HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On WR Ted Hurst III's development throughout training camp)

"You can see him coming along. The more plays he makes means he's grasping the offense better and he's playing more confidently. We keep looking for that to continue. With guys nicked up right now, he's really taking advantage of it."

(On numerous players not participating in practice on Wednesday, and if they were all rest days)

"Chris [Godwin Jr.] and A'Shawn [Robinson] were rest days. Everybody else is nicked up."

(On how TE Bauer Sharp is getting acclimated to Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson's scheme)

"He's coming along. He's learning it. We know he's a good athlete. Obviously, he's got a lot of things to work on, but he's a confident player and he's willing to block and he's a very good route runner. We're excited about his growth, and he's just got to continue to get better."

(On if cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison might play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday)

"Zyon for sure won't go. We'll see about Morrison."

(On if QB Jake Browning will play a majority of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday)

"We haven't talked about it yet."

(On how open the competition is for the punt and kick return roles)

"It's wide open. There's everything up for grabs right there because that'll tell whether we keep an extra runner or an extra [wide] receiver."

(On if the backup quarterback job is an open competition)

"It's open. It's been open."

(On if it's a possibility that QB Jalon Daniels or QB Connor Bazelak could start the season as the backup quarterback)

"We've got two more games to play. We'll see."

(On what WR Kam Johnson needs to do to make the roster)

"He's got to continue to learn the playbook. The more positions you know, the better. We know he's a kick returner. Being a [special] teams player, there's a lot of competition in that room."

(On OLB Rueben Bain Jr.'s work ethic)

"I mean, he's got great work ethic. You're not going to stop a guy like that when you do that all the time and work on the small things and the little things to help you get better. That says a lot."

(On OLB Yaya Diaby's performance this training camp)

"He's had a very solid camp. [He is] working on his pass-rush game, he's been good at that. He's been great in the run game. He's been as good as you can be."

(On whether RB Kenny Gainwell is an option in the return game)

"Possibly, yeah. He's done it before, so he's in it. We understand he can do it, yeah."

(On if he'd prefer to have a running back as the primary kick returner and a wide receiver as the primary punt returner)

"It's always open. It's open, and it's been open. Whoever can return punts and kicks will return them. It just happens to be receivers and [running] backs, but we have more guys than that."

(On what QB Jake Browning's experience provides)

"His intelligence, obviously his years in the league, understanding where to go with the ball, being able to play with minimal reps."

(On if Browning has fully recovered from his injury last week)

"He's been throwing okay the past two days, so we're still day-to-day."

QUARTERBACK JAKE BROWNING

(On the competition for the backup QB spot)

"I think anytime you're in the NFL – if you think you're above any competition, you're in the wrong business. So, [I] welcome any competition and feel pretty confident that I've been playing really well this camp. I had the back thing pop up, and really before that, I felt like I was playing really well, and since coming back, I feel like I picked up right where I left off. 'J.D.' (Jalon Daniels) played well, and 'Baze' (Connor Bazelak) is a really good player too, so we [have] got a good room. You know, I'm not shying away from any competition – bring it."

(On what he is looking to get out of his first preseason game)

"I mean, I think it's playing the game – just try to operate the offense well, just like you would in a Week 3 game in the regular season. So, yeah, anytime you get to play – I'm excited for it – I don't think you treat it any different. I think maybe if you're a 10-year vet that has started over 100 games, maybe you're looking at it a little different, but for me, I just want to go in and play with good feet, good eyes, operate the offense well, move the ball down the field, make the right reads, and that's kind of where my mind is at."

(On what he has seen from WR Ted Hurst III)

"I think Ted [Hurst III has] done a good job. You know, he is such a tall, longer receiver – he is pretty twitchy at the top of routes, which is a pretty deadly combo. I think the main thing I [have] seen with a lot of younger, really good receivers is that first training camp is like survival. You can go through as many fall camps in college as you want – it's just going to be different. You know, there's going to be ups and downs – I remember Justin Jefferson was kind of like that in Minnesota too, and then all of a sudden, they threw him out there to start in Week 2 and he played insanely well and you're like, 'Woah, where did that come from?' So, I think Ted [Hurst III] has got the chance to be a really good receiver, and I think the main thing for him – he [has] obviously has got the talent and all that – it's just stacking days and continuing to get better, but we definitely see flashes where we're like, 'Ok, that's legit and a rare talent.'"

