HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if there are any injury updates to share)

"Hopefully Greg [Gaines] will look a little better. He's trending towards the right way. He's the main one, from a positive standpoint."

(On the nature of WR Jalen McMillan's hamstring injury)

"It's just aggravated. It took a turn for the worse Friday, and it didn't get any better yet. We're waiting to see how he feels."

(On if pre-snap motion has contributed to any offensive injuries this year)

"I don't think so. [Jalen McMillan] missed some time earlier with a hamstring. It just happened on Friday. He was doing pretty [well]. It's not like it was an overall hard thing to do, because it was red zone and goal line [periods]. It was just one of those things."

(On the recent Buccaneers-49ers matchups over the last few seasons)

"I mean, they're talented. They're very well coached on both sides of the ball. They've got a lot of talent. We've got to deal with a bunch of different obstacles on offense. Defensively, they're very talented and can get after the passer, as well. They've got some very good cover guys. We've got to be on our P's and Q's. We can't turn the ball over and we've got to get some stops, defensively."

(On allowing fourth-down conversions)

"Part of the time, we got pressure and we didn't cover the right way. Part of the time, we covered long enough, and didn't get any pressure. It's a combination of both. We've got to make plays and get off the field. There's got to be an urgency. There is an urgency – we play hard, we've just got to play smart and we've got to understand things in those situations."

(On where he's seen the biggest growth in TE Cade Otton)

"It's really been his route-running. Not that he couldn't do it – I don't think we asked him to do it because we had the other guys out there doing it. So, just asking him to step up more in a receiver role, you really see his route-running prowess and his precision."

(On teams focusing on Otton, defensively)

"I mean, [Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen] is scheming it well, too. You've got to deal with a lot of other aspects other than Cade. [Coen] kind of schemes him open and he gets open."

(On WR Ryan Miller's journey)

"It's been a grind for him. Not only that, he was a tight end in college. This wide-out stuff is new for him. He's a worker. He's probably not the fastest, probably not the quickest, but he's one of the toughest. He understands every position, he plays the game the right way, he's always in the right spot, he has outstanding hands. The game is never too big for him. He always competes. When you have a guy like that, it's easy to keep him around."

(On trusting WR Ryan Miller in a game-tying situation)

"Yeah, and it shows we didn't think they would cover him [laughs]. I think he's on the scouting report now, so we can't hide him anymore. He does all the right things, and he made a good play."

(On the San Francisco 49ers potentially having RB Christian McCaffrey back)

"It's just another weapon we've got to worry about, along with him, Deebo [Samuel], George [Kittle], [Brocky] Purdy, as well. You've got to worry about five different guys, you can't just worry about McCaffrey. We've got to be sound, defensively, and everybody has to do their assignment because they're talented all over the field."

(On if defensive linemen Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey have learned how to play off of each other well)

"I believe so. They're talking more. They're talking more amongst themselves and they're setting each other up to do things that we haven't done before. They're helping each other get sacks and they're working together. That looks good."

(On the threat that San Francisco QB Brock Purdy poses)

"Like I said, they've got a lot of weapons. They can run the ball, as well. They've got a very good offensive line. He can just throw to the open guy. They have five talented guys that can catch the football. We've got to be sound, and we've got to be able to get pressure on them."

(On the key to stopping the team's losing streak)

"Just keep doing the little things. We play hard, we've just got to keep focusing on the little things. If we can clean that up, we feel like we have a good shot."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On how he's feeling physically after Monday night's game)

"A little sore but I'll be good to go by Sunday."

(On how they plan to end this losing streak)

"It's just – obviously, singular game focus, but knowing that the Bye Week is after this one is going to be a huge help for us to get some guys back but yeah. Offensively, and I'll just speak on that – you know, I mentioned it after the game, leaving three points [on the field] before halftime is a huge thing and that goes back to in the weeks prior, the turnovers I had in the red zone or past the 50 [yard-line] – making sure we're doing everything we can on offense to not leave points out there. That's what we're focused on is finishing drives, still trying to find some ways to get explosives… We're doing a good job of driving the ball on everybody but need to finish, need to find more explosives as well."

(On his and TE Cade Otton's connection being so strong in recent games)

"It's all Cade. [He's] a special player that [is] so smart, he knows where to be, he knows exactly what we're trying to get done within whatever scheme we're calling, run or pass, and he understands everything. Then you add in the physical traits that he has and he's able to showcase those in the last few weeks and that's an all-around player that we have."

(On how much TE Cade Otton's intelligence helps in their connection)

"Intelligence in football does a lot for you because at this level, obviously you have to be physically gifted, but intelligence takes you to the next level and Cade has that. Like I said, he understands what we're trying to get done and understands the concepts and everything that everybody else is doing. He knows where he fits into it and how to get open."

(On how TE Cade Otton is able to find ways to get open as a target)

"In man-to-man coverage, he's just doing a good job of winning but in the zone stuff, he's understanding the soft spots in the zones, the timing of where he's at in the progression and that's a big part of it. In this offense right now, we're distributing the ball, trying to get it to everybody and so sometimes they're not keyed in on him. There's a couple third downs where they did double cover him or tried to and so the ball is going to go elsewhere but yeah, he understands where he fits in the progression really well."

(On TE Cade Otton taking so many big hits in recent games)

"Yeah, he's been taking some hits. I know he's looking forward to the Bye Week, a little bit of rest for his body as well."

