HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On WR Emeka Egbuka's progress toward returning from injury)
"He's coming along. He's got to do more tomorrow. He did individual [drills] today. We'll see how much more he does tomorrow."

(On the timetable for WR Jalen McMillan to return to practice)
"When they tell me he's ready and he's out there, that's when I know he's out there. Until he's in uniform practicing, [it is] status quo."

(On whether McMillan's return is expected soon)
"[I] couldn't tell you. They haven't told me anything."

(On CB Josh Hayes' status)
"His knee is coming along. He had a minor setback at some point. He's coming back along now, so he'll be ready hopefully in a couple weeks."

(On how he prioritizes Atlanta's offensive weapons in the defensive game plan)
"Tough question, and they all take top priority. I don't think you can not plan for one. It takes 11 guys to be where they're supposed to be, and we've got to make plays. They've got some superstars over there."

(On what's contributed to the defense's increased takeaway production as of late)
"Really, it's just the guys buying in at practice. We've been doing it for years and we hadn't gotten them, and we've been doing them now and we're getting them. You know, it's really just reassuring them from the coaching standpoint and the players getting on each other about harping on them [and] getting them in practice. You know, they really started believing in that, and we started getting them in the game."

(On S Antoine Winfield Jr.'s progress toward returning from injury)
"Yeah, he's making good progress for us."

(On T Luke Goedeke's status)
"He did not practice today. If he doesn't do anything tomorrow and Friday, [the chances are] going to look slim, but we'll see."

(On the team's success running the football on the road and the need to win at home)
"I mean, I think that's our calling card. We play a lot better when we run the ball very successfully, whether we're home or on the road. We haven't had much success at home, running the football or winning at home, but we've got to turn that around and win a home game."

(On the defense's recent improvement rushing the passer)
"It's getting there. It's a work in progress week by week. I think we've gotten a lot better. We've still got to clean up some things from that aspect of it that I feel like we need to, but it's coming along. Those guys play with a lot of energy, and they kind of clean up for each other's mistakes."

(On Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.'s performance this season)
"He can throw the ball. He's got great zip on the ball and great timing on the football – [a] strong arm. He can get out of the pocket. He runs a lot better than you think he can run. He's really not giving the ball away. They're doing a great job taking care of the football, which is going to be critical in this game. We've been getting [interceptions], but they're a hard team to get them off of, and he's playing winning football."

(On whether the next two games could influence the team's approach at the trade deadline)
"I hadn't thought about it like that, I'm just thinking about the next game. But if you're looking at it from an outside point, I guess you can say that."

(On whether Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson's familiarity with Atlanta and the rest of the NFC South provides an advantage)
"No, like I told Zac, they have familiarity with him too. You know, [Falcons Defensive Coordinator] Jeff [Ulbrich] has familiarity with him. They played and practiced against each other every day, so I'm sure they know each other's strengths and weaknesses. That's going to be a good cat-and-mouse game [and] we have to understand that he knows what Jeff likes to do [and] I'm sure Jeff knows what he likes to do. We've got to throw some wrenches in ours and kind of change things up a little bit."

(On Falcons rookie linebackers Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr.)
"[They are] playing great football. I mean, they play with their hair on fire. They play very good football, very physical, very athletic, and they're doing a heck of a job for them."

(On how far the team has come since last season's home loss against Atlanta)
"That was forgotten about probably a day or two after it happened. I don't think we've come far from that, I think we've reloaded and got a new season going on so that really doesn't play a part in anything I do."

(On the challenges of defending Falcons TE Kyle Pitts)
"He's torched us pretty [well] the past few ballgames. We've got to do a better job. He's a great athlete and he's a great player, but we've got to do a better job defensively."

(On the challenges of defending Falcons RB Bijan Robinson)
"He's tough. I mean, he can stop and start, he's strong, he's quick, he's got great vision, he's got hands. Anytime he's in open space, it's going to be a problem. We've got to get everybody to the ball, and we've really got to swarm to the football. One guy usually doesn't do it."

