HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the health status of WR Mike Evans)

"He tweaked his leg. He didn't practice today, but he's getting better. We'll see how the week goes with him."

(On if Evans got hurt on Sunday against New Orleans)

"It's been nagging."

(On the health status of players that missed last week's game)

"A lot of those guys did some things today that [were] positive."

(On what's been working in the running game over the last few weeks)

"Just communication – I mean, the offensive line is going well, Baker [Mayfield] getting us to the right call, the [running] backs making some great cuts and the line doing some very good blocking."

(On how he will utilize the team's running backs given the success of all three this year)

"We're going to need all three of them. All three are good football players and all three will play when they're all healthy. As the game goes, we'll go with the hot hand and who's running what style and how it fits the game and go with that guy."

(On if he's expecting Baltimore to be the most physical team the Buccaneers will face this year)

"They will be one of them. There's a bunch that are very physical – we've faced a few the last couple weeks. That will be no different. They're a physical ball club. I have a lot of respect for Coach [John] Harbaugh and the things they do. We've just got to be ready to play."

(On Baltimore's ability to run the ball and stop the run)

"They're very good at it, but when you crowd up too much on that, then Lamar [Jackson] is a very good passer [and] they're going to throw the football. They've got a lot of speed on the outside, so we've got to be careful both ways."

(On if this week's matchup is a good measuring stick for the team's rushing attack)

"Every week is a measuring stick for us. You've got to win different ways – it's not going to always be running the football. We've got to find different ways to win."

(On the team's ability to make adjustments at halftime)

"The coaches do a heck of a job. They work hard. They work hard, they're very good, they trust each other, they have good camaraderie and they have good chemistry and they make very good adjustments at halftime. The players do the same thing – they study, they understand the game plan, they know what's working and not working, and we work together as a group [to] try to figure out the best way."

(On Baltimore RB Derrick Henry and his ability to run alongside QB Lamar Jackson)

"Tennessee used him [well] as well. He was a one-punch in Tennessee, now he's got a one-two punch here in Baltimore. He's been like this since he came into the league. He's very fast, he's very strong, he's very tough, and he's very smart. He doesn't get as much credit for finding the holes…When he gets through them, you're not going to catch him. He's a heck of a football player."

(On Baltimore utilizing the fullback position)

"It's just what you said – he does all of the above [block, pass protect, run the ball, catch the ball]. At that size, he does all of the above. He can be an extra lineman, he can be an extra [running] back, he can be an extra tight end. He does a lot of things for them. [He is] a very valuable player for those guys."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's ability to extend plays with his legs)

"He's running intelligently. If everybody has got their back turned and there's a lane there, obviously he's smart enough to take it and understand when he has to get down. He makes some very calculated runs. We don't need him to run, but every now and then, they cover all the guys and you have to make a play, and he makes a play."

(On who the emergency center would be, if needed)

"It would have been probably Cody [Mauch]."

(On the Buccaneers being 10-4 in their last 14 games)

"I don't know if it's a winning culture…We've got more chemistry than we had. We had some turnover from last year, but the guys that came back with the addition of the new guys…We saw how positive last year's turnaround was – it went into spring and summer from a camaraderie standpoint. From a chemistry standpoint, we're still working on that a little bit, but I'm proud of the way these guys fight, the way they study, and how mature they are going from week to week and just letting the wins and losses go and getting ready for the next game."

(On the impact that WR Sterling Shepard has had on this team)

"He's been very energetic. He got healthy [and] once he got healthy and came up, he's been a sparkplug ever since he's come up. I don't expect my wideout to get three penalties, but other than that, he's been a great addition for us and he's a very positive sparkplug for us."

(On if wide receivers Trey Palmer or Kameron Johnson could return this week)

"Palmer [could] return. He's trending that way. He's still got to pass some tests."

(On what WR Jalen McMillan needs to do to contribute more on offense)

"Just getting him back up to speed. The reps, the mental reps, and everything else, once you miss a couple of weeks as a rookie, that's like a lifetime. He's got to get caught up with the mental part of the game and speed it up a little bit. He'll be fine."

(On what he liked about RB Sean Tucker coming out of Syracuse, and how him missing the beginning of the offseason program last year with health concerns impacted the start of his career)

"It was a flyer and it was kind of touch-and-go when we got him, hoping that he would get cleared. We thought if he'd clear, we had a heck of a football player. Once he got cleared, he was playing catchup from the beginning. We never really got on track that way. He came back this year and he had a full offseason, he was fully healthy, and he did a lot of things we liked. Now you're kind of seeing it."

(On the Glazer Family making an additional donation to the Tampa Bay area for hurricane relief efforts)

"They've been outstanding. You can see it, how they help out the community in all facets – whether it's a hurricane or not. With Milton and Helene, they've been doing an outstanding job. Getting the team and families and their pets everywhere, getting them out of town and just helping out in the community overall…They've been stellar in helping out and keeping a low profile. I don't think they get near as much credit for what they do [for] this city, and I think it's outstanding."

