HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On TE Cade Otton missing his second straight practice)

"There were a few guys that tweaked a hamstring that we're just being cautious [with] and holding out for a little bit."

(On OLB David Walker suffering a torn ACL)

"That's correct. He was making a big impact early. Obviously, we were counting on him to do a lot of things. We've got other guys that have to step up. I told him he has to look at this as a redshirt year. It's unfortunate. It didn't look like it was too much on film, but it ended up being that."

(On the team's first padded practice)

"I thought mentally, they were fine. They came to practice. I thought they finished great. We've got to execute better. Mentally, they handled it fine. The competition was great, we've just got to execute better in pads."

(On if the team has done anything different to account for the heat)

"No. I think they had a good offseason. A lot of those guys came in and worked out in the heat. They were really prepared for what's coming this summer. They understand it and they expect it. They came in ready for it."

(On his assessment of QB Baker Mayfield's performance in practice on Monday, and if Mayfield was missing throws or if there was an execution breakdown somewhere else)

"A little bit of both. Between the route combinations and being on the same page and a little bit upfront with the offensive line – getting on the same page – it's continuing to build chemistry."

(On CB Kindle Vildor)

"He takes very [few] reps and takes great notes. He understands something one time when you tell him. He can play either side, he can play nickel [cornerback]. He'll be valuable on [special] teams, hopefully. To have a guy that's a jack of all trades and can do that, it's important for him trying to make the team. He does a lot of those things. He does everything right. You don't ever notice him making a big splash, but when you look up, he's always in the right place and that's important."

(On DB Christian Izien's versatility)

"'Izzy' (Christian Izien) is valuable. He's going to be here. I can say he's made the team. I can tell you he made the team. He does so many things well for us. He's a football player. He comes to practice, he comes to play. You see the same guy every day. He just loves to play and the guys love him. He's been great for the defense."

(On the game in the 2024 season where Izien was forced to play outside cornerback for the first time since high school)

"It was impressive that he didn't flinch when he did it. I'm sure there were some technique things he could work on, but he didn't flinch when he did it. [He said], 'Whatever you need, coach.' He went in and he made some plays."

(On DL Calijah Kancey's disruptiveness)

"It would be great for him to start the season and not miss any time. The past two years, I think he missed five games apiece and still came back and played. We're monitoring that every day. Obviously, you can't put a handle on it. He's feeling great right now. As time goes forward, we've just got to make sure we continue to monitor the things he does and how he gets warmed up and everything else, and that it doesn't boil over into that. That'll be very important for us."

(On G Sua Opeta's return from an ACL tear last training camp)

"He's had some setbacks. That's kind of set him back some. I don't know how far away he is from practicing. He had some setbacks along the way."

(On how T Charlie Heck looked in the first day in pads)

"He was competitive. Charlie is competitive. He has very good feet. The technique is going to take some time to get down in pads [but] he had some good one-on-one reps. I'd be interested in going back and see the tape and see how he played [in] the team drills."

(On how OLB Haason Reddick looked in Monday's practice)

"He looked great. He's quick, he's fast, he's very smart, he gets it, he's in great shape right now. He's in a good place."

(On if he feels like the team should add a veteran quarterback)

"We've been talking about bringing in another arm. It's just bringing in the right version of that arm that we want to bring in. It's been talked about, whether it was off days or no off days. Whether it was Baker [Mayfield, [Kyle] Trask…It doesn't matter. With [Michael] Pratt down, we feel like we probably need another arm. We're working on that."

(On if a quarterback addition could be a veteran or a younger player)

"We'll see."

(On how he evaluates where the team is at before the preseason starts)

"It's more of a mental thing, as far as penalties are concerned, technique is concerned, and fundamentals. That's really what you want to get down in [training] camp, as well as the chemistry and the guys being around each other and understanding each other. If you can get that part down going into the preseason, you have a pretty good feel for your team."

(On Tuesday's night practice and what benefits that provides)

"Other than change of venue, not much. It's really almost trying to simulate a night schedule, because we've got four night games this year. At least them understanding what it takes to go through a day and then come out and having to play…That's important. Other than that, it doesn't give them much, plus it's a day out of the heat to get their legs back and kind of play it a little faster right now. It was timed at a good place."

(On how Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard is doing this training camp)

"He's handling himself great. I mean, he's doing an excellent job. They talk, they figure things out. It's different in practice every day for the offense and defense. The offensive installs are different from the defensive installs. Some things they have don't fit the defense right away; some things the defense has doesn't fit the offense right away. It's important that we're not game planning that they don't panic and continue on the path they're on to get the things in they need to get in. He's doing a good job at that."

(On if he's still content with the depth at outside linebacker)

"I thought we had a lot of depth with [David] Walker. There's still some spots to be had. I think we still have a lot of depth. Obviously, you've got Yaya [Diaby], you've got [Anthony] Nelson, you've got [Chris] Braswell Jr. and you've got Haason [Reddick]. You've still got [Markees] Watts and you've got Jose [Ramirez] and you've got a bunch of guys still fighting for that spot. We still feel like we've got some depth there."

(On what he's seen from WR Emeka Egbuka that he wasn't expecting to see)

"I don't know if anything has surprised me, but just how calm he is with everything. He's so intelligent and he's very competitive. He wants to do things right all the time. I tell him he doesn't have to do everything right, but just play football. He's been very good at that. He's playing faster and he looks like the guy we drafted. I have no complaints."

(On OLB Chris Braswell Jr.'s performance in training camp so far)

"He's playing faster. He's more comfortable in the scheme. I think he's gotten a little bit leaner – if not by weight, by muscle. He's coming off the ball a lot faster and he's using his hands. Him and Yaya [Diaby] have been tied at the hip this offseason, so that's been good to see."