(On the biggest things he has noticed from Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson's offense and how it compares to different offenses he has been on)

"I think 'Z-Rob' (Zac Robinson) has done a great job so far – I feel like the offense [has] a decent amount of plays [that] we're able to run the ball and kind of build the pass game on first and second down around that. I mean, there is a decent amount of time where you just do a play fake, and number one is wide open, like, 'That's pretty nice.' So, I think that, and it's a new offense and just new personnel too, and so just learning that and seeing what people like. I think there's always going to be some similarities once you start getting dropped back – there's only so many different things you can do. But yeah, I think 'Z-Rob' (Zac Robinson) has done a great job, you know, T.J. [Yates] and Chandler [Whitmer] have done a good job too, so I like the offense a lot so far."

(On how important the preseason game is for him)
"I think anytime you're playing, whether it's in-season, regular-season or preseason, or anything like that, you're building a resume. So, you [have to] prepare and all that, for your opportunities to play. I try not to overthink, like, 'I might play, I might not.' I've been a backup for a while, [so] you get used to it a little bit, where it's like, you know, that is the job – nobody knows if you're prepared or anything like that until you just get thrown in there. So, you know, [I] try not to really overthink that too much – it's just kind of my routine that I prepare, and once you're on the field and you feel that confidence in that preparation, you just let it rip."

KICKER CHASE MCLAUGHLIN

(On if his routine changes at all as he heads into a new season)

"I try to keep everything the same. I've always been a very routine guy – over the past eight seasons, kind of building it up. Basically, ever since I got to Tampa Bay, it's just been the same routine. If there's little tweaks I need to do here and there, then I'll work on that. To answer your question, yeah, I try to keep everything the same."

(On if having new Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith changes his role at all)

"Yeah, it's my third coordinator here with the Buccaneers. It's just like anything; it's just a new relationship. We have to build trust, build out a foundation, and go on from there."

(On what his relationship with Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith is like)

"It's been good…He's played, he's coached for 30-some-odd years, so he brings a lot of experience and professionalism to the table. It's been a great back and forth figuring out what each other wants, expects and needs to have success on the field. Ultimately, that's what it's all about, winning, making kicks and moving on to the next one."

(On what Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith is like)

"Yeah, very energetic guy. It keeps everyone's attention in the meetings. Like I said, it's just been great to build that trust with him and build that relationship."

(On if he has been working on anything specific during the offseason)

"Nope. Like I said, just kind of trying to keep everything the same. It's been going pretty well, I've been feeling confident and kicking it well out there. Just [have] to keep it all the same."

TIGHT END BAUER SHARP

(On what it was like to take what he's learned this summer to the field during the Aug. 14 preseason game against the New York Jets)

"Yeah, obviously that was my first NFL experience, the game. It was super fun, [I'm] super blessed. All the work that I've put in since last year has kind of been an ongoing train. I love it. I love the guys that I get to go do it with [and] these leaders here. So, it was a super fun experience."

(On what feedback he received from coaches on his performance after the first preseason game)

"Yeah, just to focus on the little things. That's what football is all about, right? As a rookie, I [have] to focus on little things to just take my game to the next level for the future. I'm just focused on day-by-day, take the coaching, the notes that they give me for the game. So, we'll just move on to the next game, this upcoming one on Saturday."

(On how he tries to make the most of each snap he gets)

"That's kind of just my mindset. Ever since I stepped on the field, just making the most of your opportunity, right? That's what it's all about. I try to do the best I can for this team, for my teammates, for the guys and obviously, for Baker [Mayfield], or for Jake [Browning], whichever one, if I'm with the twos. I love it. I do what I can for those guys when the ball comes my way, for sure."

(On how the blocking is going matching up against guys like OLB Rueben Bain Jr.)

"Yeah, for sure. It's an awesome matchup; they make me work. I feel like they get me better, I get them better. We go at it every day and we compete, but it's a super fun time."

(On how much more complex the offense is compared to college)

"Yeah, I would say, last year, my OC [LSU Offensive Coordinator] Joe Sloan, prepared me very well for this next level through the motioning position in our offense last year. I've gotten used to that, so coming here, obviously it's an NFL playbook, it's pretty complex. We motion a lot, but you kind of get used to it and just execute the way you [have] to execute."

-BUCCANEERS-