(On whether RB Bucky Irving has become the tone-setter for the offense)
"There [are] a few guys setting the tone. I mean, Bucky is the beneficiary of it, with the offensive line and the [wide] receivers and tight ends blocking…But he's been the bell cow for us the past couple weeks as we got going. We can ride him."

(On WR Ted Hurst III's development this season)
"I think he's playing faster. He's playing a lot faster with a lot more confidence, and when you play with confidence, you play a lot faster. His routes are a lot crisper. We've just got to start getting him the ball a little bit more."

(On the secondary's increased aggressiveness and ability to create turnovers lately)
"[It's about] understanding the scheme. They're starting to make plays within the scheme and not just playing what we call, but kind of seeing where they can make their plays within the calls, and that shows maturity of them coming in from last year. Obviously, Zyon [McCollum] and [Jacob] Parrish watch a lot of film. I think [Safeties Coach] Tim [Atkins] and [Cornerbacks Coach] Rashad and [Defensive Assistant] 'T.J.' (Todd Bowles Jr.) do a great job getting those guys ready to play and making them aware of certain plays that they can take, and I think they're doing a good job focusing on that."

(On the contributions of WR Chris Godwin Jr. as a run blocker)
"I think him and Ted [Hurst III] both did an outstanding job blocking and sustaining blocks. So, when we say the O-line did a heck of a job, we're talking about the tight ends and [wide] receivers, too. You don't get to the second level without the [wide] receivers blocking, and I thought they did a heck of a job getting Bucky [Irving] and [Kenny] Gainwell to the second level."

(On if QB Baker Mayfield has continued to recover from his thumb injury)
"I'm sure he has. I mean, he looked good in practice today, but not having to throw that much – if it did affect him at all last week – I'm sure it's a lot better with the [extra] week."

(On how long Mayfield will continue wearing a glove)
"I have not been told."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On how his thumb feels following Sunday's game against Carolina)
"Yeah, it continues to improve. I mean, obviously after a game like that where you're not having to test it and [have] essentially no contact the whole time…[I am] basically just continuing to improve each day, continuing to feel more and more comfortable with it and see how it feels."

(On how long he expects to continue wearing a glove)
"I think it's just kind of a day-to-day thing, week by week, to see how much it's healing. [We've] still got to get some of the swelling down. That's kind of an ongoing process, but yeah, just take it one week at a time."

(On how encouraging it was to be able to throw the ball successfully when he was asked to throw in Week 7, like on the third-down conversion throw and scramble drill touchdown to WR Tez Johnson)
"Encouraging, yeah. Really, kudos to Tez [Johnson] on that one. They wound up playing a man coverage, and Tez – obviously, [he] scored on the scramble drill in the red zone – but then the key third down, just trying to get open. So that's all credit to Tez. I just had a lane to step up and get out of the pocket a little bit. Yeah, it made me feel more comfortable being able to throw on the run, but I was building that confidence throughout the week in practice, too."

(On how often the team practices scramble-drill plays like his touchdown pass to WR Tez Johnson)
"Yeah, I mean, here at practice, you try and go through your reads. Obviously, when your coaches are scouting it up, you're trying to go through, 'This is what this play is designed for, get it out on time, do that.' But if it's not there, you're just playing live football. The play is never over when you're at practice here. Obviously, you're not getting hit, so [we're] trying to just teach those guys the rules and play off each other as well."

(On Johnson's natural instincts during scramble drills)
"Yeah, no, he definitely has just natural instinct on it. You know, he's obviously already hauling around the field, going pretty fast, so he's getting his eyes up. A lot of times, you know, Tez [Johnson] can just kind of try and find green grass when he's running his route, so [we] try and keep him honed in a little bit, make sure he's on his landmarks at the right time. But then when it comes to scramble drill, that's when you want to cut him loose. He has that natural instinct to be able to make plays."

(On the benefits of consistently staying ahead of the chains on offense)
"It's wild. I mean, that was obviously a really, really efficient day for us. [The] guys up front clearing the lanes out, [running] backs were hitting their tracks, tight ends, [wide] receivers, everybody was blocking, so everybody was involved in it. But it's nice and easy for me when you're looking at it in second-and-3 or second-and-4 every single time."

