HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the status of DL Akiem Hicks and T Josh Wells)

"They're banged up pretty good. Their availability right now is unknown but both got hurt pretty good."

(On T Brandon Walton's performance at left tackle after Wells left the game)

"He really battled. For his first time out as a starter – or coming into the ballgame, playing in an NFL game – we thought he fought hard, we thought he held his own and we thought he did some good things in there. [We're] very happy to see what he did when he came in."

(On getting stopped on several short-yardage attempts)

"We've got to find a way to get a yard. For whatever reason, it didn't click. Whether they made a good play or we didn't, we've got to find a way to get one yard every time if we want to go for it on fourth down."

(On his thoughts on the altercation in Sunday's game after watching tape)

"Well, the tape cuts off. All I can see is the TV copy. It doesn't change my perspective. We don't want any fighting in our game because if we lose a good player, it doesn't help our team. So, we don't condone that, we don't teach that, we don't want that in our game."

(On his reaction to WR Mike Evans being suspended for one game)

"Yes, he'll get one game. I found out about 10 minutes ago. He'll have a one-game suspension. Like I said, the fighting alone loses a player for the next game [and] it hurts our team because we lose a very good ballplayer. We don't want that, we don't condone it, and we've got to move forward and try to find a way to win without him. But that should be a lesson to all of our other players."

(On the fine line of sticking up for a teammate without crossing over into unwanted territory)

"It's always a fine line. This is a controlled-aggression game. It's a controlled-aggression game and you try to protect your teammates, but you've got to do it the right way."

(On WR Breshad Perriman stepping up when needed)

"Well, he's always prepared. His readiness, his understanding of the game, doing the right things all the time, staying mentally sharp, doing all the little things…he's a pro's pro. He's a guy's guy, especially in the locker room. Understanding what he has to do to prepare so when the moment comes, it's not too big for him. It's routine for him and it's a small thing that goes under the radar but it's a big thing for us."

(On if the tight ends need to provide more pass-catching with Evans suspended)

"Not necessarily that position but from everybody that's on the field, running backs and receivers. We're going to have to pick it up somewhere, somebody's going to have to make a play and step up. That's what we've got depth for."

(On if the Bucs' coverage units on special teams has been a pleasant surprise so far)

"It's been a very good surprise. They've been physical. They've been on top of things. They play with their hair on fire, so to speak, in special teams terms. It's been very pleasing to see."

(On Senior Advisor to the General Manager Bruce Arians being on the sideline Sunday)

"He's always upstairs but [the Saints] didn't have a box to give us this game so everybody that was upstairs were downstairs."

(On if Arians and General Manager Jason Licht will be in a box for games at Raymond James Stadium)

"Jason is always downstairs, Bruce is always upstairs."

(On QB Tom Brady getting 'personal days' on Wednesdays)

"It's not a personal day, it's a rest day. It's also Julio [Jones'] rest day. And then we have Chris [Godwin] on Thursday, Mike [Evans] and Lavonte [David] on Friday, so it's not just him. We have guys [that] we have designated days off for after games to help them recover quicker and do things. He has Wednesday but so does Julio."

(On how optimistic he is that WR Julio Jones will be able to play against Green Bay)

"We'll see how he recovers. Again, we've got a long week ahead of us and I can't make that decision without seeing him."

(On if Brady is with the team on rest days)

"Oh, he's here. He's in meetings. The rest day for everybody is just at practice."

(On if he has noticed NFL teams running the ball more this season)

"I think it's just two weeks. I haven't seen all the games but some teams are trying to run it, some teams are still trying to throw it. It fluctuates and it changes from time to time depending on, I guess, your personnel. You'll do one heavy or the other."

(On why the Bucs' defense has given up more rushing yards early in their two games)

"Some of it we played the pass early on, some of it we've just been out of our gaps and we haven't been gap-sound in two weeks, to my liking anyway. So, we're going to work on that and it's the start the season, so we've got a chance to get better."

(On if he's surprised or disappointed that Saints' CB Marshon Lattimore wasn't also suspended for being involved in Sunday's altercation)

"He was, but I can only worry about my team. I can only control what happens on this team and not worry about everybody else."

(On if it was his understanding that Lattimore was suspended)

"I don't know what happened with [Marshon] Lattimore. I just know what happened with Mike [Evans]."

-BUCCANEERS-