August 28 Updates
In 2023, Baker Mayfield got a "prove-it" deal with the Buccaneers – one year, $4 million – and proceeded to prove it very, very much. He set career highs in passing yards (4,044) and touchdown passes (28) and was one of the main reasons an unappreciated Tampa Bay team was able to advance to the Divisional Round of the Playoffs and take a tie with the Lions into the fourth quarter in Detroit. The result, of course, was a multi-year deal more commensurate with that level of play to remain the Buccaneers' starter.
General Manager Jason Licht thinks Mayfield can be even better in 2024, and that's due to one big change in the quarterback's life and one thing about him that will probably never change. The major life development was the arrival of daughter Kova Jade, the first child for Mayfield and his wife Emily, in April. As for the constant, it's Mayfield's continuing desire to prove doubters wrong.
"He was very focused last year," said Licht. "There's just a little bit different gleam in his eye and I think a little bit maybe has to do [with the fact] that he's a father now. Once again, this is not saying he wasn't mature, but he just seems to [have] a little bit more to prove, which I'd love to see. I love when people say things about him and doubt him – it energizes this entire team."
Last summer, Mayfield prevailed in a training camp battle for the Bucs' starting job with 2021 draft pick Kyle Trask. It didn't take long after he was named the starter for him to complete win over the locker room, not to mention the entire organization. Mayfield's play was critical for the Bucs' success in 2023, but so was his leadership and his ability to galvanize the roster. Licht sees that being a key factor for the team again in 2024.
CLICK HERE to watch Licht's entire press conference on Tuesday.
August 24 Updates
The Buccaneers have to trim their current roster of 91 players down to 53 by 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Most of that will involve the waiver wire, but a couple moves could involve injured reserve. On Saturday morning, after the Bucs completed their 2024 preseason slate with a 24-14 win over the Dolphins the night before, Head Coach Todd Bowles suggested that was a possibility for second-year wide receiver Rakim Jarrett and veteran running back Chase Edmonds.
"Chase Edmonds will probably start there, as well [as Jarrett]," said Bowles. "Those two for sure. Everybody else is in play."
Edmonds has been sidelined since very early in training camp while Jarrett has missed the last two games. Both are dealing with unspecified injuries, as there are no official injury reports in the preseason.
A slight rule change made this offseason would make it a little easier for the Buccaneers to put those two players on injured reserve without ending their seasons. In previous years, a player who was placed on I.R. prior to the cutdown to 53 players could not return to the team's active roster the season. Practically speaking, that meant a team had to keep an injured player through the cutdown – and thus cut a different player – and then place him on injured reserve if they hoped to have his services at some point that season.
Now, a team can designate up to two players who are placed on I.R. on the day of the 53-man cutdown as eligible to return. Players who land on injured reserve under this rule or after the cutdown must miss a minimum of four games.
Bowles' note that everyone else besides Jarrett and Edmonds are "in play" is good news regarding some players who have missed a significant amount of action in August. The Bucs are hoping to begin the season with safety Jordan Whitehead (quad) and outside linebackers Yaya Diaby (ankle) and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (neck) in place; none of the three saw any preseason action.
CLICK HERE for more of Coach Bowles' day-after-game thoughts.
August 21 Updates
On Tuesday, Head Coach Todd Bowles confirmed that rookie first-rounder Graham Barton had secured the starting job at center, as was widely anticipated. On Wednesday, Bowles was asked if the left guard position had also been settled, and he confirmed that veteran Ben Bredeson would be the starter.
"Ben's our starting guard," said Bowles.
That means the Buccaneers' offensive line has been settled for the start of the regular season. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs, right tackle Luke Goedeke and right guard Cody Mauch were all new to those respective positions last season (in the NFL, at least) and are back to occupy the same spots. The Buccaneers added Bredeson in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent after he had 24 games at guard for the Giants the past two seasons. The team also signed former Eagles lineman Sua Opeta, who figured to be Bredeson's primary competitor at left guard, but Opeta sustained a season-ending knee injury early in training camp.
The additions of Barton and Bredeson and their eventual ascension to the starting lineup leaves fourth-year player, Robert Hainsey, with a spot in the starting five. A third-round draft pick in 2021 who played tackle at Notre Dame, Hainsey spent his rookie season as the Bucs' backup center behind Ryan Jensen. When Jensen suffered a significant knee injury in training camp the following summer, Hainsey stepped into the starting job and held it for the next two seasons. Jensen made a surprise return to action in the Bucs' lone playoff game in 2022 but Hainsey otherwise started the Bucs other 36 games (postseason included) over a two-year span.
