all of whom Voss had to face.
September 8th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
joelowresroster.com
🤣
September 8th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
I know I am reading this with red and pewter colored glasses, but I really like the depth on the front 7.
September 8th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Trotter spent training camp running with the ones, looking like a starter and being treated like a starter. Our finest detectives have now concluded he’s the starter.
Dennis knows the defense. Trotter apparently knows where the guy with the football is. Slight advantage Trotter.
September 8th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
I thought I just needed my glasses…
September 8th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
It’s nice to the starting 5 OL actually healthy and starting in their actual positions. Here’s a good time use that term “hope”. I hope they stay healthy this year!
September 8th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
Trotter did very little just known as vocal hype man. No factor preseason even of limited
September 8th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
What’s wrong with Mike Evans…..why isn’t he listed….is he injured…..did he leave?
September 8th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
@TBBF frickin hilarious bro,…Mike who? Jones lol
September 8th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
What’s I’m worried the most about is Miles Kilbrew being the only back up Safety need someone else there
September 8th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
has anyone watched him play during preseason or scrimmage is he going to be good or still a ? i had my eye on him a couple plays he didn’t really stick out but small sample size
September 8th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
Mike Evans is injured and likely out for the season. 🙂
September 8th, 2026 at 2:09 pm
GARNES
He’s 3rd on the depth chart but he’ll be starting week 4-5. No way Zyon and Morrison stay healthly that long.
Elijah Roberts and Kenny Gainwell
I’d start both these guys and bring CK and Bucky off the bench. Keep them on a pitch count, keep them healthy, maximimize their impact.
September 8th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Who is this Rozeboom person ?
September 8th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Where is EE? Is he listed as out this week?
September 8th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
Nevermind I see him. I hate the way they ordered this list.
September 8th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
Ayden Garnes and Josiah Trotter were teammates at WVU
I think they have bright futures in Tampa
September 8th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
I’m excited for Trotter to make people go “oooooh” with his hitting. He’ll be great at winning first down and second down but then giving it all away on third down so the crowd can make those other noises I don’t like hearing or making myself so it’s going to take a lot for Trotter to endear himself to me. His brother is a special teamer. I’m not saying he’s a bust but that he is symbolic of Bowles’ foibles and I’m not buying any hype on him.
He is an upgrade but not no triumph. I hope Bowles has a couple old tubs of Stickum squirreled away somewhere to give this kid and the sense not to ask him to do the things Britt and SVD never, ever could. He could be great at finding the ball carrier while bracketed by Anzalone and Scott to handle everything behind him often and be a demon of a run blitzer but he is limited. Bowles undoing to me is his refusal to acknowledge his players’ limitations. I know I’ll see this kid’s ass get busted in coverage repeatedly and in multiple ways but I don’t rule out he can learn from these mistakes he will be making and his teammates humility will rub off him over time.
September 8th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
No Bauer Sharpe?
I was confused why only 8 underlined when there is 9.
September 8th, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Drew. Evans is practicing today and expected to start. Don’t just make stuff up you’ll send fantasy managers into a panic.
September 8th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Trotter starting is no shock, and I wouldn’t be shocked to hear if Anzalone had some input in on the call as playing next to Trotter is going to effect him for better and worse. Looking forward to Trot takes to his first regular season game. Kid turned 21 a week before the draft, was in college for 3 years but only played his last 2. My opinion, but his ability in coverage is just apart of his game we haven’t seen a lot of in his 24 games rather than some glaring red flag. It’ll certainly be a good sidequest for Josiah to show he can hang and be the 3-down start we’d like him to be.
September 8th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
of course…. 🙂
September 8th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
I’ll give Killebrew the benefit of the doubt based on the quality of the safeties he beat out who are on the PS. I know special teams is his thing and success in that phase of the game is a lot of staying in position relative to your teammates and perhaps, he can do that on the back end of the defense as well better than we’re expecting?
I do like this roster. I heard even Riley Dixon is feeling savage but if he and his slow mechanics get blocked once he has to be gone. Special teams has more room for improvement after last year than the defense.
September 8th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
Go Trotter!
Go Bucs!!