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2018 Tampa Bay Buccaneers starters, 53-man roster, schedule prediction

Mike Evans and the Bucs open up the 2018 regular season on Sept. 9 at New Orleans. Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' roster heading into the 2018 season (starters in bold):

QUARTERBACK (2): Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Griffin, (Jameis Winston*)

Winston's three-week suspension to start the season doesn't count against the 53-man roster. Neither head coach Dirk Koetter nor general manager Jason Licht would commit to him as a starter in Week 4.

RUNNING BACK (4): Peyton Barber, Ronald Jones II, Jacquizz Rodgers, Shaun Wilson

Barber will serve as the starter and line up in short-yardage situations, Jones will serve as the the backup and Rodgers as their third-down back. Wilson, who showed great hands in camp, is the future third-down back and can serve as the punt and kick returner.

WIDE RECEIVER (6): Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Adam Humphries, Chris Godwin, Justin Watson, Freddie Martino

Watson and Martino edged out Bernard Reedy, Bobo Wilson and Ervin Philips for the fifth and sixth wide receiver spots. Evans and Jackson will start on the outside with Humphries in the slot, but look for Godwin to get his share of snaps, too.

TIGHT END (4): Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard, Alan Cross, Antony Auclair

Howard is the Bucs' run-blocking and pass-catching tight end, and Brate serves primarily as a pass-catcher. Cross can handle both, as well as fullback duties.

OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen, Caleb Benenoch, Demar Dotson, Evan Smith, Leonard Wester, Alex Cappa, Michael Liedtke, Adam Gettis

The Bucs kept 10 offensive linemen because of injuries (they kept eight last season). Smith's status for Week 1 is still up in the air. Their starting right guard is still to-be-determined.

DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Gerald McCoy, Beau Allen, Vinny Curry, Jason Pierre-Paul, Vita Vea, Noah Spence, William Gholston, Will Clarke, Jerel Worthy

The Bucs have high expectations for an experienced unit led by McCoy and Pierre-Paul. Mitch Unrein missed the preseason because of a concussion and was put on injured reserve.

LINEBACKER (5): Lavonte David, Kwon Alexander, Adarius Taylor, Cameron Lynch, Jack Cichy, (Kendell Beckwith*)

Beckwith will start the season on the physically unable to perform list. With Beckwith out, Taylor will serve as the starting strongside linebacker. Devante Bond and Riley Bullough, who both suffered foot injuries, have been placed on injured reserve.

SECONDARY (10): Brent Grimes, Vernon Hargreaves, Justin Evans, Chris Conte, Carlton Davis, Ryan Smith, De'Vante Harris, M.J. Stewart, Jordan Whitehead, Isaiah Johnson

Hargreaves will start on the outside opposite Grimes and will move inside during nickel situations. Johnson earned the fourth safety spot over Keith Tandy. Special teams captain Josh Robinson also was cut.

SPECIALIST (3): Chandler Catanzaro, Bryan Anger, Garrison Sanborn.

The Bucs signed veteran long-snapper Sanborn, completing this unit.