Hainsey will likely again be listed as the second-line center when the Bucs trim their depth chart down to 53 players next week, but he has always possessed positional flexibility and could be a high-end reserve at several spots on the line.
"We're going to try to move him around some," said Bowles. "It's hard to do in the game when you only get two or three reps in practice. But as the week goes on we'll get some more movement and try to place people in case of emergency."
CLICK HERE to hear what else Coach Bowles had to say after practice on Wednesday.
August 20 Updates
When the Buccaneers drafted Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton with the 26th overall pick in April, they did so with the idea that he could win their starting center job as a rookie. He has now officially done so.
Head Coach Todd Bowles announced that decision during a press conference following Tuesday's practice.
"Yes, Barton will start at center," said Bowles. "We knew he was tough, [it's] just how fast he picked it up, the experience he's been getting and the way he's been finishing plays. His pass protection has picked up a lot."
Barton was primarily competing with fourth-year man Robert Hainsey, who held the position the past two seasons, and the two spent most of training camp and the first two preseason games splitting reps evenly. The Buccaneers will play their full starting units for the first time in Friday's preseason finale against Miami, so Barton presumably will be on the field for the first offensive snap. It didn't take the rookie long to impress his offensive line teammates.
"Graham is a very smart player, a very athletic player as well," said Luke Goedeke, the Bucs' starting right tackle. "He takes pride in his work, comes to work every day, does all the right things, even as a rookie. That's few and far between. Being drafted as a first-round pick, obviously there's an expectation, and he's definitely met that expectation. He's done a really nice job for us, so I can't wait to see him continue to grow."
Barton played left tackle his last three years at Duke but did make five starts at center as a freshman and fared well enough to earn second-team All-America honors. He was a second-team All-American and first team all-conference choice as a tackle in 2023.
The Buccaneers' first-team offensive line appears to be set. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs, right tackle Luke Goedeke and right guard Cody Mauch all return to the positions they took over last year, and free agent acquisition Ben Bredeson has handled left guard with the starters throughout training camp.
CLICK HERE for a look at more jobs still up for grabs as the final roster cuts approach.
August 19 Updates
Buccaneers wide receiver Kameron Johnson has done just about everything one could ask from an unheralded rookie to give himself a shot at making the regular-season roster. The only thing missing at this point is actual NFL game experience, and it looks like he'll clear that hurdle on Friday night.
Johnson, who was the surprise standout of the team's offseason program and an eye-opener in the first couple days of training camp, was not able to practice for about three weeks due to a ribs injury. He missed the preseason opener in Cincinnati, then returned to practice last week in Jacksonville, sporting a red jersey that told defenders to avoid contact. He didn't play against the Jaguars either, but he took the field for practice on Monday without that red jersey.
On Monday, Head Coach Todd Bowles said Johnson was poised to make his game debut on Friday against the Miami Dolphins in the final game of the Bucs' preseason.
"He's trending that way, yes, said Bowles. "He should be fine. He's very athletic. He's a heck of a receiver. He's got good return skills. I'd like to see him under the lights a little bit to see him play, but he's very athletic."
Johnson is the first player ever to sign with an NFL team out of the fledgling football program at Barton College in North Carolina. He's about a deep of a cut as the Buccaneers had on the roster to start the spring, but he's generated enough buzz to make it seem possible that he's in a competition for a roster spot.
"I think there's always somebody you're not going to know right now," said Bowles. "For him to be that athletic coming from a small school is pretty good."
Quarterback Baker Mayfield called Johnson "a stud" last week in Jacksonville and running back Chase Edmonds predicted in social media way back in May that the Division II receiver was going to make the team. An authority no less than Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin is high on his young teammate, as well.
"Kam is somebody that's come in, and I think he's been a great fit for our room," said Godwin. "I don't know if many people knew about him coming in, but you can tell immediately when you watch him that he's a baller. With receivers, one of the things that I look for the most is their eye discipline when it comes to catching the ball, and if you watch him, his eyes are always on the ball. His tracking of the ball in traffic, he makes tough catches like in contact. He makes good catches out in the open space. He runs really good routes. He's a strong guy, [and a] smart kid. I like him and he's a really good player."
CLICK HERE for more of Chris Godwin's thoughts on the Bucs' current roster.
August 15 Updates
Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka top a crowded outside linebacker depth chart for the Buccaneers, but neither is currently in action. Diaby is working his way back from a high ankle sprain that is not expected to keep him out of the regular season opener, while Tryon-Shoyinka continues to be bothered by a neck ailment. Tryon-Shoyinka has been running with trainers prior to team practices and on Thursday in Jacksonville he also got in some light work in individual-position drills (indies).