(On Monday night's game being the first home game since the two hurricanes affected the Tampa Bay area and if there might be any additional emotions)

"That's yet to be determined. Hopefully, a lot of people can come out to the game and support us. It's going to be emotional just because it's the first one back. I think we've got to kind of put that aside and kind of go take care of business like we've been doing."

(On the team designating WR Rakim Jarrett for return)

"He had surgery – he had a knee that he was dealing with. He's back to full speed now. He looked decent out there today. He hadn't done any football in a long time, so we've just got to see how that goes."

(On his thought on QB Baker Mayfield getting hurt briefly in Sunday's game, then returning to action to try and make a downfield block on a long run)

"It did not surprise me. Baker is a tough guy. Initially, I thought he had hit his head on the turf and got a concussion, but he just got the wind knocked out of him so I was happy about that. He was trying to make a block, as long as he didn't hurt himself…He's a football player. You've got to make blocks sometimes. Punters have got to tackle, kickers have got to tackle, quarterbacks have got to block or they've got to tackle here and there. It's part of the game. He's a football player as opposed to just being a quarterback. He tries to make plays."

(On DL Calijah Kancey returning from injury against the Saints)

"He looked very fast out there. I think he gives the other guys energy. Him and Vita [Vea] working the pocket from the inside helps the outside guys make plays and it makes us a better defense overall."

(On facing Baltimore Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken's offense)

"It's versatile. He can do a lot of things. He can do a lot of things. He's got Lamar [Jackson], he's got [Derrick] Henry, he's got the [wide] receivers, he's got the tight ends, and he has a huge offensive line. They can beat you in a multitude of ways. They can pound you, they can beat you with speed, they can beat you over the top, they can beat you with quick stuff, they can beat you with across the field stuff. He's doing a heck of a job there. They've got a heck of a system."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's ability to run the ball)

"He's mobile enough to get the yards we need. You don't have to be a fast quarterback to be a mobile quarterback. He understands the pocket, he understands when he has to run and he's great at that."

(On if Mayfield's intangible characteristics make him an effective runner)

"It sounds like a 'Rocky' movie."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On how he feels following Sunday's physical game)

"I feel good. You have to be a pro, take care of your body, so I have my routines but yeah, I feel good. That's [a] physical game – every time we play the Saints, it's that type of game and yeah, you know what to expect."

(On if he's talked to Ravens TE Mark Andrews)

"No, even though Mark and I are best friends, him and I don't talk in season. He's a weirdo. He can't exactly separate friendship and football, so he struggles with that on a year-to-year basis. There are a few months at a time where we're friends again but for right now, no."

(On what it's like to not be speaking with Ravens TE Mark Andrews)
"It hurts. It hurts my feelings. [The] guy was in my wedding [and] won't talk to me. It hurts my feelings, [I'm] just going to be honest [laughs]."

(On his decision making when it comes to running the ball)
"Some of the times I've taken off, it's been man-to-man coverage where kind of the seas part a little bit. [I'm] taking advantage of matchups – most of the time it's been third downs but yeah, when it's there, if there's free yards, [I] take it, but my job is to distribute to our skill guys that are much more athletic than I am, but yeah, [I'm] just taking advantage of what the defense is giving us and sometimes that's a free rush lane for me."

(On if RB Sean Tucker's performance surprised him)

"No, I don't think it surprised people in the building. Obviously, he hadn't had the same amount of opportunities as some other guys but he's developed a lot and learned a lot from this year compared to last year. [I'm] just happy for him. He's a guy that we want to get the ball in his hands, explosive – obviously, you saw the kick return vs. Atlanta, just those types of speed he has, those types of game-changing plays that he's capable of making, so yeah, [we] just have to get him the ball more."

(On some players taking more time than others to have success)

"Yeah, it takes some guys a lot more time than it does others and that's okay. The speed of this game when you learn it, there's a lot – the verbiage for some guys from the college offense to the NFL, it's a lot. Your head can be spinning a little bit so when you can kind of slow that down, you learn that process and even though it's a new offense for pretty much everybody here, once you slow it down you're able to use your physical tools and God-given abilities that you have and so that's what you see with Sean."

(On what he sees in the Ravens defense)

"I mean, they kind of have tone setters on all three levels. Starting up front, '92' (Nnamdi Madubuike) is a monster, he has some twitch to him – they're stout up front all across the board. They have smart veteran players as well and then at linebacker, obviously Roquan Smith was a huge addition for them two years ago – just him coming in [and] setting the tone. He's a physical guy, really, really smart, recognizes plays quickly, he reacts to them quicker and then in the back end, obviously, Marlon Humphrey – [I] played against him quite a bit and just knowing the type of guys they have. They're physical, they want to be the bully, but they have those guys that set the tone for them on all three levels. Every single position group presents its own challenges. Yeah, we're playing the Ravens and they're a physical team, but it still comes down to us executing, running our things and doing it at a very high level."

(On what he's seen from fellow Heisman winners QB Lamar Jackson and RB Derrick Henry and if playing them fuels the fire)

"I wouldn't say fuel. It's always fun to see those guys. You go from filming a couple days in the offseason, seeing them, catching up, and then just watching them and obviously trying to root for them in season when you're not playing them but yeah, it's always good to catch up with those guys. Obviously, bringing in Derrick is just a huge addition for them, I mean he's a monster. Our team has to know what to expect but we just have to react and find a way to win."

