TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS QUOTE SHEET 8-2-26

HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On whether S Antoine Winfield Jr. completed the process of intercepting a pass towards the end of practice on Sunday)

"I couldn't see it from where I was standing. I know it was an incomplete pass, so we'll look at it inside."

(On how OLB Rueben Bain Jr. is acclimating to the defensive scheme)

"He has a very good understanding of the system, and he plays fast, and he's working well with the guys. So, for a rookie coming in, knowing what he knows right now, I'm very pleased with it."

(On whether CB Benjamin Morrison's hamstring injury is the same hamstring that he injured last season)

"No, it's been two different ones."

(On whether it's better or worse that Morrison's injury is a different hamstring this time)

"[That] remains to be seen."

(On whether Morrison is close to returning to practice in a full capacity)

"Hopefully he gets some work in this coming week. I would like to see. He was out here moving around better, but I'll see what the trainer says."

(On if there's an update on the status of NT Vita Vea's injury)

"Nothing new."

(On whether NT Vita Vea or T Tristan Wirfs will make the trip up to New York next week for joint practices)

"I'm not sure about that."

(On S Miles Killebrew not practicing on Sunday)

"Yeah, [it was] just a veteran's day [off]. [We're] just trying to be careful with his leg, going inside on turf for the first time."

(On how T Ben Chukwuma is looking practicing in place of T Tristan Wirfs)

"He looked very good – night and day from when he came in last year, obviously, because he's been in the system, or somewhat the system, for a year. His confidence has grown from playing in ball games, so I think this is very valuable for him."

(On if Monday will be the first fully-padded practice for the team)

"Yes."

(On how OLB David Walker looks as he returns from last season's knee injury)

"He's got his quickness and his speed back. So, out of pads, he looks very good as far as his movements and everything else. I'm just excited to see him in pads. We didn't get to see him in pads last year. Right now, he looks very good. He's moving very fast."

(On the different ways Walker can be used defensively)

"I think he can do almost everything. Height-wise, he's probably the shortest of the bunch, but everybody forgets he's still 260-something. He plays with great leverage and power, and I think he can play both sides. He's probably a good inside picker as well, off the ball, doing some things like that. So, when he gets in pads tomorrow and we decipher it [throughout] this week, we'll figure it out."

(On if any undrafted rookies have stood out to him for any reason in particular)

"[They would stand out] just from knowing the system. You've got to put pads on and play football for me to see something else."

(On WR Tez Johnson's development from his first season)

"His maturity from the first year, understanding how to be a pro and learning from the [wide] receivers. Chris [Godwin Jr.] does a great job tutoring and mentoring those guys, especially Tez. His understanding of how the offense is supposed to look and where he's supposed to be as far as alignment and finishing the top of the routes and everything like that, he showed great improvement."

(On Johnson's energy and personality)

"He brings energy every day. He's the energizer of the bunch. Whether he's doing backflips, whether it's singing, whether it's just being exciting, whether it's his cleats or anything else, he brings a lot of flair out here and keeps everybody on their toes."

(On whether Johnson's backflips make Bowles nervous)

"He's 120 [pounds]. That doesn't make me nervous. If he was about 300 pounds and did a backflip, I'd probably be scared."

(On Johnson's athleticism)

"He can jump pretty [well] now. He can jump pretty [well]. He's got a heck of a backflip."

(On if it's just a matter of DL Calijah Kancey staying healthy for him to have success)

"That's it. That's it. I think if he stays healthy, we'll be that much better. He's been flying off the ball. He's been playing with great intelligence, working well with the other guys. We've just got to make sure he's healthy."

(On protecting quarterbacks during practice)

"We don't want to hit the quarterback. Some of them, we just bump into them. Other ones, we need to stay away from them because I don't want his thumb hitting [anybody's] helmet."

(On DB Keionte Scott receiving significant reps at nickel cornerback)

"Being in the slot helps him memorize the safety and the corner. We gave him more plays at the slot because we held [Benjamin] Morrison out so he had a lot more plays run than we have [had] in the previous practices. We really wanted to focus on getting him some nickel plays. Nickel will be his primary spot, but he can play safety and corner as well. We'll see."