In the absence of those two, rookie Chris Braswell, a second-round pick out of Alabama, has soaked up extra reps and impressed Todd Bowles and his coaching staff. During a pair of joint practices with the Jaguars with their share of ups and downs on both sides of the ball, Braswell has consistently performed at a high level.
"Braswell's been excellent since he's come on with Joe and Yaya having been down," said Bowles. "The experience and the leaps and bounds by which he gets better every day, he's been one of the more pleasant surprises here since we've been up here in Jacksonville. He keeps getting better and better. I love the things he's doing, love where he's at."
Braswell had 8.0 sacks for Alabama last season and led the SEC with three forced fumbles. The Bucs hope he can add juice to a collective edge rush that no longer includes its sack leader since 2019, the retired Shaquil Barrett. Last season, after being selected in the third round out of Louisville, Diaby made such quick progress during his rookie season that he moved into the starting lineup midway through the campaign. If Braswell continues to impress the coaches day after day, he could follow a similar path.
CLICK HERE for Staff Writer/Reporter Brianna Dix's takeaways from the first joint practice.
Second-year tight end Payne Durham did not take part in Thursday's joint practice after leaving the Wednesday session midway through with a knee injury. It appears that Durham managed to avoid a serious injury and may not miss too much time. Bowles provided a quick update on him and rookie cornerback Tyrek Funderburk, who has worn a walking boot on his right foot the past two days.
"Funderburk has a foot; he's day to day. Same with Payne and his knee."
As noted above, outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka warmed up and took part in indies on Thursday. The same was true for linebacker SirVocea Dennis, defensive lineman Mike Greene and outside linebacker Shaun Peterson, all of whom have recently missed practice time. However, none of the four participated in full-team drills.
Starting safety Jordan Whitehead took a step forward in his return from a quad injury on Thursday, as he brought out his cleats and ran on the field with team trainers prior to practice. He was joined in that endeavor by wide receiver Sterling Shepard and tight end Tanner Taula. None took part in practice.
CLICK HERE for more post-practice updates from Coach Bowles on Thursday.
August 14 Updates
While a number of Buccaneers with lingering issues were held out of the joint practice in Jacksonville on Wednesday – among them, Jordan Whitehead, Calijah Kancey, Tyrek Funderburk, Chase Edmonds and Sterling Shepard – only one Tampa Bay player started the workout but didn't finish it. That was second-year tight end Payne Durham, who left the field about halfway through to have his left knee examined.
Head Coach Todd Bowles confirmed after the practice that Durham had suffered a knee injury but did not yet have a report on its severity. Bowles said Durham would undergo tests on the joint on Wednesday afternoon.
Durham, a fifth-round draft pick in 2023 who the team is anticipating having a leap in production in his second season, is clearly second on the tight end depth chart and he started in the preseason opener while Cade Otton was held out. The Bucs obviously hope he won't be forced to miss an extended amount of time.
There was one other development on the Buccaneers' injury front on Wednesday, as rookie wide receiver Kameron Johnson practiced for the first time since early in training camp. Johnson, an undrafted free agent out of Barton College, created a lot of buzz during the team's offseason practices and came into camp with a full head of steam before being sidelined for several weeks by a ribs injury. He was wearing a red jersey on Wednesday, signifying to defenders that he was not to be hit, but Bowles said the rookie was running his routes at full speed.
CLICK HERE to listen to more of Coach Bowles' post-practice thoughts.
August 12 Updates
The Buccaneers returned to the practice fields at the AdventHealth Training Center on Monday, but not all of their pass-catchers were ready to fully let it loose.
Second-year wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, who played 31 offensive snaps in the Bucs' preseason win over Cincinnati on Saturday, did not practice on Monday afternoon. Head Coach Todd Bowles said Jarrett was "nursing an injury" but did not specify what the injury was. Bowles said the same about veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who began missing practice time last week and did not play against the Bengals.
In addition, rookie wideout Jalen McMillan, who caught two passes for 23 yards against the Bengals following an impressive several weeks of training camp, took part in Monday's workout but wore a red non-contact jersey.
"He's a little sore," said Bowles. "I didn't want anybody touching him today."
Rookie wide receiver Kameron Johnson, who started impressing his coaches and teammates almost immediately after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in May, continues to be hindered by a ribs injury. Bowles said Johnson "did some things today" but the Bucs would still have to see how he progresses in the days ahead.