NOSE TACKLE VITA VEA

(On what his approach is going into training camp)

"It is the same old, same old. You want to say it gets a little easier, but it kind of does not. The game, over the years, slows down for you. You start to learn more and more, when you think you know everything, you actually do not, so you learn more every day. [You] just still try and be a student of the game and learn more as you go."

(On the defense as a whole and where they are looking to improve)

"It is still early for us. We have got a lot of new additions with the rookies. [They are] showing a lot of upsides, we still have to work on the fundamentals and everything. The normal stuff of getting back into football, and just some minor things we have to tweak in. But overall, I think we are making a stride in the right direction."

(On DT Calijah Kancey's development)

"I expect big things from him, he has shown a lot. Especially from OTAs to minicamp to now, he has shown a lot of upsides in how he is playing, and how much he has learned in the past couple of years. I am excited to see what he does this year, and I expect nothing but big things from him."

(On learning from LB Lavonte David over the years)

"His consistency. Over the course of his career, I think he has been the most consistent linebacker at his position, year in and year out. He gets undervalued by a lot of people, but not over here, we know what he is worth over here. I think for everybody else, they do not see what we see. We are always happy to have him. He has been a great leader for us, and his consistency year in and year out has been one of the things I have learned from him."

(On C Graham Barton's growth going into year two)

"Graham Barton, he had a great rookie year, especially for a rookie offensive lineman coming in and taking this league by storm. He showed a lot of upsides last year. Going against him in practice now, seeing the things he has learned from last year to now, he is picking up things, and making me change up my playstyle from time to time. He is stronger, he knows how to use his tools more, and his technique has gotten better. He is keeping me on my toes, so it is a good thing for both of us."

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CALIJAH KANCEY

(On how the beginning of training camp is going for him)

"It's been going great. [I've] really [been] flying around in the sun getting in football shape. [It's] really fun doing what you love."

(On what he has done to elevate his run defense)

"Really [it's] just having good technique. I know [with] me being an undersized guy, I can't afford to lack technique because I could put myself in bad body positions, versus guys who [are] already bigger than me. It's really a consistency thing, just being able to do the same thing over and over every play."

(On creating more turnovers on defense this season)

"We want to give Baker [Mayfield] the ball as much as possible, that's our goal [on defense]. That's something that we want to do – it's not news breaking to me."

(On adding OLB Haason Reddick to the defense)

"I think that's a big addition to the defense with him coming and being the type of player he [is]. What's surprised me the most is how – he's very convenient for us. He's willing to [say], 'Oh you guys run it like this or run it like [that], alright.' He's ready to adapt to what we do and he's ready to contribute. He's not coming in with this, 'Oh I'm this guy. I do this this way [mentality],' or anything so that's really the big thing, him being a great locker room guy. Then on the field, the things he [can] already do."

(On Defensive Line Coach Charlie Strong)

"Charlie Strong is a great guy. He really wants us to penetrate [the offensive line], he wants us to make plays like every other coach would. He's just a guy who wants us to make the plays, he wants the plays to be made in our room, which we all want as well. That's why I like him as a coach – I know there might be a play that a defensive back or a linebacker might make but he says, 'We could've [done] this and made this happen.' He just really wants us to have an effect on the ball every play."

WIDE RECEIVER EMEKA EGBUKA

(On how training camp has been so far and how the first day of practicing in pads went)
"It's been great. It's been a learning curve for sure – an adjustment to this heat, to the elements. We know down the road if we keep practicing the way that we are right now it's going to turn into an advantage for us come the season time. We're staying the course. For me, it's been a challenge but all the right things are happening now – making mistakes now so I don't have to make them later and learning how to thrive with the guys and create that chemistry."

(On the chemistry with QB Baker Mayfield)

"It's coming along great. Obviously, he's a seasoned veteran and knows what he is talking about so it's just about being on the same page with him. I think a lot of that chemistry comes from me knowing what I'm doing. Learning the playbook, knowing every spot so he can know that I'm going to be where I'm expected to be at any given moment and over time as he's watching film and we're watching film and we're creating that chemistry, he will be able to trust me more and more."

(On WR Chris Godwin Jr. helping with his transition to the NFL)

"He's been an absolute godsend to me. On the sideline, staying in my ear constantly -- whether it's route running, technique or blocking technique, savviness or learning the playbook, whatever the case may be. Even if it's just about life I can ask him any question and I'm getting to know him personally as well. We're becoming really close friends and I don't think I could've been drafted to a better team, better situation."

(On his relationship with fellow rookie WR Tez Johnson)

"Me and Tez are building a super close relationship -- probably too close, he's my roommate right now so I hear him snore every night. He's a dynamic athlete, super fun to watch with the ball in his hands just like lightning in a bottle when he gets [the ball]. I think he's already made four or five defenders miss this camp and everyone hits one of those, 'Oohs,' like that every time he gets the ball. Learning how to be more creative in my route craft from watching him and me helping him in any way I can with whatever he may need help with. We're becoming a close-knit group, not just me and Tez but me, Tez and our other rookie wide receiver Garrett Greene. We're kind of all learning the playbook and doing the rookie thing right now. It's been going great."

(On going up against fellow rookies CB Benjamin Morrison and CB Jacob Parrish during practice)

"It's clear to see why we drafted them, really disciplined guys, [they] play the game the right way. I think we're going to continue to [make] each other better, hopefully over a very long period of time. They're going to make me better, I know it. I'm just trying to show up with my best every single day, not to short them in any way and hopefully come the season time they can make some big plays for us."

-BUCCANEERS-