The Bucs are getting ready for their fourth and final preseason game this week against at home against Washington. The starters will play very little if at all. However, based on performance against the Browns, the team as a whole feels more prepared for the regular season. 

"Now, we know how we can play," said Bucs linebacker Lavonte David about the team's third preseason game production.  "We got in meetings today and Coach said, ‘You all played a good game and that’s the standard. If you can do it once you can do it again.’"

"We knew how import it was for our starters to play well cause it's probably the last time they'll see the field until September 11th," said Bucs wide receiver Russell Shepard. "It felt good to see them guys go out there play well, all of us, and it's going to be a good feeling going into September 11th."

For the reserves and roster hopefuls Thursday is one last chance to prove themselves.

"You're less than a week and half away from your first game, you've got cuts coming," said head coach Dirk Koetter. "There's certain guys you have to protect, it's not worth the risk. There's other guys that are still in competition to make the team."

"I know I've gotten to the point where I just get out there and give it my all," said Bucs third string QB Ryan Griffin. "Obviously I want to show everyone what I can do, but you can think about it too much."

It is a mixed bag of emotions in the locker room with 22 cuts looming, after Tuesday and by Saturday, to get down to their final 53 man roster. 

"This is probably one of the saddest times in the NFL," said Russell Shepard. "I've been cut. I've been fired. It was something that I will never forget.  It's something that's kinda of sustained, but I've used it to motivate me in a positive way."

"You know you've build great relationships with guys, maybe guys you've had relationships with already that have been here for a while and that's just he dynamic of this business," said David about the pending cuts. "That's use the way it goes. Guys know that. We all professional guys, ya know?"

Guard Kevin Pamphile returned to practice Monday, after being excused from Friday's game to attend his mothers funeral. Also, 2nd year guard Ali Marpet is still not practicing, but did not have a walking boot on his injured foot which is an encouraging sign. 

Before practice tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins voiced his stance on San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick has been sitting during the national anthem of preseason games, over what he is calling racial oppression in America. 

"He's protesting something and he has a choice in America to do something," said Seferian-Jenkins. "People have to right to react either way. That's the beautiful thing about America. He brings up a very valuable point that's going on in our society today and he does that by obviously sitting down at the National Anthem and it starts a discussion. I think that's really important that some people need to recognize as well. He did start a discussion on something."

"For anyone worldwide, including myself, if you really want to make a change, you have to be hands on. You gotta invest your own time. Invest your own resources into creating a better world for not only yourself, but the people you surround yourself with." 

When asked if Seferian-Jenkins would take a similar stance as Kaepernick he replied "next question."

"I would be disappointed if any of our players didn't stand up for the National Anthem, said Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter. 

"Personally, I look at that as a salute to the people who've paved the way for us, but at the same time his is a free country and I think freedom of speech is something that we all believe in and freedom of expression. That's an individual's choice. That's a fine line there, but I would personally be disappointed, but I think it would be hard to enforce that rule."