The Buccaneers will hold a pair of joint practices at the Jaguars facility this week before meeting Jacksonville in a preseason game on Saturday night. Top receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are expected to participate in those practices – but perhaps not the game – so the Bucs' receiver depth may still be adequate for the middle of the week. However, the Bucs would obviously like to see such receivers as McMillan, Jarrett and Shepard be ready to go for the contest on Saturday.
CLICK HERE to watch various coach and player press conferences from team headquarters on Monday.
August 8 Updates
The inherently competitive nature of NFL players and coaches dictates that teams go into every game trying hard to win, even in the preseason. In the end, though, the tally on the scoreboard at the end of a game in August will have no bearing on a team's playoff hopes in the regular season. Far more important than the final score is the game tape that coaches and players will watch together a day or two later.
Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles has revealed that he will sit most of the team's starters for the preseason opener Saturday night in Cincinnati, turning it into a showcase for dozens of young and inexperienced players. The Bucs are just as how those young men play as how many plays they make.
"I want to see them compete," said Assistant General Manager John Spytek after practice on Thursday. "They're going to make mistakes. It's their first time on an NFL field, in a new scheme, whether it's offense or defense, and they're going to make mistakes but I want to see them compete. I want to see them strain to finish. I want to see them, if you're tackling people, put your face on the ballcarrier and get them down. If you have the ball and you're carrying it, I don't want to see people run out of bounds; I want to see them finish plays. Those are the kind of guys we're looking for around here."
The Bucs have 38 rookies and first-year players on their current roster, including 21 who joined the team this season as undrafted free agents. Some, like undrafted rookie cornerback Tyrek Funderburk and third-round draft pick wide receiver Jalen McMillan, have already made strong impressions in training camp, but the games are a different kind of proving ground.
"That's why in preseason games there's always young guys that sometimes have been great out here in shells and no contact that kind of fade," said Spytek. "And there's some guys that maybe didn't look quite as athletic as some other guys that show up, because when the lights go on and it's big-boy football, they show up. I just love watching guys compete. … When you find kids that will just empty the tank for you I have so much respect for them and I look forward to seeing that on Saturday night."
CLICK HERE for more on who will and won't play against the Bengals Saturday night.
August 7 Updates
The Buccaneers lost guard Sua Opeta to an ACL tear a week into training camp but otherwise have mostly avoided significant injury problems this summer. Outside linebacker gave the team a scare when he was carted off the field with an ankle injury on August 1, but the eventual prognosis of a sprain means he should be ready for the regular season.
Still, weeks worth of rugged practices will always cause a team some accumulation of injuries, and the Bucs' defense is currently down it's other OLB starter with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka working through a neck injury. Tryon-Shoyinka did do some running with a trainer on a separate field on Wednesday morning but did not take part in drills.
"He's got a little neck [injury] he's dealing with, so we're being careful with him," said Head Coach Todd Bowles after Wednesday's practice, which was moved into the team's indoor facility halfway through due to lightning in the area.
The Bucs' secondary has also been without starting safety Jordan Whitehead for a week, as Whitehead has deal with a sore quad. Whitehead did not practice again on Wednesday and Bowles had no update to offer on his progress. Rookie safety Tykee Smith did make a swift return to action after he rolled his ankle early in last Saturday's field session, and Bowles said the camp standout has not lost any of the momentum he had built up.
"He looks good," said Bowles of Smith. "It looked like he never left."
CLICK HERE for highlights from the practice field in Brianna Dix's daily takeaways.
August 6 Updates
The Buccaneers have 27 rookies in their 2024 training camp and, with the exception of a few men dealing with injuries, most will make their NFL debuts on Saturday. The Bucs kick off their three-game preseason slate with a game against the Bengals in Cincinnati, and if Todd Bowles and his coaching staff stay true to form, it will largely be a showcase for young players.
For some of those rookies, that game represents an opportunity to build on the positive momentum they have built up during the first two weeks of training camp. After practice on Tuesday, Bowles was asked if any rookies in particular were putting up a good fight to grab significant roles on offense or defense this season. Four names that came immediately mind for the coach were those of wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Bucky Irving on offense plus safety Tykee Smith and cornerback Tyrek Funderburk on defense.
"McMillan has been playing well, Tykee has been playing well," said Bowles. "Bucky has been playing well. There are a lot of guys. Funderburk shows up. We've got to see how they play in games. There [are] a lot of other guys that we've got to see in games that have kind of caught our eyes here and there. The next couple games will tell a lot."
