HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On WR Jalen McMillan returning to practice on Tuesday, and if he could play in this weekend's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs)

"He's just warming up, getting accustomed back to playing. He won't be in play."

(On how T Tristan Wirfs felt after returning to practice on Monday)

"He felt pretty good. We've just got to keep getting him some work and see how he feels next week."

(On if the volume of snaps that anticipated starters will get in the preseason game this weekend depends on how successful their initial offensive and defensive drives are)

"Yeah, you typically want to get between eight and 15 plays if you can get it. If it's a long drive, then you've got to think about getting them out of there; if it's a short one, if they go two three-and-outs, then that's six plays, so you kind of get them out [of] there. You want to give them a feel for game play and game flow. It's for the coaches as well as the players."

(On how comfortable he would feel playing without NT Vita Vea, given the team's depth on the defensive line)

"I'm never comfortable playing without him, but we've had injuries before, and I've played without him before. We've got guys up there that have played a bunch of games in this league. They might not have the same impact, but they have their own impact in a way. I'd be comfortable playing with them."

(On if Bowles' defensive game plan is different without Vea)

"It changes what we do, probably not the way I call a game. It may change some fronts here and there so we can take advantage of what those guys do well. That would probably be the only difference."

(On if he expects Vea to start practicing at a specific point in the preseason to able to be ready for the start of the regular season)

"We'll probably talk next week. We'll probably talk next week. Right now, everything is ongoing."

(On what he has seen from TE Bauer Sharp)

"We know he's athletic and he can catch the ball. We've got to work on his blocking. He's a willing blocker – we've just got to get his feet and his hands right. With Cade [Otton] down, we've kind of got to rotate everybody in there."

(On Sharp's ability to grasp the different roles that the tight end position is utilized for in Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson's offense)

"It's impressive that he's got the system down pretty fast. That's very impressive on his part. The quicker you get it down, the faster you play, and he's playing fast."

(On the importance of getting live game repetitions for RB Bucky Irving)

"It's not so much the hits, it's just game flow for him. He's taking hits in practice, so that part of it I'm not worried about. It's just getting the game flow and understanding and getting back the feel of the game time."

(On how he feels QB Baker Mayfield is adjusting to Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson's scheme)

"There [are] a lot of nuances to it. I think he's done a great job. He's in here early every morning studying that people don't see, and he's got it down pretty good. He has a good feel for it."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On the offense's progress throughout training camp)

"Yeah, as any offense goes when you're installing in camp, you kind of have a base foundation for the plays and your day one stuff. Then, as camp and the installs go on, you continue to put things in, and then it gets to a point where you're really trying to iron out the final details, the checks to make sure that I'm doing my job to put our guys in the best position possible. So, I think that process has been good. I think we're in a good place. With guys being nicked up and having to plug some people in, it's also given us an opportunity to kind of explore some different packages, put guys in different spots and test some things. Obviously, you want everybody out there, but it's been good for us to deal with some challenges early on that are going to happen in the season."

(On how his approach changes from training camp practices to preseason games)

"It's just different. You go into practice and training camp and you're really testing a lot of stuff out, seeing what guys are capable of doing in the live practice reps and seeing if you can make certain tight-window throws. In games, it's all about the ball – making sure that I have everybody on the same page at the line of scrimmage and then making sure I take care of the ball and stay efficient with it throughout the process and keep drives moving."

(On whether the value of preseason reps is more mental than physical)

"Yeah, [it is] more of the mental reps. Don't get me wrong, I love contact, but yeah, we'll save that for the regular season."

(On the addition of RB Kenny Gainwell and what he brings to the offense)

"He's much more than the gadget guy. I've just been completely overwhelmed with the amount of talent that he has. I didn't know until a little later in the spring, more towards minicamp, that he was a [wide] receiver going into college. He was a slot receiver at Memphis, and it explains why he's so smooth running routes. Then, just his run game – he stays true to his tracks, he reads his blocks really, really well. I thought he has been a huge addition for us, but just another spark to give Bucky [Irving] a spell. Then, obviously, you still have 'Tuck' (Sean Tucker) in there, and Josh Williams has had a great camp as well. But, 'K.G.' (Kenny Gainwell) is another guy, just a veteran presence, a leader, a guy that leads by example and continues to help set the tone for us on offense."

