The running back the Bucs brought in for a look today isn’t just a live body freshly unemployed. [read more]

Decisions.

A week from today, we will know the initial roster of your 2018 Bucs. [read more]

Injury updates

Detailed injury news is often hard to come by at One Buc Palace because Dirk Koetter is adamant about not sharing unless the NFL tells him he must — and that doesn’t happen in preseason. [read more]

Joe’s going to make a call here and say Vernon Hargreaves has locked down a starting job on opening day opposite Brent Grimes. [read more]

Jameis Winston, right, congratulates Chris Godwin on a touchdown catch Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Last night Chris Godwin showed why Bucs types are so geeked about his future. [read more]

Joe would be paranoid, too. [read more]

Dishes out credit.

Last week when Bucs offensive coordinator and straight-shooter Todd Monken spoke with members of the Bucs’ pen and mic club, he tried to say in a roundabout way he wasn’t the reason the first and second team offense has been humming in the preseason. [read more]

Jameis Winston, right, congratulates Chris Godwin on a touchdown catch Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Boy, the Bucs quarterbacks were sharp tonight. [read more]

Solid job by OL coach George Warhop’s backups.

If this wasn’t a preseason game, Bucs fans would be more nervous than a priest in a cathouse. [read more]

Adam Humphries scores on his kick-six Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

The Bucs now have their version of a kick-six. [read more]

Joe never would have imagined typing that headline. But it became a reality tonight.

Joe’s so damn stunned, here’s the 2nd-quarter video for you to savor yourself. What a boost for Gholston, who has had a very up and down summer.

Will Gholston brings down Matthew Stafford to end the drive!#GoBucs | #DETvsTB https://t.co/mnaw7iaNbJ

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 25, 2018

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The Bucs came within 30 seconds of their first 3-0 preseason start since 1999, when they advanced to the NFC championship game.

Let’s not get carried away, I don’t see the second coming of Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks or Ronde Barber out there, but I don’t see a 5-11 club, either.

Tampa Bay’s 20-6 halftime advantage was well deserved because the Bucs outplayed the Lions in all three phases. The start of the game was delayed an hour by dodgy weather, but the real storm front was an offensive line that manhandled Detroit on the opening drive.

If you didn’t see the game, shame on you. Here’s what you missed: [read more]

A rare sizzling start!

Forget about any individual performances tonight; this post is about the team, your Buccaneers. [read more]

Manned up in the spotlight

No joke.

Joe plans to order a Michael Liedtke jersey in a matter of hours. [read more]

Sets up touchdown and more

If you add it up, Gerald McCoy has played 4 1/2 quarters of preseason football. And you could make a great case he’s on pace for NFL Defensive Player Of The Year. [read more]

The Man

Peyton Barber’s preseason ended after tonight’s opening drive with 15 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

Doug who? [read more]

KICKOFF MOVED TO 8:59 p.m. – Cheer and groan in the comments section all throughout tonight’s preseason Week 3 “dress rehearsal” against Detroit at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.

Please stay respectful but don’t hesitate to mix it up. And come back all night long for plenty out of this game, including Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways column.

So much to keep an eye on with the starters expected to play at least one half before the grad students and mattress movers take the field.

Go Bucs!

Sidelined for the preseason finale

Rough blow for rookie cornerback M.J. Stewart not being able to go tonight against the Lions.

Plenty of teammates will join him. [read more]

Preseason Game 3

Lions at Bucs

Kickoff: 8 p.m.

TV: WTSP-TV, Channel 10. (Game will rebroadcast on NFL Network Wednesday at 10 a.m.) All NFL preseason games are available via NFL Game Pass.) [read more]

Versatile OL for sale?

In case Joe has readers today who are just popping in after being away for a few months (why would you do that?), here is something that has been a Bucs theme in recent weeks: [read more]

So what’s really going on with rookie Ronald Jones, the Buccaneers rookie who in a very tiny sample size has popped an oversized balloon of hope fans had for him this season? [read more]