HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if there's an update on WR Jalen McMillan)
"He's got a severely strained neck. He's going to miss some time."

(On the specifics of McMillan's injury)

It's a severe strain."

(On if McMillan's injury is "career threatening")

It shouldn't be, no."

(On secondary depth with multiple players out)
"We got some guys coming back this week. We'll see how Bryce [Hall] and [Roman] Parodie feel toward the end of the week, but they did some stuff today. Hopefully we can get through the game with the guys we got because we lost one or two, but we gained one or two."

(On if there are any nicked up players who might miss Week 1)
"Not just yet. Not until I look further into it, but right now, no."

(On S Antoine Winfield Jr.'s return to practice)
"He's fast and focused. Anytime 'Win' is out there, he enjoys playing the game, and you love that about him. He works on different things every day to get better, and he tries to not be satisfied with the day before. He was flying around today."

(On the team's wide receiver depth without Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan)
"We're going to need guys to step up. With Chris down and then Jalen going down, a lot of guys have stepped up and we [have] got to see them step up even more so. The depth was well needed and [there are] still some decisions to make after this game against Buffalo."

(On WR Sterling Shepard's performance)
"Sterling played well. He had a heck of a training camp considering he came in injured last year. He practiced every day. He's a big energizing guy out there. He talks more than everybody out there – in a good way, in a very good way. You love his energy out there, and he made a lot of plays last week."

(On OL Michael Jordan's performance in training camp)
"He's coming along. He's very seasoned. He's picking up the system pretty [well]. It'll be a big game for him on Saturday, but he's got the tools and he's got some experience to try and help us."

(On the greatest basketball player of all time)
"I got LeBron [James] and [Michael] Jordan right there and I wear a bunch of Jordan shoes. So, Michael, please take this into consideration…and I love him to death. It's hard to argue LeBron with what he's done. I'm a big fan of both. So, I'm going to leave it at that. Different eras, different guys, both great. There's a lot of great ones. I'll leave it there."

(On what it means to have a 'killer instinct' at the end of games)
"Defensively it means getting off the field. Offensively, it means controlling the ball going down and either leaving very little on the clock or score the game winner. We [have] got to have more of that mindset. We got to a key first down to keep us holding the ball last week and, defensively, they got off the field and got a turnover late in the game to make that happen. So, we [have] just got to keep doing those type of things."

(On if it's execution or mindset in terms of having a 'killer instinct' at the end of games)
"It's always execution. The mindset is there, but if you don't execute, it doesn't matter. It's always an execution thing."

(On the team's backup offensive line depth and if there are any backup linemen that he can say have made the team)
"Not until after Saturday. It's so close with all those guys. We go back and forth daily. So, we'll see how they perform."

(On NT Desmond Watson's practice status and future plan)
"That's something we're going to meet about in the next two days. I'd like to have some long-term plans for him going forward because he's making some progress and I feel like down the line he can help us, but we'll have those conversations toward the end of the week."

(On DB Christian Izien's oblique strain and if that could cause him to miss time)
"Hopefully it doesn't, but it can trickle into the regular season if it doesn't heal right. Yes."

(On how he decided to not play QB Baker Mayfield in the preseason)
"It's really practice habits number one. How hard are you practicing? How many game situations have you been in? And all those type of things. The energy you come in with…Are you getting the ball out in seven on seven or are you patting it and holding it because you've got all day? But he played in Pittsburgh Thursday like it was a game in the practice on Thursday, especially the two-minute situation, it was all sped up for him and he's done a bunch of practices like that as well. So, I feel like the experience of the quarterback and how he practices has something to do with it and it's the chemistry with everybody going in sync. So, I feel like him and 'Grizz' (Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard) are in sync right now. I don't feel like I need to play him the last game."

(On TE Cade Otton's return from a hamstring injury)
"He's still knocking the rust off, but he's playing hard. He's got to get his steps down a little bit, but we expect Cade to be fine."

TIGHT END CADE OTTON

(On getting back in the groove after his hamstring injury

'Yeah, I feel good physically. It is tough watching practice from a mental standpoint -- wanting to be out there. It has been good getting pads on in the last few days -- last week in Pittsburgh -- and getting a chance to build confidence going into the season. There is nothing like the intensity of playing football in a competitive setting. Since I was out a couple of weeks, [I am] just cherishing the opportunities and trying to build up towards the season."

(On the importance of seeing and feeling game action)

"There is nothing like having a different jersey -- with helmets and shoulder pads -- lined up against you with fans in the crowd; just the intensity of that moment is hard to replicate, so being able to get that opportunity [against the Pittsburgh Steelers] on Saturday, it was different. Obviously, I was sitting out for a while and then got some practice against our own team, and practice against the Steelers. [I am] still working towards the season and building confidence."

(On how he continues to develop himself mentally)

"I think having a similar offense as last year helps a lot. We are not learning entirely new words and thinking about the right thing to do; there is always some element towards that early in camp. When you know the calls well, you are able to think more about the defense and focus on your technique. I think improvement that way -- and you will see it from a lot of our offense this year -- just guys taking the next step in terms of their consistent play each and every snap, and that is my goal: to be the best player on the field each and every snap. I think I have the ability to do that and as an offense, we are all competing for that -- also against the defense to score some points in games."