(On WR Ted Hurst III's development)

"Ted is growing quickly. He's picking things up really fast, and so that's good for us. It's allowing him to play fast, not think, and just use his size and speed. You guys have seen it – he's high-pointing the ball, really taking advantage of his one-on-one matchups, just contested catches, things like that. When you're a bigger receiver at 6'4", you want to be a safety blanket for those 50-50 balls, and so I feel really confident where Ted is at."

(On Hurst potentially filling a role in red zone situations)

"Yeah, and just [in] critical moments. We talk about how we would look at it with Mike [Evans] down in the red zone – if you're not going to double-cover him, we're going to throw it to him. Ted is growing into his own right now and so we're going to try and take advantage of those matchups as well."

(On what he has seen from the defense in training camp)

"They're aggressive. There's a lot of things that look different – some schematic things that [Head Coach] Todd [Bowles] is doing different, some good changeups that definitely mess with the QB's eyes and just your fundamentals from the get-go. But, obviously, [we] added talent on the defensive side [and] the front just looks completely different. I mean, Vita [Vea] hasn't even been out there yet, but it's unreal. We've got two [rotations] deep for sure, and it's a talented group up front. Then, [for] linebackers, it allows them to play free. I think 'Voss' (SirVocea Dennis) has taken some big steps, and Alex Anzalone [is an] incredible player. I think, physically, he's able to cover a lot of ground [and] get those guys on the same page. Then, a guy like 'Trot' (Josiah Trotter), he's an animal. He's not a rookie. He's physical. He's aggressive. He talks [trash], and you know what, we needed guys like that on the defense. To have a rookie that's that confident in it is really good for the Bucs."

(On what he has seen from rookie TE Bauer Sharp)

"Bauer is twitched up, man. He's not just a receiving tight end, but he's so quick at the top of his routes, has a really good feel in zone coverage of how to get open [and] how to stay open. He's taken pride in the blocking, and that's something that we've asked our tight ends to do in the last few years – to do a lot of dirty work. I think he's taken pride in that. So, Bauer has come a long way, and I think he's got a really, really good shot to make the team."

(On the impact that Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson can have on the team's rushing attack this season)

"I think just not always relying on the gap-scheme stuff…When we started out, it was much more mid-zone and zone schemes in '24, and then the changeup was our gap-puller game, and we were able to crease people, and they didn't know what was coming. Last year, we kind of leaned on that too much to where teams can really tee off on it, bring some pressures to stop that and mess with it. It's tough to run when defenses get a beat on that. So, I think just Zac's understanding of the run game, how to keep teams unbalanced on the defensive side of the ball, how to set things up and just the play action off the run game…I've said it to you guys, but you can't win in this league dropping back 50 times a game. You have to be able to run the ball, have to be able to play-action screen. You need to be able to throw it when you have to, but it starts with the run game and play action right after that."

(On what he has seen from rookie QB Jalon Daniels)

"Jalon, there's not a throw on the football field he can't make. He's got a really, really talented arm. I think, personality-wise, it's just [that] he's living his dream. I think he said that to you guys. You can tell, though, that he embraces every single moment. He enjoys being out here, the grind that it is. As a young QB, you've got a long way to go learning the process just to get guys lined up, but he's taking control of it. I think just from the start of spring when he got here to now, [it is] night-and-day different for him."

(On continuing to work on his footwork with Quarterbacks Coach Chandler Whitmer)

"[I am] definitely still honing in on those little details, making some of the simple throws even easier than they should be. It starts with your feet. If you're out of rhythm in this system, whether it's timing of the routes and the concepts, bad things are going to happen. It starts with my feet and going through that and trusting the timing of that and going through the progressions, checking the ball down…Chandler is annoying with it for sure – every once in a while you want to put him in a headlock and beat him up – but no, I need that. I like to be coached hard, and he's definitely a stickler about it, and I appreciate it."

(On what he wants to accomplish with the starters in the preseason game this weekend)

"Just efficient plays. You get in there, [have] efficient drives, no negatives. I mean, what you're looking for in the preseason [is] everybody getting lined up, communicating properly and no pre-snap penalties. Things in-game, you're going to have penalties. It's going to happen. You want to avoid them, obviously, but really no pre-snap penalties, being on the same page, no 'M.E.'s' (mental errors) from those ones, and just getting a good few drives – whatever that may look like, I have no idea…Definitely getting points on the board."

(On what he expects from Jon Gruden in the broadcast booth this weekend)

"Honestly, there's no telling what's going to happen up there in the booth. A lot of good football talk up there, though, man. Just having him around, having him still involved around the building is great – just the energy, obviously the experience and history that he's had with the program…It's fun to have somebody like that and just the pure joy that he has for football, I think, is awesome to see as well."

