HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if there's an update on the status of OLB David Walker)

"He's still sore. They're still running tests on him. We'll see what happens."

(On the status of QB Michael Pratt)

"He's got a lower back injury. Right now, it's week to week. I don't know when that return will be, but he's pretty sore back there."

(On if he feels good about having three active quarterbacks on the roster during training camp)

"We've talked about it. We may add one – we've been looking. We'll see what happens, depending on who gets hurt and how much room we've got."

(On if he's satisfied with the first four days of training camp)

"Very. I like the work ethic they're putting in. The mental part of it is great. Obviously, in pads tomorrow, you're going to have to get used to the heat…The guy that you're trying to take a spot from, and the opposition on the other side. That will be a whole other element and we'll start playing some football, football. It'll be good to see."

(On if the team had good energy following their first off day of training camp)

"They were very professional. They were very focused and very professional. They went about their business."

(On what he's seen from the defensive backs as a whole)

"A lot of versatility back there – there are a lot of guys that can do a lot of things. All of them are very smart. Obviously, [Kindle] Vildor coming in, No. 22, does a lot of things well for us. That was a surprise. We keep moving them around and seeing what they're good at. We know what they can do at the position they're in, but we want to see, just in case of emergencies or if things come up, can they do other things? Right now, that's part of the process of it."

(On CB Jacob Parrish intercepting a pass in Sunday's practice)

"He made a heck of a grab and a heck of a play. He's just got to get to the near sideline."

(On if the team is still evaluating free agent tackles)

"Yeah, we're looking. [We are] definitely looking and seeing if we can get something else in here. We signed two [linemen] to have for camp and to see what they can do. If we see something out there we like, we'll probably go after that."

(On how he feels about the team's depth at cornerback)

"We have a lot more depth, obviously. We've got to keep everybody healthy to keep that depth. If they start going down, it's going to be a problem. I'm very happy with the depth we have right now."

(On if the addition of CBs Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish provide competition for CB Jamel Dean)

"He's got to stay healthy. When he's out there, he plays well for us. It pushes him, it pushes Zyon [McCollum] – it pushes all of them. We've got some good players in there and iron sharpens iron. You can't be afraid of competition in this game."

(On how OLB Yaya Diaby has looked during training camp)

"He's been professional dating back to the spring. Everything he's done has been with intention. I like the way he's getting off the ball right now – he's really using his hands a lot more and a lot better. If he keeps that up, he should have a hell of a year."

(On Diaby not recording many sacks last year, but having other pass-rushing stats improve)

"He got back there. His pressures were good. Obviously, he didn't use his hands enough, but his pressures were good enough to get sacks. Either the ball was out or the quarterback scrambled one way or the other. We like the pressure he's bringing. Sometimes you get a bunch of hurries, and sometimes you get a bunch of sacks. Hopefully this year, they're turning into sacks."

(On how LB Deion Jones fits this defense)

"I think he's back to 100%. He's one of our fastest guys, and that's including [defensive backs]. He's very heady. He's been nothing but professional since he's been here. He can play both [linebacker] spots…Hell, he can play nickel [cornerback] in a pinch. He does some very good things for us. He's very vocal, always where he needs to be, he makes us faster…If we had to go to a 4-3 defense, we've got a 4-3 linebacker, as well. His versatility, along with his special teams [ability] and speed give us a lot on defense. He was in there in the playoffs last year when we had Washington in the fourth quarter down in the red zone and made some plays for us."

(On where he's seen C Graham Barton improve)

"Just [in] the experience and the intelligence that he's getting. Obviously, being a rookie, having to make calls at center is an extremely tough job. He did a great job at it last year. Going into year two, he kind of knows some things right off the bat and it comes easy to him. He loves to work to get better. There's one thing about Graham – he loves to finish. He doesn't like t-shirt and shorts…In pads tomorrow, I'll look to see the Graham Barton that we drafted."

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER YAYA DIABY

(On how training camp and the offseason have)
"Camp so far has been good. It's great to come out here with the guys again and [we're] trying to get to that one goal, which is the Super Bowl and I think that's super fun. The offseason [has] been super amazing. [It's] probably been [one of] the better offseason I've ever had."

(On the process of learning more about himself as a player)

"It's film and working with different guys and taking care of my body the right way."

(On if he's learned anything from OLB Haason Reddick)

"Haason, [has] basically has just been – any little technical thing that he sees that I can do better at [the next] rep, he'll say, 'You did good on this rep but if you do this, it'll get you there even quicker.'"

(On OLB Chris Braswell Jr.'s growth)

"Chris, I'm so happy for him because he transitioned his body in the best way, [with his] cut down in weight. He's moving even faster – like today he was getting off the ball so fast and then just looked so good. I'm super excited to see what he's going to do this year."

(On how motivated the defense is heading into the 2025 season)

"Lavonte [David] has been talking about it the whole time – he even tells me all the time he [says], 'I hate bringing up the year we won the Super Bowl, but that year it took the defense, the defensive line to really set the tone.' That's the mindset going into this year, we have to get it done up front."

CENTER GRAHAM BARTON

(On learning a new system with Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard)
"Honestly, it is the same system. [There are] tweaks here and there – what any offensive coordinator would do after some self-scouting. Where can we be more fluid in communication or where can we add an adjustment to this play? To change up some terminology to streamline some things, it's the same principle. I thought we had a good day today, I think our communication through week one of training camp this year versus week one of training camp last year is light years different. I think that is just a testament to the guys we have coming back. Baker [Mayfield] is taking another step forward, myself being able to try and take another step forward and having two veteran guards playing right next to me in Cody [Mauch] and Ben [Bredeson]. Communication has been great through one week, do not want to jinx anything, but hope it continues to improve."