McMillan is battling to be the Bucs' primary third receiver behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, while Irving has a good shot to grab a complementary role to Rachaad White in the backfield. Smith is one of the competitors for the slot corner job and Funderburk, the only undrafted rookie in this quartet, is angling to make the 53-man roster for the regular season. They all have three preseason games in which to show off their talents in truly "live" reps, and that begins this weekend.
CLICK HERE for more takeaways from Tuesday's practice by Brianna Dix.
August 3 Updates
Rookie safety Tykee Smith has built up a lot of momentum through the first two weeks of the Buccaneers' training camp, drawing frequent praise from the coaching staff for his day-by-day consistency and playmaking ability. Smith, the first of two third-round picks in last April's draft, is competing for the slot corner job but is also training at free and strong safety.
That momentum may be put on hold for a short time, however. Smith left the practice field for the training room very early in Saturday's workout, which Head Coach Todd Bowles said was the result of him "tweaking" an ankle.
Whether or not the injury impacts the availability of the former Georgia star in next week's preseason opener in Cincinnati, the Buccaneers are eager to see him in live action. Smith has put the high football IQ he honed as part of one of the most dominant defenses in college football to good use so far in camp.
"It's a huge edge," said Bowles. "He's come in and he's picked everything up without missing a beat. He has the experience of a seven-or-eight year player, so it seems. He has some things to learn, but he plays so calm and he plays under control. He knows where everything is and can read everything, along with his toughness. He's a perfect fit for us."
Players on the other side of the ball have taken note of Smith's strong start to camp. Tight end Payne Durham tabbed him as one of the most impressive defenders over the past two weeks.
"Tykee Smith has been playing really well," said Durham. "You look on the film and he flashes, he makes plays. He's a ballhawk – every time you see where the ball is, he's always somewhere around there."
CLICK HERE to hear more of Coach Bowles' thoughts about Saturday's practice.
August 1 Updates
The Buccaneers' seventh practice of training camp, held on Thursday morning, included the one sight no one wants to see in any camp: A player leaving the field on a cart.
The player in this case was outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, who got tangled up with several teammates at the line of scrimmage and went down with an ankle injury. He was taken inside the building on a cart so that the team's medical staff could begin determining the extent of his injury. That included an X-ray to check for any fractures.
Fortunately, that X-ray was negative for a fracture and the Bucs are now more optimistic about Diaby's prognosis. General Manager Jason Licht delivered that update during an afternoon press conference to announce Tristan Wirfs' new contract.
"Right now we're hopeful that we avoided something very serious," said Licht. "We have more tests this afternoon, but right now there's hope that we did."
When Diaby didn't immediately get up after the play, many of his teammates took a knee nearby while he was tended to by medical personnel. Fortunately, they may not be missing their teammate on the field too long.
"Yaya's a big part of our team," said Licht. "He's a great guy; he's another one of the high-character players that's a great player, so everybody cares. These players care for each other, and that's why you saw what you did out there [for] any kind of injury, whether you miss a week or two weeks, whatever it is."
CLICK HERE for more updates from Thursday's practice in Todd Bowles' press briefing.
A training camp day for the Buccaneers that began with the uplifting news of a five-year contract extension for All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs took a decidedly less welcome turn near the end of practice on Thursday. During the final drill of a 110-minute field session, standout outside linebacker Yaya Diaby had to be taken into the training room on a cart.
After practice, Head Coach Todd Bowles indicated that Diaby had injured his ankle but that the severity of the injury was not yet determined.
"He has an ankle, that's all we know right now," said Bowles. "We'll see what the prognosis is as we go forward and take some more steps. It's football. We'll wait for the results to come in right now. We're hopeful, so we'll wait and see before we say all is lost right now. He's been having a great camp, he's a great player and we just wish the best for him."
Diaby led the Buccaneers' defense with 7.5 sacks in 2023 and was penciled in as one of the starters on th edge for 2024. He was hurt on a play in which quarterback Baker Mayfield scrambled to the sideline on during a two-minute drill. Diaby was part of a pileup on the ground but he didn't immediately get up and eventually had to be helped to his feet.
"It was two-minute, it was the end of it, it was the last period," said Bowles. "When I looked down there were already four guys on the ground, so I've got to look at the film."
The Buccaneers' roster had a nearly clean bill of health when camp opened a little over a week ago, but as is generally the case as practices start to pile up so do the injuries. The Bucs had hoped to avoid any major injuries but reportedly lost guard Sua Opeta for the season to a knee injury in Tuesday's night practice. Opeta was one of the competitors to fill the Bucs' open left guard spot.
