Studs and duds from the Buccaneers' preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills

The Buccaneers lost their preseason finale to the Buffalo Bills, 23-19, while resting their starters and most of their key role players. Neither side of the ball was particularly sharp, with the defense playing particularly undisciplined football. There were bright spots that are likely to find their way onto the final 53-man roster. With nothing standing between the Bucs and the 2025 season, this final preseason game should be instrumental for the Bucs in determining who is going with them into the regular season.

Here are the studs and duds from the Bucs' preseason loss to the Bills:

STUD: Tez Johnson

If just one Buccaneer who played against Buffalo could make Tampa Bay's final roster, it would have to be Tez Johnson. He was downright dominant, catching eight passes on eight targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. As the best player on the field for either team, Johnson made it very clear he belongs in the NFL. His agility and strong hands were on full display and should be an asset to the Bucs this season.

DUD: Shilo Sanders

For a player on the bubble, Shilo Sanders made a really dubious choice in the final preseason game of the year. Late in the second quarter, Sanders took a swing at Bills tight end Zach Davidson, leading to his ejection from the game. Sanders was already struggling to make his case for a regular season roster spot over Kaevon Merriweather and Rashad Wisdom. Getting himself disqualified over a punch is not going to endear him to Tampa Bay's leadership.

STUD: Josh Williams

The undrafted running back made a strong case for making Tampa Bay's 53-man roster in the preseason finale. Williams' stat line was modest, taking eight carries for just 28 yards, but he was electric at times, particularly as a kick returner. On three kickoffs, Williams gained 108 yards, including a 42-yard return. Williams is firmly on the bubble, given the talent ahead of him in the running back room. However, Rachaad White's groin injury could require the Bucs to keep Williams around long enough to make the regular season roster and possibly see game action early.

DUD: Devin Culp

Culp has been looking to increase his workload going into his second season, but his performance against the Bills did little to justify it. Culp committed the Bucs' sole turnover, fumbling the ball at the end of the third quarter. He finished the game with three catches for 33 yards on four targets. While Culp is a big target and runs solid routes, his hands, before and after the catch, are unreliable. Until his ball security improves, he will be relegated to the fringes of the roster.

STUD: Elijah Roberts

The Bucs have been desperate to find playmakers for their defensive line, and they may have found one in Elijah Roberts. Tampa Bay's fifth-round pick was a clear standout for the Bucs defense in an otherwise sloppy performance. Roberts recorded a sack, a tackle for a loss, and a quarterback hit, accounting for an outsized proportion of Tampa Bay's defensive playmaking against Buffalo. While his transition from an even-front defensive end to a more interior role will come with its growing pains, Roberts is showing real promise as the heir apparent to a similar defensive line convert with a long history in Tampa Bay, William Gholston.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Studs and duds from the Bucs' preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills