A semi-interesting preseason affair. The game itself was a drag, but I got to see some of my favorite rookies in play.
As for the game itself, KC went with a kinda 1st-team vs. the TB 1st-team defense. KC was led by Justin Fields (9-12 for 64 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 1-15-0) with no Rashee Rice, but did have Kenneth Walker III (2-4-0, 0-0-0/0) and I think I saw Travis Kelce (0-0-0, 0-0-0/0) among others for a series, then it quickly went to the 2nd-team offense for KC and so on.
Tampa Bay countered with their 1st-team defense and ran Baker Mayfield (2-4 for 10 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 0-0-0) for a series with Bucky Irving (3-14-0, 0-0-0/0), but no top WRs detected.
There really wasn’t enough 1st-team work to make sweeping judgments, but I will judge it for what I saw… it’s my job.
Everything was sluggish. The Chiefs maintained the lead for much of the game… and then Jalon Daniels (9-14 for 71 yards, 1 TD/0 INT, 3-19-0) came in for TB and changed things. More to the point, Garrett Nussmeier (9-17 for 74 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 1-1-0) came in for KC and changed things for the better… for Tampa.
The Bucs eked out a win in a game called by (what I watched) Ronde Barber and newly allowed back in the NFL Jon Gruden—Tampa Bay’s home coverage. When I say these two have no chemistry at all, it insults the words "at all." We’ll mention them again in the player notes section.
Lots of notes here. I tried to put them in some order of effect on me and interest/impact on FF.
Player Notes…
— First, let’s discuss the starting RBs in this game:
Kenneth Walker III (2-4-0, 0-0-0/0) started and took a couple of carries and looked OK. Nothing amazing. Not enough work to judge, but what he did do was pretty standard fare.
The #2 back for KC was Emari Demercado (5-18-0, 1-7-0/1). He didn't do much. He’s fine, but he’s so dumb. He just does things that hurt his case to be #2… missed a block, missed a hole in the run game. He doesn’t help himself.
Emmett Johnson (7-25-1, 1-1-0/1) came in and was less exciting than he was in Week 1. Ultimately, I think Johnson will be the #2 of those on the roster now.
No KC running back did anything amazing.
— Bucky Irving (3-14-0, 0-0-0/0) started for TB. He looked the best of the starter guys for either team. He looks like he’s added a little muscle, and he has his bouncy movement skills going again.
Bucky took the 3 carries and then was gone from the game. Kenneth Gainwell (1-3-0, 0-0-0/0) spelled him and played a few plays and didn’t do anything memorable with them.
This looks like it’s going to be Bucky leading with Gainwell relief. Not some fight-to-the-death split.
— The best-looking RB in this game overall was on the Bucs, and that man’s name is Josh Williams (2-9-0, 2-24-0/2), a 2nd-year UDFA back out of LSU. I’m a fan. I liked what I saw from LSU and saw awesome potential in his 2025 preseason.
I’m not the only one who's a fan. I think the Bucs staff is too, for real.
So real it’s gonna get Sean Tucker (5-23-1, 0-0-0/0) and his bloated contract cut from the Bucs, I believe. Williams is winning the #3 job and Tucker has a bloated contract begging to get cut.
If Tucker gets cut and then signed by the Cowboys… it may be the best thing that ever happened to him.
— Cyrus Allen (1-1-0, 2-11-0/3) check… A solid performance. They are working him jet sweeps and pop passes in the backfield as well as pitch-and-catch work in games. He did fine but did nothing special with manufactured touches. At a minimum, it puts a lid on his growing DRD ADP.
Starting alongside Cyrus was Tyquan Thornton (0-0-0, 1-8-0/2) who did his usual nothing. Also starting alongside Cyrus was Jalen Royals (0-0-0, 6-51-0/8), who had a nice accumulation game but just looked solid, not special, with his touches.
Cyrus wasn’t eye-popping here, but he is visibly better than Thornton.
Cyrus was working punt return. Cyrus got jet sweeps and pop passes, not the other guys.
I LIKE Allen a lot but he’s not a lock to be a star. But I LOVE his situation for FF with Rice and Worthy as his other competition at WR.