"It's a shame," said Bowles. "He was doing real well. It was somebody we were looking forward to seeing a lot more of. He was doing great in the spring, he started out camp great. It's unfortunate but you've got to move on."
Safety Jordan Whitehead did not practice on Thursday but Bowles said his injury was not serious.
"He's got a sore quad but he'll be alright in a couple days," said Bowles.
Other Buccaneers who did not practice on Thursday included running back Chase Edmonds, outside linebacker Shaun Peterson and wide receiver Kameron Johnson.
July 30 Updates
The Buccaneers went inside their indoor facility for practice on Tuesday night, and the results were the typical back-and-forth between the offense and defense. However, the defense was the side celebrating when the final whistle sounded, and undrafted rookie safety Rashad Wisdom had a lot to do with that.
In the final period of the two-hour practice, a move-the-ball "call-it" drill with no scripted plays, Wisdom had a hand in two turnovers in the last three snaps, intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble. Wisdom signed with the Buccaneers out of Texas-San Antonio in May and is looking to become the next in a run of undrafted defensive backs – Christian Izien, Keenan Isaac, Kaevon Merriweather to make the team.
Wisdom was a three-time first-team all-conference selection at UTSA and he started 56 of the 57 games in which he played. His career collegiate totals include 314 tackles and five interceptions, two returned for touchdowns. Head Coach Todd Bowles noticed Wisdom's strong finish to Tuesday's practice.
"I think he got the pick and he got the fumble right there," said Bowles. "We knew he was tough coming in. He shows. He learns and he studies hard. He shows up on tape so we've got to watch him."
CLICK HERE for more on Tuesday's night practice.
July 29 Updates
The ramp-up period is over and the intensity of the Buccaneers training camp is about to go up a notch.
The rules established by the NFL to govern how teams run their camps include a four-practice stretch at the beginning in which the length of the workouts gradually get longer and the equipment worn by the players gradually increases. On Day Five, teams are finally permitted to put their players in pads, and Monday will be the Buccaneers' fifth practice.
This is particularly noteworthy for the big men, who can't really show what they're capable of until they are allowed to bash into each other along the line.
"It definitely ramps up," said right tackle Luke Goedeke. "We're always practicing at a fast speed regardless, but yeah, as you get more and more in pads – from spiders to shells to full pads – it only continues to increase. It presents new challenges."
The donning of pads also means that the Buccaneers will be permitted to run OL/DL and WR/DB one-on-one drills for the first time this summer. The linemen, in particular, will be able to go at it more thoroughly for the first time in 2024.
"For the offensive line and defensive line in the trenches, we're pretty much going until… We keep each other protected but it's not much [of] a difference, but there's definitely going to be more advantages towards each other. Being able to grab onto pads and stuff like that to create separation with a little 'pop.'"
Head Coach Todd Bowles has been pleased with his team's performance on the practice field during the first week of camp. He wants to see the players keep that momentum going even when the pads go on and the heat rises.
"Just fundamentals and technique," said Bowles. "It's the first day of pads, it's going to be hot, they've been practicing for a while [so] their legs are going to be gone. We've got to harp on the fundamentals and technique for them to get better and do things the right way."
CLICK HERE to hear more from Coach Bowles about the first week of camp.
July 28 Updates
The Buccaneers returned to the practice field on Sunday after the players' first off day of training camp, but one player in particular was anxious to get back to work.
Second-year safety Kaevon Merriweather got in his first practice of training camp after being sidelined last week by an unspecified injury. In fact, Merriweather was unable to take part in on-field workouts throughout the offseason workout, as well, so this was his first set of snaps since he left the Bucs' playoff loss in Detroit with an ankle injury in January. The Buccaneers elected not to put him on the active/PUP list to start training camp in large part because they felt his return to the field was imminent and he was not in danger of still being out when the regular season arrived.
"It's good to see him back," said Head Coach Todd Bowles. "He's moving around a little bit. He's got some catching up to do mentally. He's got some technique stuff he's got to clean up, but he's running fast."
Merriweather made the Bucs' active roster last year after arriving as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa and he held onto that roster spot for the whole season, appearing in 16 games with two starts. He has an excellent chance at being part of the Bucs' safety depth again this season and is known as a hard hitter. As a rookie, he logged 159 snaps on defense and 289 on special teams. He contributed 14 tackles and a pass defensed on defense and added seven more stops on special teams.
Things can always change in a hurry, but the Bucs have enjoyed close to full participation in the first week of camp. Rookie quarterback Zack Annexstad and first-year tight end Tanner Taula started camp on the active/NFI list have yet to practice, and veteran running back Chase Edmonds suffered an unspecified injury that has had him on the sideline since Day Two. Otherwise, the Bucs have avoided injuries, and now they even get one more player back with Merriweather's return.
