Bucs Rookies Upstage in Preseason Opener, Daniels Leads and Garnes Makes Impact as Tampa Tops the Jets 24-16

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off their preseason schedule with a 24-16 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Friday night, and the storyline that followed the final whistle was simple: the team’s youngest additions made enough plays to earn attention early. Several first-year competitors grabbed momentum in live-game situations, with quarterback Jalon Daniels and cornerback Ayden Garnes among the most noticeable rookies, according to the Buccaneers’ official postgame recap.

Daniels, an undrafted rookie making his case for a role on offense, provided the kind of spark preseason teams look for when they are trying to evaluate depth and timing between first-year players and the existing system. The team’s own summary highlighted Daniels for “big plays,” underscoring how Tampa used Friday’s game as a developmental runway for a player still learning the speed and rhythm of NFL defenses.

On the defensive side, Garnes drew similar praise for his impact as an undrafted rookie cornerback. The Buccaneers’ recap described Garnes as a catalyst, pointing to the kind of disruptive plays that can influence both the defensive rotation and the coaching staff’s confidence in late-game matchups. Preseason success for cornerbacks often comes down to communication, assignment discipline, and the ability to make plays quickly once the ball is in the air, and Tampa’s game report framed Garnes as delivering in that exact phase.

While the rookies generated much of the headline attention, Tampa also got a tangible scoring contribution from running back Josh Williams, an entry-level back in the conversation for reps. Williams scored on a 12-yard run, as detailed in the team’s official game account. That kind of short-yardage touchdown can be particularly valuable in preseason evaluation, because it tests how offensive lines communicate and finish blocks when the game does not carry regular-season consequences.

For the Buccaneers, the 24-16 final matters primarily as a pacing marker. Preseason games compress the time coaches have to install, assess, and decide how the roster will sort itself into early-season roles. A win does not finalize pecking orders, but it does provide proof of execution across phases, especially when it comes from players who are not guaranteed roster spots.

For the Jets, the loss similarly will be viewed through the lens of preparation rather than results. New York and Tampa both entered the week looking for clarity on fringe positions, and games like this tend to shape how much trust coaches place in young players during the remaining preseason dates. The Buccaneers’ report gave Daniels and Garnes credit for their play, which means both teams will likely look again at how their second units performed, how quickly newcomers processed coverages, and whether late-drive execution aligned with the run-pass structure Tampa showed Friday.

Looking ahead, the next step for Tampa is sustaining the development shown at MetLife. Daniels’ growth as a report-caller and Garnes’ readiness on the outside are the most obvious themes to watch as the preseason continues, but the broader question will be whether the same units can translate flashes into consistency across drives. Preseason Week 1 is often about opportunity, yet the teams that benefit most are the ones that turn those early opportunities into repeatable production.