HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On QB Baker Mayfield hitting his hand on a helmet in practice)

"Yeah, he's good."

(On how S Tykee Smith looked in his return to practice)

"He looks good. It looked like he never left."

(On if he knows which players will play against Cincinnati this weekend)

"I have some thoughts in my head. We're going to meet as a staff tomorrow morning and I'll have some better clarity for you."

(On QB Baker Mayfield hitting his hand on a helmet in practice)

"When I talk to the staff and the players…Once I let them know, I'll let you know. I'll let you know tomorrow."

(On how he would assess the cornerback position)

"I like where [Jamel] Dean and Zyon [McCollum] are at this point – I think everybody else is coming along. The mental part of it takes some gymnastics work. Getting hands on balls is one thing, but we can't give up deep balls either."

(On the volume of passes that the tight end position might receive in this offense)

"I think he'll get quite a bit. When you've got Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] and Trey [Palmer] and Jalen [McMillan] out there, the tight end is going to be singled a lot. Cade [Otton] has got to get open."

(On what DL Will Gholston means to this team)

"He not only does the dirty work, he's very good to come to for young players with advice – he's like a mentor to those guys. He's still tough on the field. He performs well. He can keep everybody grounded."

(On how important tight end blocking is to a successful rushing attack)

"We haven't played yet, but they're coming along and they're making good progress. It's very important for them in this running game because we've got to be able to handle the edge, they've got to be able to handle the defensive ends and outside [linebackers] and those are the premier positions. We've got to at least be able to hold them off. Right now, they're coming along. It's a work in progress. We hope to get better by the end of training camp."

(On how C Graham Barton is coming along)

"I think Graham is coming along great. He's getting a lot of work from Vita [Vea], he's getting a lot of work from [Calijah] Kancey. He's getting quick guys, he's getting strong guys right now. Just understanding the blocking scheme and how people are going to attack him, I think, is great experience for him."

(On military appreciation day at training camp today)

"It puts everything in perspective – what we do, just playing a game everyday and what they do, putting their lives on the line. It's completely different. It makes you appreciate what you do even more so with people out there putting their lives on the line for you."

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

"No progress – no update."

(On former Tampa Bay LB Devin White's recent comments about the Buccaneers in interviews)

"I don't have a comment on a guy on another team."

(On how impressive it is that DL Will Gholston is still playing despite how physically taxing his position is)

"It's hard because you've got to have length, you've got to be big and strong, and you get most of the double teams all the time – you've got to do a lot of dirty work. Allowing Lavonte [David] to be Lavonte, and when Shaq [Barrett] was here to be Shaq, and 'J.P.P.' (Jason Pierre-Paul) to be 'J.P.P.,' somebody has to take the brunt of the work. You don't see it, but he takes a lot of the brunt and double teams and makes a lot of the pressures work by what he does."

(On CB Tyrek Funderburk intercepting a pass in practice today and how important it is for college free agents like him to impress in practice)

"It's important to make plays. It's been important for him. Hs's fundamentally sound. His technique work…on the plays that don't come to him, he's still in position. You look at the little things like that. Obviously, we want to see him play special teams and see him under the lights, but he's been making a lot of progress."

(On OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka sitting out of practice today)

"He's got a little neck [injury] he's dealing with, so we're being careful with him."

(On WR Trey Palmer being a deep-ball threat)

"We know he can run. He's been getting them. Obviously, not as many, [because] coverage has been taking it away, but that's the one thing that I know he can do. We want to see the underneath stuff improve."

QUARTERBACK KYLE TRASK

(On adjusting to a new offensive system)
"It's definitely been a little bit of a challenge, but I mean, with new offenses brings new challenges. Obviously, it's not ideal, from a quarterback standpoint, to switch offenses frequently but it happens to a lot of people. I heard stories about… Blaine [Gabbert] used to tell me how many offenses he's been in, in all the years he's [been] in the league. I was kind of prepared for it. I understand that it's kind of part of the NFL. Players move around. Coaches move around. [You] have to learn new offenses. It's just the fact of the matter. I'm just trying to put in that extra time and really grasp this new offense and yeah, just get it encrypted in my brain and move forward."

(On what methods he uses to study the new offense)

"I would say you [have] to sacrifice some free time, for sure… stay late, come here early, get as many mental reps as you can because obviously there's only so many physical reps you can get out here, no matter who you are, because you know, we might install a play, we might run it once or twice, tops, a practice. But you know, I like to record it on my phone and walk through [it] and really visualize [it]. That way, if I get a play called out here physically, then I've already walked through it multiple times and know exactly what to do, you know, for the most part, especially if it's a good play."

(On being the backup quarterback who has to always be ready)

"It's pretty much what I've been doing my whole life at this point, like throughout my whole career, so, I just keep preparing like I've always prepared. Obviously, anything can happen, so you just always have to be ready to just play football, so, you have to be ready at all times. I just keep preparing like I've always been preparing, but at the same time, still supporting those around me and doing everything I can to contribute with the role that I currently have."

(On if the constant need to be ready weighs on him)

"You can definitely let it weigh on you, but you have to realize how to handle your business and you also have to take mental breaks too. I mean, whether you're a starter or you're a backup, football can take a toll on you if you let it, but if you do it the right way and you are able to, I think, take care of your business a little more efficiently, while also having those breaks to let your mind relax too."

(On if he is better prepared than previous seasons)

"100%. I think I've been putting in the most time that I've ever put in right now, because it's my fourth year, but also, it's just a more complex offense, and it's a new offense to me, so I have to put in that extra time because you have to be ready. I have to go in there and keep the ball rolling – keep the ball moving, because you know, this is a very talented team, and if I have to do that, I want to be able to do it successfully."

