HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES
(On Carolina QB P.J. Walker)
"P.J. is very athletic, he has a live arm, he's been there for a couple years – he's been in the system, obviously. I've known P.J. for a long time. We're from the same neighborhood, went to the same high school [and] went to the same college. So, we know each other very well. He's a very athletic guy, he's very courageous, he's tough, he's going to bring a lot of energy to the team and he's not afraid of the moment."
(On how the Panthers trade of Christian McCaffrey changes Tampa Bay's preparations)
"We look at it as somebody getting hurt and not playing that week. So, for us, we worry about us. We're trying to get back on the winning track so the big focus for us is our team this week, not what they have going on or who they've traded. That's what we try to do."
(On how the players have responded to last week's loss)
"The leadership was great, the effort has been outstanding all week, it's just got to carry over to Sunday. We understand we lost a game but we're still tied for first place, it's early in the process. We're going to work out some kinks and a I thought we did a lot of good things this week. We've just got to carry it over."
(On if any players have been ruled out for Sunday's game)
"Obviously, [Akiem] Hicks will be out, Cam [Brate] will be out, [Sean Murphy-]Bunting will be out right now. Julio [Jones] will be out as well."
(On how TE Cameron Brate is progressing from his neck injury)
"The fact that he's walking around and feeling better is fine. I don't know how much closer he is to playing right now, but the fact that he's walking around and functioning well is a good thing."
(On if DL Akiem Hicks has been around the team while recovering from a foot injury)
"Yeah, he's been here. He's been here."
(On if the players have more of a sense of urgency this week)
"It's a marathon. I wouldn't say urgency because they play hard all the time. We've got to play smarter, you know. We've got to play smarter, we've got to coach smarter. So, it's not a sense of urgency, it's just a sense of awareness and a sense of us coming together, knowing what kind of team we are this year."
(On veteran TE Kyle Rudolph)
"He brings a lot of experience. He's been in the league for a while. We trust him. He's a very good blocker. He's got very good hands, so we can use him at the right time. He is a capable of player that understands a lot of things. He has some savviness, so hopefully we'll see that this week."
(On the status of S Mike Edwards)
"He had a good week of practice, so he's on track to play."
(On how Edwards has practiced with braces on both arms)
"He kind of looked like the Bionic Man. It's a little past his time with Steve Austin. I had to explain that to him."
(On if he was the one who started calling Edwards the Bionic Man)
"I had to explain that to him, who he was. These now-babies don't see that kind of stuff."
-BUCCANEERS-
