HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On OLB Rueben Bain Jr. not practicing on Wednesday)

"He's got a sore shoulder that he's dealing with, so we kept him out today. He'll be fine."

(On whether Bain will be available for Week 1)

"Yep."

(On Wednesday's joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars not including full pads)

"It was by design. We knew that coming in. They're kind of banged up. We're kind of banged up as well, so we knew we were going to do spiders on the second day and get some pass work in."

(On whether he has called the defensive plays this preseason)

"I've called them. I've called them."

(On whether he plans to continue calling the defensive plays for the final preseason game)

"Yes."

(On LB Josiah Trotter and CB Ayden Garnes intercepting a pass in joint practice on Wednesday)

"I mean, [Josiah Trotter] finally caught one. He's dropped quite a few, so we didn't know if he could catch it, but he made a very good catch today. Garnes continues to make plays and get better."

(On whether LB Josiah Trotter is capable of being a starter)

"He's good enough to start. We haven't made that decision yet. We've still got some ways to go before we make that."

(On whether anything has changed in terms of his plan to not play starters in Friday's final preseason game)

"Nothing has changed."

(On if he knows who will start at quarterback in Friday's preseason game)

"Not yet. We're going to sit down and meet about it."

(On if the team got what he wanted out of the two joint practices this week)

"Mentally, yes. We got what we wanted out of it. I thought we were rusty, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Defense played harder [but] they still gave up some plays from a mental bust [standpoint]. We've got to get better at that, but it was good for us to see."

(On if there was a reason that QB Jalon Daniels received more reps in practice on Wednesday)

"[There was] no reason for it."

(On what he wants to see from QB Jalon Daniels in Friday's preseason game)

"Just running the offense. Controlling the offense like he has, just playing under control in the pocket, checking into the right play and making the normal plays."

(On T Tristan Wirfs' return to practice this week)

"He got a few reps in yesterday. He's definitely getting better, and he's on the mend. I think with another week, he should be ready to go."

(On how much Wirfs' presence on the offensive line changes what the team can do offensively)

"Definitely. It makes a difference. I mean, when he's your leader on the offensive line and he's your best player on the offensive line, it definitely makes a difference."

(On what has impressed him most about the team's rookies on the defensive side of the ball)

"It's definitely impressed me, mentally, how they picked up the system and they grasped it and they keep rolling. So, that part of it has been more impressive than the physical part. We knew they could play. It was just how fast they can grasp the system, and they grasped it pretty [well]."

(On his message to players fighting for a roster spot ahead of Friday's preseason game)

"Play their butts off."

(On whether LB Josiah Trotter can be a three-down linebacker)

"He can definitely play all three downs."

(On whether CB Benjamin Morrison will play in Friday's preseason game)

"He looked okay in practice. We're going to talk about the guys who are going to play tonight, so it will be interesting to see. I'd like to see him out there and [see him] get some snaps in because he hasn't played all preseason, but we'll see."

(On if he thinks linebackers SirVocea Dennis or Christian Rozeboom might have to start the year on Injured Reserve)

"I don't think they have to start the year on [Injured Reserve], but hopefully they're trending towards opening day."

TACKLE TRISTAN WIRFS

(On how he feels being back at practice)

"Yeah, I feel great right now. [It] wasn't how I was hoping to start camp. That was really frustrating, but very nice to be back out here with the boys. Yeah, I feel good."

(On how he's preparing to be in game shape)

"Yeah, 100%. I think we're trying to be smart. A little bit early on in camp I was [thinking] I've never really [hurt] a hamstring before. I was like, 'What is this?' I [had] a couple of plays yesterday, and then kind of just keep doing that moving forward. I think these next two weeks will be big just to get as many reps as I can. But, yeah, really, really happy to be back out there with the boys, just grinding with them. We got blessed early in camp with the weather, so I didn't feel too bad. But no, I'm really happy to be back with them."

(On how he feels the offense is acclimating to more wide zone rushes)

"Yeah, I think it was interesting at first, like at OTAs and everything, but now kind of we all got the hang of it, got the hang of the aiming points and the footwork and what we're trying to accomplish with it. But, yeah, I'm a big fan of it."

