Bruce Arians plans to hold out starters until final preseason game

Head coach Bruce Arians only allowed his starters to play a mere few snaps in the Buccaneers’ preseason opener against the Bengals, which is about par for the course among NFL teams. But unlike most other teams, Arians doesn’t plan to trot his starters out again until the final preseason game.

The Buccaneers’ offense received one quick possession in their 19-14 preseason loss to the Bengals, logging just six snaps in the contest. Starting running back Leonard Fournette got three carries and totaled just two yards, while Ronald Jones II had one carry for no yards and Tom Brady completed one of his two passes. Following the drive, Brady was succeeded by backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, and the running back duo of Fournette and Jones was replaced by second-year back Ke’Shawn Vaughn.

Tampa Bay has two joint practices with the Tennessee Titans scheduled this week, and Arians plans to let his starters get reps in both practices. However, that will be the only playing time the Buccaneer starters get against the Titans, as they’ll likely be kept out of the two teams’ upcoming matchup on Sunday.

“I think looking at the two practices, as good as I know how they’ll go physicality-wise, we probably won’t play any starters [in Saturday’s preseason game],” Bruce Arians said.

Arians said the one exception to his rule might come on the offensive line, as third-round draft pick Robert Hainsey and undrafted rookie Sadarius Hutcherson are sidelined with an undisclosed injury and season-ending torn-ACL, respectively. As a result, he may consider playing some of his starting offensive linemen.

“We’re going to work somebody out and hopefully find another fresh body that can play in this ballgame,” Arians said of his offensive line. “I don’t really want to put starters back in — or put them in at all — if I don’t have to. The offensive line might play in this game, if only by necessity, and we’ll see how that goes.”

Following the Buccaneers’ second preseason matchup with the Titans, they have one more preseason game — at the Houston Texans on Aug. 28 — which should be the next time most fans see the reigning Super Bowl-winning starters.

“My plan right now is to play a significant amount in that ballgame [against the Texans] because we don’t play for two weeks after,” the head coach said.

With Tom Brady expected to sit out until the final preseason game, Gabbert and Trask will likely get the bulk of the snaps under center, with one expected to solidify themself as the backup quarterback. At running back, on the other hand, Vaughn should continue to get plenty of preseason opportunities.