(On the confidence that comes from an improved run game and ability to win in a variety of ways against the Ravens defense)

"We should have answers within some sort of scheme of like I said – defense dictating where the ball needs to go and scheme wise as well. Our guys have to be ready to react and obviously you saw in the second half of the Saints game, us leaning on the rushing game and everybody going full force and having that as our identity in the second half and yeah, we just have to be able to do that. They present their challenges in the run game obviously, but you have to take advantage of what's there and we'll see how they want to play us."

(On having a balanced rushing and passing attack)

"That's huge. That's huge in a game that obviously Mike [Evans] coming and out of the game, having some guys down, people rotating in and out and Rachaad [White] being down as well but just to have those numbers… I'm not really a stat guy but to really look at the numbers and see the type of run game that we had, it was impressive. It takes everybody in that group as an offense to be able to run the ball like that and so it was impressive, [and] we have to keep it going."

(On Mayfield being mentioned among the league's best running quarterbacks)

"I would not put myself in that category with those guys by any means. It amazes me when you get to watch some of these guys on tape. Lamar [Jackson], Jayden [Daniels], Josh [Allen], the things they can do, extending plays, just the vision that they have, that's a God-given gift that they have. I'll do what I can but it's not to that level."

(On how much of his run game is from tenacity and his competitive nature)

"Yeah, it's a lot of a mindset. It comes down to the mindset of third down, trying to get a first down, who wants it more in some situations, and obviously still being smart at the same time when I am scrambling trying to get down and if it's the third down, trying to get it."

(On the leadership and poise the team showed in the second half against the Saints)
"You know, the Saints scored a lot of points but a lot of it, the majority of it was on the offense – being backed up, having a short field to punt when it starts with a punt return, and then having turnovers all inside of our own 50 [yard-line], that's not ideal. It comes down to guys being able to hit the reset button, knowing it's a tight game and saying, 'Hey, if we just do our job, we're going to be alright.' Having that mindset of a one play at a time, hit the reset button and we'll be good from there and that shows the leadership. You're exactly right. The guys we have on this team, offense, defense, special teams, it's quite a culture. It's a special group."

(On OC Liam Coen evolving as a play caller six weeks into the season)

"I think he's starting to see it really well in the sense that – not scheme wise or anything like that, [but] based on our players, calling the schemes for our players that have the most success. He's very much utilizing what our guys are really good at and good coordinators do that. They play to their players strengths and he's doing a great job of that."

(On what to expect from the Ravens)
"The physical mentality. They're branded on that, and they live on that mentality [and] they're all in it together. It's not a one-man show. Yeah, you have guys like Lamar [Jackson] and Derrick [Henry] that have breakout games, but it takes everybody. They execute well. They're not going to beat themselves and that's year in, year out. Obviously, special teams – you have Justin Tucker, possibly [the] greatest kicker of all time so yeah, they're a well-rounded group. The culture has been like that for years and they don't waiver from it, and if a guy doesn't buy in then they don't have him. They do a good job of setting the standard and living up to it."

(On Monday night's game being the first game back at Raymond James Stadium since the hurricane)
"I'm hoping that we have a great crowd. [It's a] prime time game, obviously [a] great opponent, huge matchup for us and obviously a very important game because it's the next one. Like you mentioned, timing wise, coming off of this game, [we're] just hoping to continue to bring hope in a time of post disaster where people are going through a lot so we have to focus in, obviously, playing for a bigger purpose but still dialing it back in, doing your job at very high level, and everything else will take care of itself."

(On if it's hard to ignore the outside noise when being included in MVP conversations)

"No, it's not. I've dealt with the roller coasters of emotions throughout my playing career of not getting too high, not getting too low, and learning that balance and that takes years and experience. Part of it's just not being on social media, not looking at it and taking care of your job. They talk about you when you're good, they talk about you when you're bad. Just do your job and you'll be fine."

RUNNING BACK SEAN TUCKER

(On what the opportunities this past week have meant to him)

"It meant a lot, just getting back into the swing of things kind of felt normal for me – just getting back on the field at running back just running the ball [and] helping my team win as much as I could."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's ability to run the ball)

"Baker definitely has a lot of skill to him that you wouldn't expect with looking at him. Every game, he's always scrambling, getting out of tough tackles and escaping and then making a play on the ball. He definitely has some ability and helps us in plays for us."

(On winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week)

"[It] meant a lot. [It] just shows all the hard work that I put into the game. [I give] a lot of thanks to my O-line and [wide] receivers out there helping me along the way throughout the game, but it definitely felt good and just shows the work I put in."

(On what's improved in the running game from last year to this year)

"I would say our mentality has changed and Coach Liam [Coen] coming in and getting everybody right with his system, and a lot of guys up front and our [wide] receivers just have a different mentality when it comes to running. We're coming into games trying to run the ball and pressure our opponents."

-BUCCANEERS-