We’ve already covered the offensive side of the ball when it comes to Tampa Bay Buccaneers players who face the most pressure against the New York Jets. So, now it’s time to flip over to the defensive side of things.

A quick reminder: A player’s job isn’t necessarily on the line if they are on the list. Granted, some of the following guys are on the roster bubble, but then some just need to get the ball rolling.

Regardless, here are the main Buccaneers players on defense that need to have a good week against the Jets.

1. Anthony Nelson and Chris Braswell need to make a splash at outside linebacker

Anthony Nelson isn’t in danger of losing his job. The Bucs know who he is: a solid rotational guy who can start and make plays when needed. But it feels like everybody’s talking about Rueben Bain Jr. and David Walker tearing up practice, and nobody’s talking about Nelson. The better Nelson plays, the better Tampa Bay’s pass rush becomes. The Buccaneers’ eighth-year pass rusher needs to make a splash against the Jets.

Chris Braswell is a different story. He’s in danger of losing his job, and that’s been the case since the Bucs drafted Bain Jr. If you looked at the depth chart right now, Braswell would be the sixth outside linebacker behind a strong five-man rotation of Nelson, Bain, Walker, Yahya Diaby, and Al-Quadin Muhammad. Tampa Bay has carried six outside linebackers on the roster in the past, and Braswell’s special teams play could keep him around. He played a lot of special teams last year and was pretty good at it. But the mental aspect has been his biggest issue over the first few years of his career. He’s on the roster bubble, and he’s really got to show out this week.

2. The defensive line must prove it can get it done without Vita Vea

The Jets offensive line is pretty good. Joe Tippmann is solid at guard and they’ve got two promising young tackles in Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu. Dylan Parham was a solid free agent addition, and Josh Myers is a serviceable center. That presents a quality test for the Buccaneers’ defensive line, which has to demonstrate it can hold its own without Vita Vea.

The defensive line has practiced well so far, but they know the Bucs offensive line to a tee. They have familiarity with what offensive line coach Zach Robinson is trying to do. Joint practices represent a completely different environment, and that can change things. A’Shawn Robinson, Caljah Kancey, DeMonte Capehart, Nacho, Elijah Simmons, Josiah Green, and the rest of the group need to show they can fill run lanes, generate push, and stymie the Jets offense.

Tampa Bay might not have Vea for the first few games of the regular season. He’ll play at some point during the regular season, but he could hold out into the season. That makes this week critical for the rest of the defensive front.

3. Zyon McCollum has to keep his strong camp rolling

Zyon McCollum has been making interceptions, knocking down passes, and putting himself in the right spots throughout camp. Sure, Ted Hurst made a really nice touchdown grab over him last week, but that’s going to happen. You want that back-and-forth because it shows both sides of the ball are capable of holding their own.

McCollum is under a lot of pressure this year. The Bucs’ defense needs him to be that guy in order for the secondary to bounce back. He’s had a lot of success in camp, and now he’ll go up against a Jets offense led by Geno Smith, who has always been more of a product of his environment. There should be plenty of opportunities for picks, and McCollum needs to come down with one.

Joint practices against the Jets provide a legitimate measuring stick, and this is the week where it all starts to get real for these players and position groups.

4. SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom have to fend off the other depth linebackers

Dennis and Rozeboom are LB3 and LB4, right now. But they have plenty of guys behind them in Nick Jackson, John Bullock, Caden Fordham, and Javin Wright who are scrapping for roster spots, as well.

It’s been a quiet camp for the two veterans thus far, which leaves the door open for the younger guys to make a push. Much like Zyon McCollum and the secondary, the Buccaneers linebackers face a mediocre Jets offense that is forging a new identity in 2026.

Whether it’s tackles for loss, sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, whatever. Dennis and Rozeboom need to start finding ways to standout or else they could get swallowed up by the young dogs before it’s all said and done.

There are other guys like Benjamin Morrison and J.J. Roberts, but they are fighting injuries, so there’s not much they can do to alleviate the pressure they’re currently facing. We’ll see if they can get back on the field at some point, next week.