— After all the starters and names left the game, when we got to the 2nd half, it was time for UDFA QB Jalon Daniels (9-14 for 71 yards, 1 TD/0 INT, 3-19-0) vs. 7th-round Garrett Nussmeier (9-17 for 74 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 1-1-0).
Daniels won that definitely.
I need to do more study, but from what I’ve seen so far, Daniels might be the 2nd best processor QB in the 2026 draft class… a class that rejected him as undrafted. Daniels does a great job of hanging in the pocket and going through progressions, and then taking off running when prudent, not as a first urge.
Two weeks in a row of good tape for the Malik Willis-alike, leading the comeback victory.
And if you think I like Jalon Daniels…I pale in comparison to how much Jon Gruden does and mentioned it often in this game. I’m starting to like Jon Gruden but he was kinda neutered and awkward in his return.
OK… time for rapid-fire notes:
— Harrison Butker hit a 58-yard FG in the first quarter, then nailed a 69-yarder with room to spare at the halftime buzzer. That’s gonna matter in-season… Andy Reid is gonna remember it and likely give Butker more long-range shots when appropriate.
— TB 2nd-year edge David Walker (2 QB hits, 0 tackles, 0.0 sacks, 0 TFLs, 0 PDs, 0 INTs) is back; he lost his entire 2025 season to a preseason injury. He looks fantastic rushing the passer… as was being whispered in Bucs camp last year.
While the announcers cooed over Rueben Bain Jr. (1 tackle, 0.0 sacks, 0 TFLs, 0 PDs, 0 INTs), David Walker is probably better.
— Bucs rookie TE Bauer Sharp (0-0-0, 2-13-0/3) looked solid again. I am keeping tabs on him because Cade Otton isn’t that great that someone could pressure him at some point. More likely that’s 2027.
— Did I mention Garrett Nussmeier (9-17 for 74 yards, 0 TD/0 INT, 1-1-0) is terrible? He isn’t even close to as good as Jalon Daniels (9-14 for 71 yards, 1 TD/0 INT, 3-19-0).
The mainstream was pushing Nuss as a future #1 pick 2 years ago.
— We’ll wrap up with a rookie WR for TB that looked good and they were trying to get the ball to a bunch, but I didn't remember much about him: Dean Patterson IV (0-0-0, 6-56-0/8).
He has a good body and movement skills. I’m not sure about his hands yet without more study, but the QBs seemed to like him.
Some Gemini research prep on Patterson…
Player Profile
• Age: 24 (Born May 20, 2002)
• Listed Size: 6’2", 200 lbs
• Pro Day Measurables: 6’2", 200 lbs, 4.50 40-yard dash
Short Bio
A native of Lutz, Florida, Dean Patterson IV began his college career at Division II Findlay in 2020 before transferring to Florida International University. Across four seasons at FIU (2021–2024), he emerged as a primary target, culminating in a 2024 Second-Team All-Conference USA campaign where he hauled in 50 receptions for 685 yards and seven touchdowns.
Patterson spent his final collegiate season as a graduate transfer at Georgia Tech in 2025. Playing in a rotational role, he made eight receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by an 84-yard touchdown catch against Gardner-Webb. After going undrafted in 2026, Patterson earned a spot on the 90-man roster after impressing local evaluators as a tryout player at Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie minicamp.
Scouting Pros
• Pro-Ready Size & Frame: Possesses an ideal perimeter build at 6’2", 200 lbs to withstand physical press coverage and win contested situations along the boundary.
• Big-Play Big-Target: Career 14.7 yards-per-catch average demonstrates vertical efficiency when targeted.
• Demonstrated Peak Production: High-volume success in C-USA (50 catches, 685 yards in 2024) proves capability as a volume pass-catcher when featured.
• Competitive Drive: Showed determination by working up from D-II to the FBS level and carving out an NFL roster spot via minicamp tryout.
Scouting Cons
• Average Top-End Velocity: A 4.50 40-yard dash time is adequate for his size, but lacks elite pull-away speed to regularly separate against NFL cornerbacks deep.
• Limited Power-Five Impact: Failed to command a heavy target share after stepping up to Georgia Tech in 2025, operating mostly as a depth option (8 catches on 339 snaps).
• Separation Ability: Relies more on body positioning and length rather than explosive route-running quickness at the break point.
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