(On his impressions of OT Charlie Heck)

"It has been great working with Charlie [Heck]. I think he is a really good player, he is a great communicator and is a great person off the field. I think he fits in very well with our offensive line and however I am going to work with him in week one and beyond, I think we will do a great job."

(On how Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard has utilized him at the tight end position)

"He does a great job with everyone. He moves pieces around; he has a lot of different formations he can 'can' to to get different people in positions to run certain routes. He is super creative in that way, and I have seen how he has done that with the 'Y' [receiver] position, and I am super excited to how that goes down when he gameplans for teams. I just think he is a great offensive mind and [I am] looking forward to seeing him get the credit he deserves throughout the year when we play well."

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN ELIJAH ROBERTS

(On getting acclimated to the NFL)

"It has been good. It is nice to get out there and get my feet wet. A little bit of growing pains in technique and stuff like that, but every week Coach [Charlie] Strong and the vets in my room have been helping me a lot, so it has been good."

(On learning from the other defensive linemen)

"I watch almost everybody. Everyone is good at different things; you have Calijah [Kancey] who is a speed guy -- very twitchy -- Vita [Vea] is so powerful, [and] Logan Hall is so long and lengthy, so I kind of watch everybody. It is a great room, everybody is really important to the rookies, and they really want to help me as much as possible, so anytime I can get my eyes on any one of them honestly."

(On playing in a defensive scheme where he can be utilized in different positions)

"It has been great. [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles, his defense is very complex, there are a lot of things that we do -- a lot of moving pieces. I feel like I landed in the right spot -- perfect spot. Like you said, I am able to move across the whole defensive line, in this defense, I am able to that as well. So, once I get everything down to pads it should be good."

(On learning Head Coach Todd Bowles' defense)

"It has been a little different. I am used to 4-3 defenses who are more just 'get up the field here.' [There are] some odd fronts that we could go on either front -- moving left, moving right -- we could get up the field. There is a lot of stuff that we do, but it is good because it not only frees us up to make plays, but it frees up the linebackers to make a lot of plays as well."

(On if there is any advice from Head Coach Todd Bowles that has stuck with him)

"Keep my hands and feet together. Sometimes my hands come up before my feet [jumping off the line during the snap] or vice versa. In the run game, mostly, just keep my hands and feet together and everybody -- as far as vets and Coach [Charlie] Strong -- telling me to play at the pad level."

LINEBACKER NICK JACKSON

(On the linebackers being 'ball hawks' on the defense)

"[Inside Linebackers] Coach [Mike] Caldwell emphasizes it every single day, it's like trying to be a ball hawks, trying to get to the ball. As a linebacker, I feel like that's the objective, every play you should have the mind [set] of getting to the ball, whether it's a tackle or trying to make a play on the ball or get the ball out – just have that mentality every single play. I try and get to it every single play."

(On his performances in the first two preseason games)

"It's a dream come true, really, at the end of the day. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I got to start out as a rookie minicamp invite and I got all the way here and I got to play in the stadium and in the NFL. It's unreal. So, I'm just thankful every day for the opportunity that the [Tampa Bay] Buccaneers organization, [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles, [Inside Linebackers] Coach [Mike] Caldwell and the whole organization has given me. I'm really just thankful, going out there I was just trying to play my heart out – you never know in football what play is your last play, so [I'm] just trying to give it all for my teammates every single play."

(On if he has gotten any guidance from the veterans in the linebacker room)
"All the vets in the room, Lavonte [David] – I can't express how much he has done [and how much] he has meant to me in my development. Every single day kind of just asking him questions, what he sees, he will look over at me and tell me little things about maybe my feet, my eyes, my hands – something like that. Anthony Walker [Jr.] and Deion Jones, they're the same way, they're teaching me different concepts. Anthony Walker [Jr.] is big on my urgency and getting the drops and different shells and stuff like that. Deion [Jones] is big on communication and teaches me different things about how to [use] my body. Those three vets right there have come [over] and taught me a lot."

(On the relationship with LB John Bullock and LB Anthony Grier Jr.)

"It's been great, those are my guys, really. [With] 'Bully' [and] 'A.G.' every single day were pushing each other. 'Bully' has been my roommate for the past four [to] five weeks, so he [isn't] tired of me yet, thank God. That's my guy, every single day we push each other, get food, all [of] that stuff together – so we've built a bond there. 'A.G.' has shown us the way, just being a rookie because he had that kind of task last year. [He is] showing us what it means and how to operate. Those guys right there, we push each other every single day. We're all just trying to be sponges and we learn from each other too because we have to communicate with each other so much. It's all puzzle pieces and we're all just trying to fix the puzzle."

(On what it would mean to make the 53-man roster)

"It would mean the world. I love football – my faith, my family and football, I think that's kind of what makes me me. It would be a big honor, my whole life I've dreamed of this moment. When you play pee wee football, you [have] those NFL teams and all [of] that stuff. Every single day I have that on my mind – but I'm just thankful for the opportunity. Being even a rookie minicamp invite, the odds are stacked against you just to even get to the 90-man [roster]. I'm just thankful every single day to be here and for the organization for the opportunity. Obviously, being on the 53-man [roster] and extending that football career, that would mean the world to me."

-BUCCANEERS-