"Not yet, knock on wood," said Bowles of the Bucs' avoidance of issues that keep players off the field. "We've been fortunate. But again, we go in pads tomorrow. As camp goes, hopefully they're minor injuries, if any, and we go from there."
CLICK HERE for more updates from Monday's Training Camp Report
July 26 Updates
In 2022, Antoine Winfield Jr. played a hybrid safety/slot corner role in the Buccaneers' defense and had a fine season with 80 tackles, 4.0 sacks and an interception. Last year, the Bucs' coaching staff moved Winfield back to his original free safety spot and he immediately exploded with a monstrous campaign, leading to first-team Associated Press All-Pro honors. Obviously, the coaches want to keep Winfield in the role in which he so thoroughly thrived, but they also still value having players in the secondary they can utilize at multiple spots.
The Buccaneers think they added three such players in the offseason. One is Jordan Whitehead, who returns to Tampa after two seasons with the Jets, and despite his versatility is likely to stick mostly to strong safety. The other two are Tavierre Thomas, an unrestricted free agent from the Texans and Tykee Smith, a third-round pick out of Georgia. Head Coach Todd Bowles is already cross-training those latter two at three different spots to increase their value to the roster and allow the coaches to utilize different personnel packages.
Thomas, who has extensive NFL experience in the slot and has 22 career starts, has been making the most of his all-around training, snaring two interceptions during the first three days of training camp.
"We're still working that over," said Bowles. "He's playing nickel, he's playing strong and he's playing free. As the camp days go on, we'll see how that pans out but it's good that he has a lot of versatility."
Meanwhile, Smith has impressed by displaying a key understanding of the playbook already and mostly avoiding the dreaded 'M.E.,' or mental error. His initial profile is as a strong safety but he's getting a shot at several other spots, too.
"He can play nickel or he can play free as well," said Bowles. "Between him, Jordan, Winfield and Tavierre, all of them can play all three spots. That's a plus when you go in and game plan. He's been great. He's a true vet. He understands the defense, you never see him with 'M.E.s.' He plays with the calmness and patience of somebody who understands what people are trying to do to him. We don't say much about him because he's almost like a vet. He does everything right so much you kind of forget that he's a rookie and he just came in here."
CLICK HERE to watch Coach Bowles' post-practice media session on Friday.
July 25 Updates
The Buccaneers had a nearly clean bill of health when they started training camp practices on Wednesday. The only players moved to an NFI or PUP list before the first practice were rookie quarterback Zack Annexstad (shoulder) and first-year tight end Tanner Taula (leg), both with non-football injury designations.
However, injuries are inevitable during a long training camp, and teams simply hope to minimize the number of them and avoid any major ones. The first Buccaneer to suffer an injury during camp this summer is apparently veteran running back Chase Edmonds. Edmonds practiced on Wednesday but was held out on Thurday, with Head Coach Todd Bowles saying he is "nursing an injury." Bowles did not specify the nature of the injury.
Second-year safety Kaevon Merriweather is also being held out of practice, and he was unable to take part in the offseason workouts as well due to an unspecified injury. He did leave the Bucs' final game of the 2023 season, the playoff loss in Detroit on January 21, with an ankle injury.
CLICK HERE to watch Coach Bowles' post-practice media session on Thursday.
July 24 Updates
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin form the best starting receiver combination in Buccaneers history, and that's essentially indisputable. Evans is far and away the franchise's all-time leading receiver in every category, and the most accomplished offensive player at any position. Godwin is an easy second on those receiving charts.
The two may have been at the peak of their combined powers on an afternoon in Los Angeles when the Bucs and Rams contested one of the wildest shootouts in team history. Tampa Bay won, 55-40, in large part because Godwin hauled in 12 of his 14 targets for 172 yards and two scores. That didn't leave as many targets for Evans, but he still turned his four catches into 89 yards and a 67-yard scoring grab.
There were no stats or actual touchdowns on Wednesday morning when the Bucs opened training camp with a steamy 90-minute practice, but Evans and Godwin were notably active throughout the workout, combining for a high number of catches. Godwin, for instance, was on the receiving end of two of Baker Mayfield's first three passes when the team ran a red zone drill. Evans made more downfield plays than his running mate, but what he saw from Godwin reminded him of that day in Los Angeles, and that year as a whole.
"He's going to have a great year," said Evans of Godwin. "Y'all saw him today – he looks like he's in midseason form. He's making plays, going deep, looks like the 2019 Chris Godwin. He's always been an unbelievable player and leader for us, and I expect no different this year."
