TAMPA, Fla. -- With Saturday’s game against Minnesota coming up, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put out their first depth chart Tuesday. They didn’t play any of the games that so often come with initial depth charts.
Teams commonly list veterans ahead of rookies, even if that is not how things really stand. But the Bucs didn’t take that tact. For the most part, they listed players where they’ve been practicing.
Rookie Jameis Winston is listed as the starting quarterback. Rookie Donovan Smith is listed first at left tackle. And rookie Kaelin Clay is listed as the top kickoff and punt returner. The only real rookie surprise is that Ali Marpet is not listed as the starting right guard. Garrett Gilkey holds that role and Marpet, who has been working with the first team, is listed with the second team.
Other positions of note include safety and linebacker. Bradley McDougald is listed as the starting free safety and Major Wright is listed first at strong safety. But Wright is getting a strong challenge from D.J. Swearinger.
At middle linebacker, rookie Kwon Alexander is listed second behind Bruce Carter. Rookie Josh Keyes is second behind Danny Lansanah at strongside linebacker.