(On priding himself on helping the rookies get acclimated to the NFL)

"I really appreciate guys that help out the rookies, because when you're a rookie, coming into the NFL, it's a lot. You don't really know what you're walking into. It is a lot, and I tell the young guys as much as I can, 'Ask me any question you have, like there is no dumb question," because I remember being a rookie and I had a million questions. Half of them, I thought, were stupid questions so I would never ask them. I'm like, 'Listen, if you have anything, just ask me,' because I will be happy to help, because I know the struggle that rookies can go through. I've been – we got a group chat now with Bucky [Irving] and 'Shep' (Sterling Shepard) and Cephus [Johnson III] and I send them the voice memos every night. That way everyone can visualize and walk through on their own, because you can look at a play on a sheet of paper, but then when you come out here and they call it in your headset and you're verbalizing it, that's a different way to process it. [To] hear it, visualize it in your head, then processing it on the field, is completely different than just flipping through a binder. To answer your question, I'm very happy to help any young guys that need anything."

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN WILLIAM GHOLSTON

(On how he has remained a productive player entering the latter part of his career)

"Good coaching, one, and just taking care of my body, [chasing the] events in front of me."

(On how he takes care of his body to allow himself to continue playing)

"It's rough. Taking care of your body during the year and then [in the] offseason. Just a lot of body maintenance, like stretching, working out, doing the workouts here and doing the workouts at home, yoga, pilates, and jiu-jitsu. All the stuff that I do is literally [to] keep moving, just staying active."

(On Head Coach Todd Bowles complimenting his work ethic and willingness to sacrifice for his teammates)

"I think that's a crazy compliment to be able to be known as a hard-working guy. You think about being able to battle in the trenches for so long and play with [my teammates]. I can't count on my hands how many great players I've been able to play with."

(On why he keeps playing football)

"It's like an addiction. I'm addicted to the grind. I'm addicted to the brotherhood, the atmosphere, [and] just [to be] able to compete at this level. Even in practice, the battles that we have in practice, the battles we have in the game, and just being able to have that opportunity to compete against another man to make you better is second to none."

(On why he is confident in Tampa Bay's team heading into the season)

"I just believe the guys in the locker room [are] holding ourselves accountable, as men, and holding the guy next to us accountable. As long as we stay focused and [stay] driven because we have one goal in mind: to win it all. [That] starts now."

(On teammates who had the most significant influence on him throughout his career)

"It's a long list. It's [been] 12 or 13 years. Definitely Gerald McCoy, 'Clint' (Clinton) McDonald, Michael Johnson, Lavonte [David], [who's] still here, [but] I can put him on the list. Dashon Goldson, Darrelle Revis, shoot, Jonathan Casillas. Man, it's a long list of dudes, but it wasn't just [what] they said, [also] being able to watch them work, prepare, study the game, and build that craft."

(On what participating in the Buccaneers' annual military appreciation day means to him)

"It's huge, man—all the sacrifices they give [are] no comparison to [our] sacrifice. To put your life on the line, for us, the whole country, it's not just me, it's huge. That's one of the things I love about Tampa, just the brotherly love they have for the military, it's crazy."

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN ELIJAH KLEIN

(On how the acclimation process is going for him)

"Man, it's been great. Of course, it's tough, because you've got so many great players out here, but I feel like it's going really smooth. Luckily I was able to join a franchise that really fosters their rookies and tries to build us all up."

(On if he feels more pressure or responsibility after OL Sua Opeta's injury)

"Yeah, I mean, it was super unfortunate seeing Sua go down. That definitely hurts the room because he's such a great guy, but we also understand that that's just part of the game – you've always got to be ready to step up whenever your name is called."

(On if there are any players he's leaned on throughout the acclimation process)

"Honestly, all of our vets in the room are superb guys. [Robert] Hainsey, [Ben] Bredeson, 'Skuley' (Justin Skule) all do a great job of giving me pointers and helping me out in any way possible."

(On coming in at the same time as fellow rookie C Graham Barton)

"You nailed it – it's awesome having somebody who's going through the same rookie trials as you that you can lean on. We're actually roommates, too. It's been great having him around."

(On how his conversations with Barton are in their hotel room)

"Honestly, by the time we get to our rooms at about 7:30-8:00, we're ready to just go to bed. We don't do a whole lot of talking [because] we've been hanging out for the last 15 hours."

(On going up against NT Vita Vea and DL Calijah Kancey in practice)

"Obviously, it's difficult because they're super great players, but it helps a lot, being able to have that really tough competition day-in and day-out, because if not, you wouldn't be climbing."

(On if he has a goal for this weekend's game against Cincinnati)

"Clearly, we're in that sort of [training] camp mode still where we're still running camp practices and making sure we get our playbook down and not doing a whole lot of scout looks on [Cincinnati]. There is a sort of pressure, along with it, because you know that, come Saturday, it's going to be our first opportunity to go live against another team."

(On the difference in the level of speed at the NFL)

"There's not a whole lot of ways to mentally prepare for it before you see it, but I think now that I've been in it for a few weeks, I'm starting to understand the sort of urgency that you've got to play with."

(On what it will be like for him when he takes the field in his first NFL game)

"I'll probably cry, but just a little bit – just a little bit."

(On what he hopes to showcase in the game against Cincinnati)

"Just a lot of good ball. I want to play good ball and show them that picking me up late-round was a good choice."

-BUCCANEERS-