HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if there's an update on the status of S Jordan Whitehead)

"Our results are not back yet. We're still waiting to hear."

(On what the options are if S Jordan Whitehead's injury is season-ending)

"It would definitely be situational depending on how we're playing somebody and what we have to put in."

(On how S Christian Izien's game has progressed)

"He's probably the quickest one from A to B, as far as getting – when a quarterback is releasing the ball to when a receiver is catching it, he can take off right away. He's a very sure tackler that way. His vision is expanding, it's been very good for us in the underneath coverage as well as some of the zone stuff back deep. He's excelled in coverage for us."

(On the decision process for NT Vita Vea to play some offensive snap at fullback)

"It didn't take much convincing. We're trying to score every way possible so everybody is available. The more you can do."

(On if there's an update on OLB Joe Tryon Shoyinka's ankle injury)

"He's got a sprained ankle right now. I'm not sure how long he'll be out."

(On if OLB Markees Watts will come off of Injured Reserve to practice this week)

"It's possible. We'll wait for the results to come back and then we'll go accordingly."

(On how well NT Vita Vea is playing and if he is having a Pro Bowl caliber season)

"I mean, he has a good season every year for me. It's not about the Pro Bowl, it's about helping us win and the accolades will come as they come. Whoever has the best record – it usually ends up like that and it kind of goes according to that, but I think he had a Pro Bowl year the last couple seasons for us. In my opinion, he's playing good football, he's got the sacks to show it – that's not the whole story that it tells because he's destroying the middle and he's keeping us in ballgames."

(On having a team with two strong players in the same position that go after the quarterback like NT Vita Vea and DL Calijah Kancey)

"We haven't had it on the inside from a sack-total production, but I think all those guys are getting after it right now. Again, the more time they're playing together and spending together and learning each other, they can set up each other as far as making plays, and that's good."

(On if S Tykee Smith would be an option to replace S Jordan Whitehead if he is out)

"If he gets healthy, we'll see. You know, I don't want to put too much on his plate. He has a lot on his plate at nickel, but he can play some safety as well. Like I told [Tampa Bay Times writer] Rick [Stroud], it will probably be situational."

(On if CB Tavierre Thomas would be an option to replace S Jordan Whitehead if he is out)

"He's another option, yes."

(On what areas DL Calijah Kancey can improve on to take him to the next level)

"It's always fundamentals for me down there with his technique. We know he's fast, we know he's strong but when he uses his hands he's unstoppable. When he doesn't use his hands, he gets stuck a little bit. He's using his hands quite a bit right now getting in the back field and he's really just unlocking his potential. We look for more things to happen for him every week."

(On if a lack of communication will be a concern if S Jordan Whitehead is out)

"We're far enough [in] where they can talk to each other right now. Everybody should know everything."

(On if he considered taking out QB Baker Mayfield after his stinger towards the end of the game)

"He wanted to finish the game. There's not much conversation about pulling them. We don't have a bunch of guys. We tried to finish the ballgame on offense, he was just handing it off. You want your leaders in there to finish the ballgame. We were trying to get a first down so everybody was out there playing."

(On if he worries about having to preserve QB Baker Mayfield for the rest of the season)

"He can start the game and get hurt so there's no preservation in football. If we were up 50-0 by the end of the third quarter or something like that, yeah, you'd probably take guys out."

(On the job that Carolina Head Coach Dave Canales has done and the challenge that they present)

"It's an NFC South battle and all of them are going to be hard. None of them are going to be easy. I think Dave has done an excellent job taking on that team and it's taking over his personality right now. They're playing pretty good football. They miss some games here and there but they're playing very good football right now. It's going to be a tough battle. I'm proud of him."

(On G Cody Mauch and C Graham Barton's performance this season)

"I really like their workman-like attitude, the way they go about their business. You forget that they're first- and second-year players. They've helped us a great deal from a strength standpoint, from an intelligence standpoint and from an effort standpoint. They always try to finish plays for us. Cody goes unnoticed because we talk about Tristan [Wirfs], we talk about Barton, [Ben] Bredeson, and even Luke [Goedeke] has come on but Cody has done an excellent job this year. He's put on some weight, he understands his technique, he's not getting pushed back. Barton's come in and he's playing like a two- or three-year guy right now as far as making calls and everything else. They've been a big plus for us."

(On Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen being talked about in conversations for potential head coaching jobs one season after former Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales was hired as a head coach)

"At least I'm picking the right guys. I need to play the lotto."

(On what about his team's performance impressed him the most, considering the changes they implemented during the Bye Week)

"For me, the biggest thing was blocking and tackling. We cleaned up the fundamentals, we didn't miss as many tackles as we missed going into the Bye. Offensively, we were on the right guy, receivers blocked and everybody was playing for each other. Before the Bye Week, we missed quite a few plays and a lot of it was fundamental and technique and we cleaned up the fundamental and technique part of it and they took practice to the game. That was the biggest part for me."

(On if there is any concern that QB Baker Mayfield's stinger late in the game could linger)

"No, he's good."

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CALIJAH KANCEY

(On what this win does for the team's confidence on both sides of the ball)

"It just shows how good of a team we are when we play fundamental football – what we can do to guys out there on the field."

(On if the defensive backs doing their jobs makes it easier for the defensive line to generate pressure)

"It's really the same thing – a team effort thing, as far as defense. We're kind of forcing the blitz towards each other. It's just all about everybody getting to their assignment and executing. I [will] force it to the DB, the DB [will] force it to me or Yaya [Diaby] or Vita [Vea] or Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka], or anybody else who's out there. It's really just all [of] us just executing together as a team."

(On having all the starting defensive backs returning from injury, as well as the addition of S Mike Edwards )

"We could feel a difference. There was more communication. Guys [were] out there flying around and talking and where they needed to be."

(On when he felt fully physically recovered from his calf injury)

"Really, when I got back vs. New Orleans. I did so much as far as rehab and getting back [into] game shape and wanting to… I was very desperate to play football and ready to get back out there. I feel like I had done everything to get back to who I was and just… I wouldn't even say it was knocking off the rust, but it was more so just getting back to what I was doing and playing at that elite level."

(On NT Vita Vea's power and ability to get sacks, and his snaps as fullback)

"Seeing Vita do that without even being mad, literally cracking jokes in the huddle or just his mind is somewhere else, just joking around – actually seeing him do that to a grown man is crazy, without even being mad or pissed off or anything so imagine him pissed off. As far as him at fullback, I was ready for him to get the ball but if you see him at fullback, you'll definitely run behind him."

-BUCCANEERS-