(On what WR Ryan Miller has done in order to have success)

"[He's] another guy that's doing everything we ask of him. He's doing the right thing, he's doing it on time. I talked to him about it after the game but he's a guy that last year, [was] sitting behind on [practice] squad the whole year, really trying to learn and grow physically, as well, but he's taking advantage of his opportunities and that's what it's about. You never know when your opportunity is going to come, and he's taken full advantage of it. That's credit to him of being locked in mentally, getting his body right and being ready to play."

(On his relationship with San Fransisco RB Kyle Juszczyk)

'Juice' is a great guy. Obviously, extremely intelligent, well-rounded football player, he does everything for them on offense and [he's] just kind of their secret weapon. [He's] just a great guy that [is a] smart, intelligent guy that you enjoy having a conversation with and a decent golf player."

(On what is the biggest challenge of San Francisco's defense)

"Pass rush – it starts up front. Obviously, [Nick] Bosa, unbelievable player, [we] have to know where he's at and then you know, they brought in Leonard Floyd who's a great player as well that has his own production. The way they rush the passer, they're jetting up field, that's their system – they teach those guys to rush straight up field and so [we] have to know that, have to be able to protect up front and get the ball out and just… You know, obviously Fred Warner is a guy in the second level – unbelievable player, flies around, really makes a defense go, tough to stop in the run game because he recognizes these – [they] play so quickly. You have those guys and in the secondary they have some veterans and they have some young players that are playing really well for them right now, but their corners – [Deommodore] Lenoir and [Charvarius] Ward are scrappy players [with] good ball skills so [we] just have to be ready for all three levels."

(On if he lobbied to go for the two-point conversion at the end of the Kansas City game)

"No, I didn't lobby for it. Hindsight is 20/20 when you look at it. [We] had a little momentum there on the long drive, they were gassed a little bit but yeah, hindsight is 20/20. You're hoping to win the coin toss. I'm not a fan of the overtime rules. Obviously it's gotten us twice now so yeah, overtime rules – not the best."

(On his reaction to losing the coin toss)

"It just sucks not being able to have a chance to go win the game at that point – not knowing that, but not getting the first shot at it is really the disappointing part which is why the coin toss kind of decided what the game was going to do and the outcome of it. It is what it is."

(On his decision to call tails in the coin toss)

"I did heads in Atlanta. I thought I'd switch it up. I think if I go back and talk to somebody, the odds to go for heads again [were] better. Also, the rain, the coin stuck in the mud, I think it might've had an extra bounce if it was dry, so conditions – there's a lot that factors into it."

(On the toughest part of recovering during a short week)

"It's a ton of mental work. A ton of mental work, guys have to get their body right, and that's – when you do the walk-throughs like we did today, they're trying to allow us to recover as quickly as possible, but yeah, guys have to take the accountability to be locked in when you're not getting the full speed reps of overcommunicating, understanding when we're calling a certain pass play, what depth the route is at with the timing of it and all that."

(On how he plans to keep the team spirit high as a leader)

"We've been in all these ballgames, that's the thing. We've been in all these ballgames, now it's just about executing. I think we know – it's not adding pressure to this team, but we need this one. NFC opponent at home right before the bye week, to change this thing, change the momentum, turn it around, this is a huge one for us. It is what it is and so just continuing to stress the importance of the details and doing your job each play is the most important thing."

(On what more he can do to help the team win games, given that he leads the league in touchdown passes)

"There's a lot more. You look at the games – some of the ones that we lost, there's been turnover problems and so for me, the most important thing is winning. I'd rather have below average stats and a lot of wins than what I have now so it's about winning for me."

LEFT TACKLE TRISTAN WIRFS

(On how he's preparing for the 49ers matchup and what he's looking forward to)

"I think you just go out and keep the quarterback safe. I don't know if I'd think anything different really. I think the Niners have great get off, they're flying off the ball, so I think for tackles, you just have to get out to your junction point, your set point, whatever you want to call it, beat them to the spot. [Nick] Bosa is great with his hands, insane get off, bends the edge really well, he's got power, he stays low, so it's all sorts of stuff you have to be ready for. That's how it is every week, you know. This is the NFL. [There aren't any] slaps around, so it's going to be fun. We've played them the past two years, they've had great defensive lines the past two years – the past forever pretty much. We just have to come ready to play. We know it's a big test for us up front like it was this past week, come out ready to play and do our jobs to the best of our ability and if we keep '6' (Baker Mayfield) upright, then we'll probably be all right."

(On what can get the team out of a losing streak)

"I think each other, you know, holding each other accountable, keeping each other up, keeping spirits up. You know, I think nobody waivered in this locker room. We knew the goal and its peaks and valleys. You have to come back out of it. We lost three, we can only go up, so we have to keep chugging away."

(On how important it is to stay mentally locked in during the short week)

"I think it's probably the most important thing, I think, the bigger thing is getting your body ready. It [was] a physical Monday night game, going into what's going to be a really physical Sunday afternoon game. We're going to have the game plan dialed in, we're going to have the scheme dialed in, all that, but getting your body right coming off of a Monday night… We got home at 5:30 in the morning so it's a pretty long trip – getting your rest, getting your sleep this week, getting your recovery is going to be a big part."

(On how he tries to contribute to helping the team improve)

"You know, [I] just try to do my job. That's what Joe Gilbert told me, he's like, 'Control what you can control. Focus on your job. Don't try and do too much.' If everyone starts trying to [say], 'Okay, my work is right here.' If you try and do something else, you're not giving your full attention to your job so I just try and go out and be the best that I can for my teammates and I think that's what everybody does in this locker room. It's pretty awesome to see because when everyone is doing their job to the best of their abilities, we're going to be good. That's all I try and do."

-BUCCANEERS-