August 5 Updates
The Buccaneers were happy to see guard Sua Opeta come off the active/PUP list on Tuesday and return to practice after spending more than a year recovering from a torn ACL. However, that still leaves three players on the PUP list, including the two big question marks regarding the team's roster at the start of the regular season.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin and tackle Tristan Wirfs continue to be listed on the active/PUP list, along with first-year quarterback Michael Pratt, and have yet to practice in training camp. Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle and a number of associated injuries in Week Seven of last season and Wirfs underwent an arthroscopic surgical procedure on his knee in July.
At the time of his injury, Godwin was leading the NFL in receptions and was second in receiving yards as he was off to his best start of a season in his career. Wirfs, meanwhile, became the first player in league history to be named a first-team Associated Press All-Pro at both right and left tackle after earning that second honor in 2024. The Buccaneers' roster will obviously be stronger when those two are able to return to the field, and whether or not that is at the start of the regular season has not yet been determined for either.
Being placed on the active/PUP list does not necessarily mean a player will miss regular-season games. It simply provides the option for that player to be moved to reserve/PUP for the start of the season if that is deemed necessary. Players placed on reserve/PUP are required to miss a minimum of four games before they can return. If the Buccaneers believe Godwin and/or Wirfs will be able to return to action earlier than Week Five, they may choose not to put them on the reserve list.
On Tuesday, General Manager Jason Licht struck an optimistic tone on the status of both players, though he said the team still did not know if either will be ready for the start of the regular season.
On Godwin potentially landing on reserve/PUP: "That we don't know yet. He's doing very well. He's advancing through his protocols. He's exactly where they anticipated and hoped that he would be at this point. We've still got a ways to go."
On Wirfs' recovery: "He's doing an excellent job. We just have to be careful here and not push him out there too early. I'm sure we'll put him through a battery of tests before we actually deem him fit to play; I'm sure his doctors well. We just want to be careful with that one because he's a cornerstone player for us. We don't want him out there before it's too soon, but he's doing an excellent job."
CLICK HERE to listen to Head Coach Todd Bowles' thoughts after practice on Tuesday.
For the second practice in a row, the Buccaneers wrapped up the action on Tuesday with a brief period focused on two-point attempt plays. And for the second practice in a row, it was a very competitive way to finish a steamy two-hour session.
On Saturday, the Bucs' most recent practice before the start of this week's work, the defense gained the upper had on a series of four plays, all pass attempts. Cornerbacks Jamel Dean, Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison each broke up a pass in the end zone before running back Rachaad White finally got one in with a reception on the fourth rep.
Depending on who's perspective one adopts, the defense may have won again on Tuesday in another series of four plays, this time all of them rushing attempts. With an NFL officiating crew on hand to work practice for the first time this summer, Tuesday's drill did have something of an official arbiter, though instant replay would have come in handy, too.
Bucky Irving and Rachaad White each got two carries, and while it wasn't a fully live drill with defenders trying to take the running backs to the ground, there was plenty of aggressive hitting near the goal line. According to the spots by the side judge, Irving was stopped short both times while White made it in on his second carry but not his first.
That would seem to make the score 3-1 in the defense's favor again, but Head Coach Todd Bowles didn't appear to agree in his post-practice interview session.
"I think it was 2-2," said Bowles simply.
The point of contention was apparently the first snap, where it appeared that Irving might have broken the plane before he was driven back by a clean-up hit from safety Antoine Winfield Jr. The reaction of many of the team's offensive players after the official's spot was intense disagreement. There was some difference of opinion over Irving's second carry as well, but linebacker Antonio Grier and safety Christian Izien clearly stopped White short on his first carry.
CLICK HERE to watch another Bucky Irving play that was cause for celebration rather than argument.
August 2 Updates
Rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish has been a notable standout during the first two weeks of the Buccaneers' training camp, often drawing first-team work in the slot in nickel packages. He ran with the first team for much of Saturday's practice, for instance, and finished up the day with a pass break-up in the end zone on a series of two-point attempts.
That Parrish was in position to make that potentially game-changing play wasn't surprising to Head Coach Todd Bowles, who has been impressed with how quickly and thoroughly the third-round pick out of Kansas State has absorbed the defensive playbook.
"It's hard to say he's grown because he's been good since the first day he got here," said Bowles. "We correct him very little, and that's a scary thing, especially for me. We don't say his name much because he's always doing the right thing."
Parrish is part of a deep group of contenders for the starting slot corner job, but the Bucs also believe he can play outside cornerback and have an immediate impact on special teams, as well.
"You tend to forget that he's a rookie coming in," said Bowles. "His preparation and toughness and readiness to play – you tell him something one time and he's got it. He loves to compete. He goes outside, he goes inside, he plays special teams and he's been a joy to be around. Other than his singing voice, he's been doing a very good job."
CLICK HERE to hear more of Coach Bowles thoughts on Training Camp when he spoke with NFL Network's "Training Camp Live" crew.
August 1 Updates
Quarterback Baker Mayfield sat out practice on Friday and, after the two-hour workout concluded, Head Coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield is dealing with an issue to his right (throwing) hand but it is not a major concern.
"He's got a sore hand," said Bowles. "We gave him the day off. He's day to day and we're not worried about. It's just sore over the past few days. It's been an accumulation of days and we just felt we'd give him the day off."
After speaking with General Manager Jason Licht before Friday's practice, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero referred to Mayfield's injury as a contusion and noted that he did finish practice on Thursday after having his hand examined by team trainers.
Mayfield could get a solid block of days to rest his hand if the Bucs also keep him out of Saturday's practice. The players have the day off on Sunday and will only conduct a walk-through and hold meetings on Monday.
With the starter sidelined on Friday, fifth-year quarterback Kyle Trask and undrafted rookie Connor Bazelak absorbed all the reps. First-year man Michael Pratt, who is on the active/PUP list due to a back issue, remained unavailable. Bowles said Trask made the most of his chance to move into the number-one role.
"Probably the best he's looked since we've been in camp," said Bowles. "It was one of his better days – he made quicker decisions, he got the ball out of his hand, he did some good things. I'll probably have to see the tape to see the rest of it."
Bowles had previously said the Buccaneers were interested in adding a fourth healthy quarterback with Pratt's return uncertain. That search likely took on a bit more urgency after Mayfield was sidelined.
"Yes, we're working on that," said Bowles.
CLICK HERE to hear more of Tom Pelissero's thoughts on the Buccaneers on Thursday's Training Camp Report.