(On whether he will watch the television broadcast of the game afterwards)

"The TV copy? I think I'll have to. Not for Rondé [Barber]. Rondé is boring [laughs]."

(On his excitement about playing on the road to start the season)

"Yeah, I think so. I think [it is the] same thing [from] last year – you get your guys, and it's just the Bucs against everybody else in that city you're going to. I think it's a good opportunity for us against the Bengals. I think we're going to shock a lot of people this year, so I'm excited to just get on the road and do that."

(On whether he is surprised by predictions that the Buccaneers will struggle this season)

"I think you can't avoid it. There are TVs everywhere…[I am confident] – hell yeah, I am. Everybody is picking us probably to have a losing record, so we'll see."

SAFETY RASHAD WISDOM

(On how training camp has been)

"Camp has been really good. The guys [have] been flying around – we're taking a good approach to all the new install and stuff that [is] coming in, [and] guys are learning quickly. So, I feel camp has been going pretty well so far, you know, I'm looking forward to [getting] this next preseason game going, so that will be fun."

(On if he has any expectation of how much he will play)

"I think the whole approach for me is always 'Stay ready, so you don't have to get ready.' I feel like a guy like me, I'm plug-and-play, you know, I can fit in wherever it's needed – whether that is anywhere in the secondary, special teams-wise, I mean, I can do all four phases. So, that's pretty much the biggest thing – just staying healthy, staying in shape, and being ready when my number is called."

(On what he has been working on during training camp)

"I think the biggest thing [for] me is my eyes – eye discipline. I feel like, as a [defensive back] that's probably one of the most important things to have – your eyes will take you right where you're supposed to be – play-wise. And really, justlike my post work – really reading the quarterbacks [and] their mannerisms all the way from the start of the snap. You get a jump on those guys of how their snap cadences go, when you can get out of your disguise, and when you shouldn't, when you should hold a little bit longer, and then just being in the post, you know, reading their shoulder and where they're looking and try to figure out and get a feel for my angle when it's time to make a break. So, I feel like that's the two biggest things I've really been working on, and after that, just being free, just trying to be me and go out there and play ball, go have fun with it too."

(On who he has liked to go against in training camp so far)

"I love going against my guy 'Tuck,' Sean Tucker, seeing him in the hole. I would say, too, at receiver, I think Ted [Hurst III] has been phenomenal. He brings it not only in the pass game, but in the run game too – he will come and try to block you for real – so it's been nice to see him out there. And then just on the field-wise too, I kind of went up against him today, but Miles Killebrew, I'm really looking forward to seeing him go out there – he is a beast on special teams – I've seen it first-hand today, just how he approaches that side of the game. There [are] a lot of good things going on all around the team with the guys, so I think everything is looking really good right now."

(On what Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith had to say after the first preseason game)

"Pretty much that we did a good job. I think a couple times we shot ourselves in the foot, but you know, it's all correctable stuff, it's nothing major – just minor tweaks here and there, but overall did a really good job. We [have got to] keep building on that, but I think the sky is the limit for us in that phase of the game. I think with the guys that we have on the field, and just the coach that Coach Smith is, I think we could be one of the better special teams in the league."

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN DEMONTE CAPEHART

(On how he felt his first preseason game went)

"Oh, it was fun. Just [a] dream come true. First preseason game, it was good getting the jitters out. Just taking what I've learned from practice to the game, actually getting to go do what I'm good at."

(On how his wrist felt playing during the first preseason game after dealing with the injury during minicamp)

"Yeah, it actually felt pretty good. That's what I was nervous about, but once I strapped, I was all settled in and it was good to go."

(On continuing to develop and grow his game since rookie minicamp and OTAs)

"It's a lot. It's challenging, but it's also what you're here for. I just take [the coaching]. Once I mess up, I take it with a grain of salt, you [have] to move to the next play. I think you learn better that way, when you take things with a grain of salt and attack the next play."

(On what he has learned from Defensive Line Coach Marcus West)

"Well, he teaches you fundamentals. You get the fundamental details down pat so [that] you know what you're doing when that moment comes. That's the biggest thing and that's where we are."

(On the veteran leadership in the defensive linemen room)

"I think it's just the whole room. [We're] all helping each other. We all want each other to succeed. Nobody is bigger than [anyone]. The weakest link, we try to help everybody because we're all in it together. Nobody is alone in it. That's how we attack every day."

-BUCCANEERS-