(On if he likes the diversity that Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson is bringing to the offense)

"Yeah, 100%. Yeah, I think just trying to, like you said, diversify our offense a little bit and marry things up. I think it's been good so far. It's been a lot of fun."

(On how it feels to hear his teammates speak highly of his presence on the field)

"Yeah, I mean, it means a lot. I mean, these are my brothers. I love coming out here. One of my favorite parts of the game is being with them. For them to say that really means the world to me. It makes me want to go even harder and do everything I can for them and just do anything I can to help this team win. But yeah, that means a lot."

(On if anything specific stands out to him from watching training camp)

"I think we're a very tight-knit team, I think, both sides of the ball. I mean, I got to see that - I mean, last year I missed training camp, that sucked. But to see it through that lens like just on the outside, it was weird. I mean, I wasn't a fan of it, I didn't like that point of view. To see guys step up and to see guys take on that leadership role has been really cool to see. Just the guys, you know, going out there every day grinding, you know, not complaining no matter what the weather is, how hot it is whatever, not making excuses just going out and doing their job."

(On having everyone in the offensive line healthy to start the season)

"Yeah, that's definitely the goal – to be one of the top units in the NFL. We want teams to turn on the tape and say those are a bunch of badass guys that finish plays. It's nice to have us all back out there. I know we went through a big reshuffle throughout the whole season last year. At the same time, guys stepped up and came in and did their best and gave us everything they had. I think that's just a credit to our room. Guys that come in and there's a standard that we all want to uphold, and we all want to play for each other. It's nice to have the whole gang back."

LINEBACKER JOSIAH TROTTER

(On his interception in practice on Wednesday and whether the game is starting to slow down for him)

"Yeah, we just had a man-to-man call, [so I was] just playing my leverage. He just tried to take it up the field [and] at that point, [I was] just playing my leverage. Then, when the ball is in there, you can't panic. So, I just looked up, saw the ball, made a play and tried to come down with the ball. That's all I can do. But yeah, I feel like the game has been slowing down pretty [quickly]…Football is football at the end of the day, especially when you have a brother and a dad that played, so [I am] just blessed to have them. I feel like the game coming in was pretty slowed down. It's just the detailed things, trying to be very detailed in your work. I feel like that's the biggest thing in the NFL that I've seen. It's just the little things between making a play and not making a play, little things like that."

(On the biggest adjustment coming into the NFL)

"Yeah, just the details, honestly. I don't think it really has been anything like the play strength or anything like that because I feel like playing in the SEC, having a dad and a brother that played – [I'm] blessed to have them – just kind of helped me going into the league and then before that. So, I feel like I've been prepared for this moment my whole life. I'm just out there just trying to play my game, play fast. Obviously, there [are] things I've got to continue to clean up and be better at, but I feel like the big thing I just try to focus on is my details and small things."

(On his chemistry with LB Alex Anzalone, and what it's been like learning from a veteran linebacker)

"Yeah, no doubt. It's a great blessing to have a guy like Alex, a guy that has been a vet to other guys from when he was at Detroit or the Saints. So, to be able to talk to him, have him help me, coach me up, see things from a different perspective, or when we're out there talking back and forth, him asking me maybe what I saw or whatever happened…But yeah, I enjoy having him out there, being able to learn from him, ask questions and kind of continue to grow."

(On whether he can be a three-down linebacker)

"Oh, yes sir, no doubt. Coming in, I know there's outside noise, people saying I could or could not, but I knew what I could do. I knew what God put inside of me. So, I just wanted to come out here and show that I could not only just cover, I could blitz, pass rush and be everything that the Bucs need me to be for this organization, and then try to win football games, ultimately. So, if I need to be on the field…If there were five downs, I wish I could be on the field for five downs. But yeah, ultimately, I'm just trying to do what I can to show the organization what I can do to be able to stay on the field."

(On the development of the rookie class throughout training camp)

"Yeah, I think we did a great job kind of just developing, of course, not only just our relationship off the field, but just on the field, just getting better, learning. When you come in as a rookie, you know, but you don't know everything. You've got a lot of room to grow, a lot of things to continue to work on. So, I think from when we first got here to now, I just think we've all grown, from offensive rookies to defensive rookies, where I feel like we've been able to help this team and organization in a certain way."

-BUCCANEERS-