(On Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard's leadership)

"Yeah, 'Grizz' (Josh Grizzard) has been awesome. He spent a couple of years at Duke, so we have already had that in common. We did not overlap, but it was good to talk to him about that every once in a while. 'Grizz' as a leader, he has been great. He just wants to win. He may not be the biggest guy ever, but he has got that meathead personality, he just really wants to get after it. He is always ready to kick butt. 'Grizz' brings energy, we feed off that, we all have a good time, and we work our tails off. I am excited to see 'Grizz' this year as a play caller, we are all ready to work with him and play hard for him."

(On the communication between him and QB Baker Mayfield growing from year one)

"Yeah, Baker [Mayfield] has been around a little bit and seen a lot of football, so he has had that kind of basis of knowledge. Now it is just about me getting into year two, getting to learn more about defensive structures, spending extra time with some of our staff in 'Carbs' (Kevin Carberry) and Brian Picucci, and picking Baker's brain more. It has been awesome just trying to learn, 'Hey, what do you see here, why did you do this or that,' or just being able to talk to him more and being on the same page. If I can just be able to answer a question he might have for the line, or vice versa, it will help so much. There might be three to four plays a game where something might be different, and if it may be confusing him, it might be an answer I have. So, I am just trying to up my football knowledge this year in training camp, and I think that could be big for us going forward."

(On how the defensive line has looked through the first four days of training camp)

"Calijah [Kancey] has been a stud, obviously you guys know Vita [Vea] very well, he is obviously a stud. I think Calijah just from last year to this year has been very effective. It has been awesome to watch him grow. I think Haason Reddick has been awesome, he is super twitchy and explosive off the edge. Yaya [Diaby] has continued to improve, Yaya looks great. All of our guys out there have improved, and they are working hard. We are getting after it out there, and we are just trying to make each other better."

(On T Charlie Heck filling in for T Tristan Wirfs)

"Yeah, I mean first thing is first was just making sure Tristan [Wirfs] was okay. This means so much for him, he loves it here, he wants to be here, and he loves being here. To be told that [news] this late into the offseason, it is hard to hear. So, just lean in on him and make sure he is okay. It is the NFL; it is next man up. We have so much trust in Charlie [Heck], and he has been having a great training camp, he is continuing to get better. We have got a good group of guys; we have got pieces who can fill in the spots if need be. I have all the confidence in the world in Charlie, I think he is having a great camp, we are excited to get to play with him. Obviously, we are praying for Tristan, want him to have a speedy recovery, and make sure he gets back this season."

WIDE RECEIVER TEZ JOHNSON

(On the beginning of camp)

"It's definitely new, obviously because I just got here – new offense, (Offensive Coordinator) Coach 'Grizz' (Josh Grizzard) is a very smart guy. For me, learning how the run game is, because the pass game really is just second nature because I've been a receiver my whole life, so the pass game is just what you know. The run game is definitely another challenge that I'm trying to take on. [I'm] getting there, dig out some safeties…But other than that I'm just getting the hang of it. I've been picking it up pretty well."

(On going up against S Antoine Winfield Jr.)

"It just shows that I'm working my hardest every day and an All-Pro guys like that, working his hardest every day and he's chasing me end zone to end zone. I [have to] do something even [crazier] just so he won't catch me. I told him, I might jump in the end zone next time and he said, 'I might punch the ball out,' and I [said] 'Maybe we need to go back and look at film because I'm going to dive for it,' he said there are smart guys out there that would punch the ball out so don't try to dive, he's just trying to coach me up. As soon as I scored he came up to me and said, 'Hey switch the ball in the other hand, I'm going to punch it out,' so I said okay."

(On if any wide receivers have taken him under their wing)

"Actually Mike [Evans]. And 'J-Mac' (Jalen McMillan) – [he's] still a rookie to me, I just played him in college and everything, so we still [have] a little rivalry going right there. I can't stand Washington still to this day, but [Jalen McMillan] is a great receiver. Mike [Evans] takes me under his wing and is just coaching me up…Him and 'C.G.' (Chris Godwin) are taking me under their wing and just telling me [things] like, 'Hey, you've got good routes, but what you can do even better is this or that.' I'm trying to tie all of those things into my game. When there's the snap of the ball and I look out there and I see [Mike Evans], it's like, okay, he's going to give his best and he's a first-ballot [Hall of Famer]…I've got to make sure I'm in my right spot, because if I mess up, it's not going to look too good."

(On his relationship with QB Baker Mayfield)

"Oh, Baker is awesome. Even the slightest confusion that I have, he'll run up to me and just tell me what I'm supposed to be doing. It's always a good thing to have a quarterback like that. Baker is one of those competitive quarterbacks that you want on your team. No matter what, he's going to give his all, every single play. You want that [from] your quarterback."

(On if he sees himself contributing as a punt returner)

"Yes 100%. I see myself in a lot of roles, but only time will tell. [I'm] still just putting my head down and working. I've just got to come out here every day and work and get better, because there are a lot of great guys on this team."

(On joining a deep wide receiver room)

"I mean it's the best receiving room I've ever been a part of. You've got 'First Ballot' (Mike Evans), you've got Pro Bowlers everywhere. He's still a rookie but Jalen McMillan came in and made a big difference. You have a first rounder, you have me, Sterling Shepard, you have Rakim [Jarrett], Kameron Johnson, then you've got my boy Ryan [Miller] out there, then you've got a quarterback that came from West Virginia and now he's a wide receiver in Garrett Greene. You've got a lot of guys out there. Then you've got Dennis [Houston]. Like I said, we're loaded. Everybody can run routes, everybody can block, everyone is smart. We feed off of that. Talent wise, it's there. Now, how can that connection and that chemistry build together throughout the season? We know we've got talent, but we've got to go out there and be the best team every Sunday."

-BUCCANEERS-