TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS QUOTE SHEET 8-11-25

HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On bringing the entire team together for a huddle halfway during practice on Monday)
"[I was] just emphasizing the small things. Obviously, practicing in spiders is a little different than practicing in pads, and we just have to understand that going in."

(On the status of outside cornerbacks and whether any will be out long term)
"We'll see. I hope not, but we'll see. Obviously, the corner spot runs a lot, and a couple got nicked up in the game, so we'll see how long they're out."

(On if the starters are getting prepared to play this weekend at Pittsburgh)
"They prepare like that every week. Some of the guys will play, some of them won't."

(On if the upcoming game will be the one where starters play the most)
"Depends on practice Thursday and how much we can get done Saturday to determine next week."

(On QB Teddy Bridgewater's performance)
"I've got to go back and watch the tape. He threw the ball well in pregame and warmups, but I was busy watching everything else, so I have to look at the film and see."

(On if there's an update on the status of RB Rachaad White)
"He's just got a groin. He's day-to-day."

(On his excitement to see RB Josh Williams return)
"It's important for him to get out there. We've got to see him, and it'll be great to see him under the lights. He's missed some time, so he's got some catching up to do. He's a guy we were high on coming in, so he'll be a guy we're interested in seeing Saturday night."

(On whether RB Owen Wright's absence in practice on Monday was precautionary)
"He took the bulk of the carries, and he's a little sore, so we'll see how he feels at the end of the week."

(On whether players who made plays late in the first preseason game will get earlier opportunities in the second game)
"No. We have a system where we play guys, and they'll get that chance coming up. We get them better competition in practice as well, so they get to go against everybody. That doesn't change how they play. If you make plays in practice, you make them in the game. A couple of guys made some plays late, but they've been practicing well, too."

(On the value of having punter Riley Dixon and kicker Chase McLaughlin)
"It's a very good comfort knowing that you have a punter that can flip the field and change field position for you, and they're not starting at midfield or anything like that. Obviously, we've got to cover, but he's been a welcome addition. He places it right, he hangs it, and he puts it deep. That's a big plus for us going forward."

(On the impact of having consistency at the punter position)
"It'll be a breath of fresh air for me this year."

KICKER CHASE MCLAUGHLIN

(On bringing in P Riley Dixon)

"It has been great getting to know Riley [Dixon]. From a football perspective, he is a true professional. He has done it for 10 years now, so he knows the ins and outs and the nuances of day-to-days. The confidence that brings me, of someone who has done it before, it gives me a little bit of peace."

(On his approach going into this season)

"I am very routine based. 'T-Mac' (Thomas McGaughey) will tell you all about it -- I do the same warmup every time I kick, the same stretching routine every time I kick. There have been a couple things I have played with in the offseason, but honestly, we have had some success the last couple of seasons, so I am trying to keep everything the same."

(On his mental routine during pressure kicks)

"It is the same routine every single time. Take three steps back, pick a target, take some steps over, take a deep breath and let it ride."

(On his playful jabs and relationship with Head Coach Todd Bowles)

"Let's set the record straight: he starts it. Sometimes I finish it. We have a good relationship going. Usually how it goes is: we are passing in the hallway, I tell him a dad joke, he rolls his eyes, [and] he keeps on walking."

(On his approach to kicking at Raymond James Stadium)

"It is really a kick-by-kick basis there. It is generally one direction -- it has and can switch between it kick. For the most part, you have a good idea through warmups which way the wind is going. Basically, for me, I just go out there and whatever I am feeling in that moment -- the flags on top of the uprights are usually pretty true, so I just play what I see there."

PUNTER RILEY DIXON

(On being reunited with Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey)
"[I] spent four good years with [Special Teams Coordinator] 'T-Mac' (Thomas McGaughey) in New York, he is an awesome coach. [He] gets the guys to play – what I like most about him is he is an unbelievable person, he is a great guy to go to work with every day. He is positive and builds his players up and that's a guy you want to be around and a guy you want to play for."

(On punting at Raymond James Stadium compared to other stadiums)

"Every stadium has its quirky things about it. They all have some things you have to pay attention to whether it be the wind [or] the rain. As it goes, anywhere we go, it's always being able to adapt and adjust."

(On having 18 career tackles as a punter)

"I think you said it best, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but like you also said, it's a pride thing. The punt play is something that we are judged based on, the net punt is a huge number and I think anyway I can keep that to a minimum if that means sticking my nose in there from time to time, I'm happy to do it. But like you said, I don't know how great of a stat it is but [I'm] happy to have it."

(On the player leadership of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' locker room)

"The vets on this team are unbelievable, not only some of the greatest players I've been around, like you said, Baker [Mayfield], Mike [Evans], Lavonte [David], Vita [Vea], the list goes on. Again how I mentioned with [Special Teams Coordinator] 'T-Mac' (Thomas McGaughey). They are great players but they are unbelievable people and the way that that builds a culture in a locker room is – it makes going to work easy because they're guys who are always building people up and they will also let you know when it's wrong, which is how the best teams are, they are led by the vets in the room. They do an unbelievable job, and I know I'm new here but I'm looking forward to seeing how they do that throughout the season."

(On coming to Tampa Bay)

"I'm happy to be here. I have a job to do just like everybody else and I'm really looking forward to playing for this coach and this team and this organization and just putting my best foot forward."

(On working with K Chase McLaughlin)

"Chase is awesome and I know I'm going to keep feeding this but [an] unbelievable player but a better person. Being able to go to work and learn and work with somebody like him – he makes everybody around him better and it's been pretty seamless so far and I expect it to be the same. Going to work with a guy like him makes my job easy."

GUARD ELIJAH KLEIN

(On taking reps at center)
"Center is great, gives you a lot of command at the line and allows you to really use some of your brain power rather than just listening."

(On the biggest adjustment to playing center)
"[I] snapped a handful in college practices, got a little bit at the East-West Shrine [Bowl] and then last year throughout practice I got into the mix a little bit. I would say this is really the heaviest dose of center [that] I've had."

(On how instrumental Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Kevin Carberry and Offensive Line Coach Brian Picucci have been in his development)
"They have been instrumental. Obviously, a lot of movement so far this camp and those guys are just so knowledgeable, and they really set aside their own time to help you out with whatever you need, [I'm] greatly appreciative to them."

(On where he is most comfortable at on the offensive line)
"I've played a lot of guard so that is a comfortable spot but really anywhere they see me as a piece to fit in is fantastic."

(On how his body has changed from training this past offseason)

"I heard that quote from [Head Coach Todd] Bowles, that was very nice of him to say. [I] worked out here all offseason, which was great because we have an amazing strength [and conditioning] staff – really knowledgably guys. Also got to stick around with some of the more veteran offensive linemen that were here over the offseason and that was instrumental in seeing a work ethic and setting a plan and sticking to it the entire time."

(On the culture of the offensive line room)

"I mean, incredible football players but beyond, that incredible men. They are always fun to be around and luckily I'm fortunate enough to be with them about 15 hours a day. They are incredible, they're hilarious and really smart and driven guys."

-BUCCANEERS-