![\"Buccaneers](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/trotter.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTAMPA, FL \u2013 July 31, 2026 \u2013 Linebacker Josiah Trotter #45 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2026 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By: Tori Richman\/Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/p>\n
The Buccaneers have a very exciting rookie class headlined by Rueben Bain Jr., but it was a different first-year player that really stood out during Monday\u2019s training camp practice. <\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTAMPA, FL \u2013 July 31, 2026 \u2013 Linebacker Josiah Trotter #45 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2026 Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By: Tori Richman\/Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/p>\n
Rueben Bain Jr. is easily the highlight of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 draft class<\/a>, and he\u2019s had a good training camp so far. But it was his fellow rookie in Josiah Trotter that really stood out during the Buccaneers\u2019 first padded training camp practice on Monday.<\/p>\n Per reports, Trotter was all over the place. There was even one play in which he \u201cjolted\u201d Buccaneers tackle Justin Skule, which knocked him back and allowed Trotter to get into the backfield and make a tackle for loss. It was an all-around disruptive effort on the play and then he immediately followed it up by shooting through the \u201cA\u201d gap and making another TFL.<\/p>\n Bucs rookie ILB Josiah Trotter just jolted Justin Skule with a punch, rocked him backwards and made a tackle for loss. Then Trotter shoots the A gap and makes another tackle for loss on the next play.<\/p>\n \u2014 PewterReport \ud83c\udff4\u200d\u2620\ufe0f (@PewterReport) August 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n This is exactly what we figured we would see with Trotter. His game is power, speed, and just causing absolute chaos at the line of scrimmage and in the backfield. That\u2019s why Tampa Bay drafted him in the second round, and he\u2019s expected to play that aggressive, downhill thumper role in 2026 alongside linebacker Alex Anzalone.<\/p>\n Anzalone noticed Trotter\u2019s performance on Monday, too, and complimented him<\/a> after practice when asked about it.<\/p>\n Monday is a great sign for Trotter\u2019s development<\/p>\n So, with all that being said, Monday is obviously a great sign for Trotter. One of the biggest hurdles for any rookie is picking up a playbook and getting off to a fast start in training camp, especially when the pads come on. So far, Trotter is getting it done. He\u2019s figured out a way to get off to a fast start, and that\u2019s really going to help push him in the battle for a starting job next to Anzalone.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also good to see him picking up the defense like this because that\u2019s ultimately what could hold him back in terms of playing time. Todd Bowles\u2019 defense is not easy, especially for a first-year player. Linebacker is a very tough position mentally. Sure, you need all the physical traits, but what makes a lot of great linebackers great are instincts and intelligence.<\/p>\n Trotter has all of that. But the fact that these guys have to decipher what\u2019s happening with the play at multiple levels of the field within seconds is nearly impossible for any regular human to do. The fact that he\u2019s a rookie and is already able to diagnose and make plays like this, this quickly in camp with pads on, is a good sign for things to come.<\/p>\n Now, it\u2019s all about coming out Tuesday and stacking another good practice.<\/p>\n \t\t\t Tampa Bay Buccaneers News<\/p>\n![\"Play](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/daily-games-tampa-bay-buccaneers-1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Rueben](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-07-31T135755Z_1177597206_MT1USATODAY29486160_RTRMADP_3_NFL-TAMPA-BAY-BUCCANEERS-TRAINING-CAMP-2.jpeg\")
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