DEFENSIVE TACKLE CALIJAH KANCEY

(On what he has done to become one of the leaders of the team)

"It's pretty much natural. [You] just want to push the guys around, let the guys match the energy, and bring everybody along."

(On how he is feeling heading into the season)

"I feel great, it's the best I've felt in a long time... I did a lot more conditioning – I focused more on the past injuries, strengthening the little things around those areas, and [I] was able to get back in great shape."

(On the additions of DL A'Shawn Robinson and DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches)

"Two great guys, older guys, [they've] got a lot of juice to be far on in their careers. A'Shawn, he's a dog – I'm glad he's on our team, he kind of brings that energy. Also, 'Nacho' (Rakeem Nuñez-Roches) – he brings that juice every day. So, you know, we kind of just push each other and feed off each other's energy."

(On what he has been working on as a pass rusher)

"Just being able to put my body in the best position as possible – make sure that I'm feeling 110% so I can go out there and do what I do best on the field, when I'm healthy."

WIDE RECEIVER TEZ JOHNSON

(On what's been clicking for him during training camp)

"I think my confidence is just higher than last year. Last year, I was just trying to feel it out and I got kind of thrown in the fire a little earlier than what I expected. [I'm] coming back with the confidence. Having that playing time from last year, it just gave me the confidence that I needed."

(On if he feels that the game has slowed down now that he's going into his second year)

"A little bit. [The] only time I really think it's fast is when I'm thinking too much, but [when] I'm not thinking it's pretty much slow and it's what I do."

(On if his goal is to bring energy to the team everyday)

"Yes. I think it's just kind of how I've been my whole life, just the energizer bunny. [I] just love playing football and the game. I always tell people all the time, if they take all the money away, I'll still play football. I just love the game."

(On what it's like interacting with the fans)

"Once again, it's giving me the confidence and the Krewe is awesome. I mean, I love this game because of the fans and the kids. It's just when you come out here every single day and play the game that you love, then you have the fans behind you and cheering your name or just want to see a flip every time I catch a ball, it's pretty awesome. I don't take it for granted."

(On what it's been like building chemistry with QB Baker Mayfield and QB Jake Browning)

"It's been good. Just knowing both of them [are] different quarterbacks, you [have] to know what they like at times. As a receiver, you just [have] to be in the right spot and be friendly to the quarterback and just gain [their] trust every time you catch the ball. Every [time I] catch [the] ball from each one of those guys, the trust in me for them goes up. I try to do that every single day and just be friendly [to] them and thank God they trust me to catch the ball for them."

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER DAVID WALKER

(On what it feels like being back after his injury last season)

"I just want to thank God. The injury, it was big and the whole time I knew that He didn't bring me this far to bring me this far. I knew that I had to attack rehab. I knew I had to do those things and I'm here. I'm back playing the game that I love, it's exciting."

(On if he feels as strong and confident as he did prior to the injury)

"Yeah, 100%. Like I said, it's all in God's hands. I don't want to come out here and half do it. If I'm going to be out, I'm going to give it my all and He's going to handle the rest."

(On the pressure coming from the defensive line and the outside linebackers)

"Yeah, last year, we were bombed with injuries. We really didn't have that kind of pressure that we have this year. I feel like this year we're more together. (Defensive Line) Coach Marcus [West] he, and (Outside Linebackers/Run Game Coordinator) Coach [Larry] Foote, they speak on four to one. That's all of us, if one of us [isn't] rushing, then somebody has to win. That's the mentality that we're going in [with], that's the standard and hopefully we can set that throughout the whole season."

(On the people he leaned on during his injury recovery)

"Yeah, when I first got here, I got into community right away. Just the people that [are] outside and poured into me that are saying that, 'You're more than a football player.' Those are the things that you need to hear, because this game is going to be over one day. I want to lean on my faith, and I want that to be the thing that carried me through all [of] this."

-BUCCANEERS-