If the Bucs got anything close to the 2019 Godwin, they would be thrilled. He set career highs that season with 1,333 yards, 15.5 yards per catch and nine touchdowns, and made his first Pro Bowl, and that was while missing two games. His 95.2 receiving yards per game ranked second in the NFL. Two years later, in the midst of another strong campaign, he was felled by a significant knee injury in a December contest when he was just two catches shy of reaching 100. He made an impressive return in 2022 and did crack the 100-catch mark, but his yards per catch was the lowest mark of his career and he didn't feel fully back in form until 2023. Now one more year removed from that injury, he may be about to rewind the clock.
Godwin hasn't repeated that nine-touchdown 2019 season yet, and in fact has just 10 scores on 285 receptions the last three years. No other player with at least 200 catches in that time span has gotten to the end zone less often. Evans said that's just a matter of giving his teammate more shots at the painted grass.
"Give him some more red zone opportunities," said Evans. "Kinda look back at the film in 2019, we gave him a lot of opportunities – fades, seam balls, screens, all those things. He can do all those routes, we've just got to put them on him more."
CLICK HERE to watch the first episode of this year's Training Camp Report.
July 22 Updates
Outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, who took his career to a new level when he joined the Buccaneers in 2019, has decided to retire after 10 years in the NFL. Barrett signed with the Dolphins in March after being released by the Buccaneers but announced his intention to walk away with a statement on Sunday.
"It's time for me to hang it up," Barrett wrote. "It's been a great ride, and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years. I'm ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize their dreams and catch 'em."
The Buccaneers release of Barrett in March was driven by salary cap concerns, but his five seasons in Tampa reached some impressive heights. Looking for an opportunity to start after mostly serving as a reserve for the Denver Broncos, Barrett signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay in 2019 and promptly demolished the team's single-season sack record with 19.5 that season. He became the first Buccaneer ever to lead the NFL in sacks for a season and finished fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. He also earned his first Pro Bowl invitation that year and was a second-team Associated Press All-Pro.
In 2020, Barrett was an integral part of a defense that dominated in the playoffs as the Buccaneers captured their second Super Bowl championship. After recording 8.0 sacks in the regular season, he added 4.0 more in the playoffs, including 3.0 in the NFC Championship in Green Bay. Barrett went to his second Pro Bowl in 2021 after contributing 10.0 sacks for a team that captured the NFC South title. An Achilles tendon injury ended his 2022 season after eight games and 3.0 sacks, but he returned last fall to play in 16 games and contribute 4.5 sacks.
In all, Barrett racked up 45.0 sacks in five seasons in Tampa, the fifth-highest total in franchise history. He also recorded 249 tackles, 48 tackles for loss, 90 quarterback hits, 15 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 11 passes defensed. He spent five seasons in Denver, including a rookie year on the practice squad, during which he totaled 14.0 sacks, 151 tackles and 35 quarterback hits. Barrett played his college football at Colorado State and originally joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent.
After one last quiet weekend, the AdventHealth Training Center is buzzing again on Monday.
Buccaneer rookies were required to report for training camp on Monday, along with players receiving treatment for injuries. Monday was also the first official work day for the team's coaching staff since the end of minicamp in June.
The Buccaneers and Browns are the only two teams in the league to have their rookies reporting this Monday, but eight others will do so on Tuesday and Wednesday. The rest of the teams brought their rookies in at some point last week, beginning with the Ravens on July 13.
While the whole team will be hard at work on the practice field on Wednesday, the rookie report day has a fairly light schedule. The NFL newcomers will undergo physicals between 9:00 a.m. and noon, with breakfast and lunch available, but there are no team meetings or weight room sessions scheduled.
Tampa Bay's veterans will follow the rookies in on Tuesday, with the first practice scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Buccaneers hope to get a big impact from their rookie class, much as they did last year when defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, guard Cody Mauch, outside linebacker Yaya Diaby and nickel back Christian Izien all cracked the starting lineup. Trey Palmer took over as the team's third receiver while linebacker SirVocea Dennis and cornerback Josh Hayes quickly became core special teamers.
This year, the Buccaneers expect first-round pick Graham Barton to compete for their starting center job and are likely to have second-round outside linebacker Chris Braswell in the thick of their edge rush rotation. Two third-round picks, safety Tykee Smith and wide receiver Jalen McMillan will also battle for significant roles while fourth-round running back Bucky Irving could be part of a one-two punch in the backfield with Rachaad White.
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