The Tampa Bay Buccaneers originally intended to follow their normal practice schedule in Week Five, beginning with a two-hour full-speed workout on Wednesday. However, Head Coach Todd Bowles called an audible on Tuesday, changing that first practice into a 90-minute walk-through inside the team's indoor facility. When he was asked the reason for the switch, Bowles' answer was concise and, for Buccaneer fans, a tiny bit ominous: "We probably had more people that couldn't practice than could practice today," he said.
The walk-through speed of practice kept the players from running out any lingering frustration from their first loss, a 31-25 defeat at the hands of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday, but quarterback Baker Mayfield says the team is in the right frame of mind to respond to the situation as it prepares for next Sunday's game in Seattle.
"I mean [we had a] good walk-through tempo today," said Mayfield. "But yeah, I think guys are aware, they got the message. They understand what we're trying to get done. Especially in an environment that we're going to be stepping into. So, it's clear and concise and the guys get it."
The Bucs' Week Five injury report, the first iteration of which will be released on Wednesday evening, should prove to be a lengthy one after a long list of players left Sunday's game in the second half with injuries. Many of the new injuries came on the offensive side of the ball, but one notable addition is lead running back Bucky Irving, who was in a walking boot on Wednesday due to a foot injury. Mayfield himself has gotten knocked around in the past two games and is expected to be on the injury report as well.
The Bucs have already had to deal with multiple losses along the offensive line and a hamstring injury that currently has top receiver Mike Evans out of commission. Their 3-1 start amid those concerns has been a confidence boost, however, and Mayfield responded affirmatively when asked Wednesday if the Bucs relished the adversity the injuries bring. What the Bucs couldn't quite overcome in the loss to Philadelphia was a slow start on offense.
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"Yeah, definitely," he said. "I think from an offensive perspective, not having a bunch of the guys the first few weeks, we were getting tested early. [We] handled it well when it comes to just finding ways to get wins. But yeah, like I said after the game, [we've] got to start faster, [we've] got to be the aggressor, not wait [for] whether it's chippy or we get hit in the mouth once. We've got to come out swinging. So, that's the thing that we're looking to get fixed. But yeah, it's going to be a good test on the road."
It hasn't all been pretty. The Buccaneers' offense has performed well in clutch situations, has mostly avoided turnovers and is still 10th in the league in rushing yards. However, the numbers are down notably in many categories from last year's attack, and perhaps the most concerning area of decline is on third downs. Last season, the Buccaneers led the NFL and set a new franchise single-season record with a 50.9% third-down conversion rate. Through the first month of 2025, the Bucs are 22nd in the NFL in that category at 37.0%.
"Yeah, when you don't have continuity within the players, it's a little difficult, Mayfield conceded. "Especially, you know, it starts up front with the rotating guys that we've had and hopefully, going into this week, having the same group [and] being able to handle that better. But yeah, just some miscommunications. A lot of them, you know, you go back to the Jets game when we had, I don't know how many third downs…we had gotten some, and then penalties killed us. So, a lot of shooting yourself in the foot and then just making sure we're on the same page with the game plan."
The Buccaneers are in first place in the NFC South and have just the single loss through four weeks, but they do have a challenging stretch of their schedule ahead. Each of the team's next three opponents – Seattle, San Francisco and Detroit – is also currently 3-1, and two of those games will be played on the road. Again, however, the Buccaneers believe they know how to respond to and survive under adversity.
"Yeah, I mean you never want to have to react after a loss, but this is, like I've told you guys, it's a blue-collar locker room," said Mayfield. "Guys work their tails off, play for each other, but now's the time when, after a loss, you come together even more and really try and iron out the details. For us on offense, it's starting fast and, like you guys mentioned, getting better on third downs."
The Bucs have already had to deal with multiple losses along the offensive line and a hamstring injury that currently has top receiver Mike Evans out of commission. Their 3-1 start amid those concerns has been a confidence boost, however, and Mayfield responded affirmatively when asked Wednesday if the Bucs relished the adversity the injuries bring. What the Bucs couldn't quite overcome in the loss to Philadelphia was a slow start on offense.