Bucs HC Bowles Reveals Starters vs. Colts

At the conclusion of Thursday’s practice, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles revealed that “anyone that is healthy will play” against the Colts in Indianapolis in the preseason finale.

That means quarterback Tom Brady will make his preseason debut and get the start at quarterback in Indy.

Bowles also said that rookie Luke Goedeke will get his second consecutive start at left guard on Saturday. Goedeke got his first preseason start last Saturday night in a 13-3 loss at Tennessee. Pewter Report has reported that Goedeke will likely start in Week 1 against the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday Night Football unless he performs poorly in Indy.

Bucs LG Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s important for game continuity,” Bowles said. “We have some new guys on the O-line, and we have some new guys at receiver. Other than having practice together, we need to see them in the game in certain situations – just the flow of it. It doesn’t matter how long it is. We just need to see it.”

Bowles added that he wants to see “consistency, penalty-free, hopefully – just playing good, clean, fundamentally sound football” on Saturday night.

“If we can do that as a team and play together I’ll be happy about that,” Bowles said.

Bowles said that the Bucs are still monitoring the competition at left guard and the depth at wide receiver. On defense the starting cornerback opposite Carlton Davis III – either Sean Murphy-Bunting or Jamel Dean – has yet to be determined, as well as depth there. The same is true for depth at inside linebacker and on special teams.

Players that aren’t expected to play are receivers Chris Godwin and Russell Gage, right tackle Tristan Wirfs, cornerback Zyon McCollum and running back Giovani Bernard.

Bowles Discusses New Bucs OLB

Bowles also commented on the addition of veteran outside linebacker Genard Avery.

“He’s a good pass rusher and he’s a good teams player,” Bowles said. “So we thought he was a value to have him. Rather than look for somebody like that in the middle of the season in case someone gets hurt, we thought it would be valuable adding him right now.”