(On the challenges presented by Atlanta's defense)
"Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, you look at their safeties – [Jessie] Bates [III] is a hell of a player [and Xavier] Watts, I think, is extremely good as well. Those guys are so instinctive. They disguise well. But yeah, what really jumps out on tape is their front. You know, they're kind of rotating a lot of guys in. Obviously, [Jalon] Walker is done for the year [and James] Pierce [Jr.] isn't back yet, but [with] who they have in there right now, they're creating chaos, jetting off the ball, attack-front style. Like I said, they're creating chaos, doing a lot of different movement, kind of keeping you on your toes, and they're doing a good job of mixing up their pressures out of different fronts and different looks, so you can't really get a beat on where it's coming from. But yeah, they're playing aggressive, running to the football, and, obviously, going back to the safeties, they're punching at it. Since they run to the football, they're able to recover a lot of these fumbles, too."

(On Falcons rookie linebackers Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr.)
"Yeah, I think they're allowing those guys to kind of do what they're best at. You know, Perkins has been able to rush the passer for a little bit throughout his career and [they're] kind of allowing him to get in there and run some games with the D-line and do all that. Daniels, as well – he's instinctive, really athletic, able to kind of read off your eyes. He's made some good plays in the pass game, as well. So yeah, they're putting them in good spots to have success for their talent."

(On how an effective running game can create opportunities in the passing game)
"Absolutely. It should. That's what you hope for. But when it's working like that, you should continue to lean on it until the cows come home."

(On T Ben Chukwuma's performance in place of T Luke Goedeke in Week 7)
"Yeah, I think, for me last year when he was stepping in for Tristan [Wirfs] at the left side, [I was] a little nervous – you've got an undrafted rookie starting at left tackle, but then you realize how strong he is. Come Sunday, once he puts his hands on you, you're not really going anywhere. So yeah, he played well. He's going to continue to improve for us and continue to understand what we're doing schematically. But yeah, definitely a positive, a huge positive, for us to not take steps back when you're missing a guy like Luke."

(On how eager he is to potentially get the team's first home win this season)
"Very eager. We talked about that this morning. We haven't won a home game yet. It's not just about that – obviously, this division game is extremely important, but [we] definitely need to get our mojo back at home."

(On the team's recent struggles against Atlanta at Raymond James Stadium)
"It's come down to turnovers – [we're focused on] being able to end our drives offensively with a kick or the ball in our hands, and [have] no negative plays. It's a team that when you know each other so well, they play aggressive. Like I said earlier about the safeties, when they recognize plays, they make plays on the ball. So, [it's about] taking care of the rock, first and foremost, and staying ahead of the chains. We've got to continue to lean on the run game as well."

(On WR Chris Godwin Jr.'s contributions as a run blocker)
"Yeah, there was one specifically that I should have canned the play…You know, we motioned him over into the boundary, and it looks like they're just rotating the safeties, going from the safety down on the right side to safety down on the left side, and they end up bringing a pressure, so I'm supposed to can the play. Chris makes it right, makes it completely right, ends up inserting and washing Nick Scott down [and] Bucky [Irving] ends up splitting the track between Tristan [Wirfs] and him, and it's just things like that that are not going to go on a stat sheet, but it's vital for us to stay ahead of the chains. A guy like Chris that's the caliber of player he is, the true professional he is, he's going to continue to do the right things in the run game for us to set the example for the young guys that it does take everybody to have success in this league. So, Chris, he does a ton of dirty work, so [we've] got to continue to try and get him more and more involved."

(On last season's home loss against Atlanta and the importance of limiting turnovers)
"Yeah, I mean, any time that you have a game like that [where] you think it's over, but it still comes back to turnovers. Like I mentioned, the times that we've lost to them, it's been turnovers. The pick going into plus territory down the seam…Obviously, he made a hell of a play, but it comes down to taking care of the rock. In division games like that, when it's a tight ball game, you've got to do that."

(On facing his former coach and current Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and if their familiarity with each other will have any impact on this week's game)
"No, I haven't spoken to him since 2021."

(On whether the way things ended between him and Stefanski in Cleveland still 'eats at him')
"No, I'm doing all right."

-BUCCANEERS-