HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the increased physicality in Tuesday's practice)

"It's about that time in camp, but we've got to play the game the right way. Guys are competing hard."

(On LB Josiah Trotter's intensity during practice)

"He had a heck of a day yesterday and he buckled some guys. If they start playing like that yesterday, he shouldn't need the extra energy today. He's probably a guy you really don't want to mess with either."

(On whether he likes seeing that competitive edge from Trotter)

"Once you put your helmet on and you go on the field, all is fair game as long as you're doing it the right way. He plays with the right temperament and he plays the right way."

(On WR Jalen McMillan not practicing on Tuesday night)

"Yeah, he got nicked up. He banged a knee, so he's been nicked up for a day or two. Around this time of camp, with all the running they're doing, we're just being careful."

(On the status of WR Tez Johnson after he left practice early)

"Tez, I think he strained a groin running, so we'll get treatment and see how it is."

(On the status of WR David Sills V after he left practice early)

"I did not see Sills. I've got to find out about him."

(On WR Emeka Egbuka not practicing on Tuesday)

"Yeah, he's sore and tweaked [something], and we're trying to keep him off the turf."

(On if any particular players might miss joint practices next week due to injury)

"[It is] too early to tell."

(On WR Ted Hurst III's strong practice on Tuesday)

"I think it was big for him because he was swimming a little bit learning the system. To come down with the catches that he came down with today looked like he was in college. His confidence is high and he's learning every day, so it's good to see him getting better."

(On QB Baker Mayfield building chemistry with Ted Hurst)

"Baker trusts him. He knows he goes where he needs to go with the football. Ted was open at the right time, so we know he's got a good vertical and he's got very good hands. He made a heck of a play."

(On practicing at night and how that changes the daily schedule)

"It's a longer afternoon, so to speak, getting ready from an energy standpoint. It's great because the fans give them energy at night, especially on the inside, so it's a little louder than it would be on the field, and guys are working hard."

(On if the last three practices have still been productive despite having to move inside the Indoor Practice Facility the previous two days due to weather)

"Yeah, I do. I mean, we haven't been inside in the morning, I don't think, since I've been here. To have three of them inside, we still want to get in the heat. We don't want to go up to New York and then it be humid and we haven't been outside yet. So, hopefully the next couple practices we can get outside. They're doing a very good job inside, and they're working hard."

(On WR Dean Patterson IV's overall performance in practice on Tuesday)

"The performance was good. The touchdowns – depending on whether it was blocked, or sacked, or holding…The biggest thing is he did a good job catching it and he did a good job scoring, but we've just got to cut down on the yellow flags."

(On NT Vita Vea's status)

"Again, it's still early. We've only been in pads for two days. We're not concerned at this point, and I think those things take care of themselves. Once you get past two or three preseason games, you start to worry a little bit. Right now, there are a lot of contracts getting done. There are a lot of people in camp that's sitting in or holding in. There are a lot of people nicked up. We go about business as usual. He's been very engaged, and he's been great."

(On the competition between T Luke Goedeke and OLB Rueben Bain Jr.)

"I think they're making each other better. With Bain's ability and with Luke's ability, they're both highly competitive. I think they make each other better, and it's a very spirited competition. They both want to make each other better, and that's a good thing."

(On CB Benjamin Morrison's status)

"I want to see him when he gets back. Hopefully he can do some things next week in New York. He's been moving well. The turf kind of keeps everybody off of it. We'll continue to monitor it, but I think he should be out pretty soon."

(On the value of the additional reps for younger players filling in for injured players)

"They're getting a lot of reps, and it's valuable. They're getting a lot of reps, it's very valuable for them. Guys have a chance to show what they can do. They've got a chance to learn, and they're learning full-time on the run. I'm pleased with what they've done so far."

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZAC ROBINSON

(On the offense's progress through the first week of training camp)

"Yeah, I think it's been good. It's been a lot of great work against the defense. You see a bunch of different looks. You're able to work through a number of different things just based on what those guys present each day. The install is a quick install to kind of get everything in. We're at a point where we've got a lot of stuff in and you're trying to dial everything in in terms of formations, motions and alignment. Now we've got basically, I would say, 85% of the offense in. We've got to hone in on the details, fundamentals and all those things that all of our coaches are coaching in their position rooms. The guys have done a great job. I know talking in the spring with guys, and guys have been hearing 'C.G.' (Chris Godwin Jr.) and 'Bake' (Baker Mayfield) and some of these guys, it's like, 'Hey, how much is new compared to previous [years]?' They've been saying it's about 50-50. So, there is a lot of new, but there's also some good carryover from previous years so that's been good. We're getting a lot of great work in, and we'll just continue to hone in on what we're going to look like once we kick this thing off."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's ability to separate his contract situation from football)

"Baker has been Baker. The contract stuff has been out there, but you haven't been able to tell. He comes in, he's the exact same guy every single day – competitive, wants to know what's on the script, what we've got, what the defense is doing…You would not be able to tell at all that that's going on. I know he said it, but he's been all ball, and he means it. That's exactly what he's been every day."

(On having familiar coaches on staff to help him implement the offense)

"Yeah, it's been huge. Those guys, obviously, we worked through a lot of things the last couple years together, kind of getting into our own rhythm and flow. Then it's been a lot of fun to keep collaborating and also learn some new stuff that has been done here that we could possibly carry over into the season as well. So, that's been great. Then the coaches that have been here…It's been really fun to work with 'Carbs' (Kevin Carberry) again – obviously, we had some time in [Los Angeles] and being around 'B-Mac' (Bryan McClendon). Obviously, I was around Skip [Peete] in [Los Angeles], and this is my first time being with [Justin] Peelle, [Jeff] Kastl and Blaine [Stewart]. It's been a really cool collaboration. You get in there in the offseason and you're like, 'Okay, what do we want this thing to look like?' There's a lot of work that goes into it. Everybody has got their hand in it. It's been a great collaboration between the whole group, having a mix of some of the guys that have been around and also some new thoughts that we can always take and try to learn from. It's been a blast working with these guys. I look forward to continuing this thing and getting into the season and what it's going to look like, knowing that from this day to September 28 it could look completely different. It's been a great collaboration between the whole group."

(On transitioning to more wide-zone concepts with the offensive line)

"This offensive line is incredibly versatile. There's really nothing these guys can't do. Watching the past couple years on tape – just on crossover tape – I've seen the gap stuff, I've seen the zone, seen the duo game and a number of different [perimeter] variations. It is a well-rounded group, and they're taking everything in stride. Exactly what that's going to look like once we start kicking this thing off is kind of to be determined but we're working everything right now. We'll start honing in on what we truly want to be in a couple weeks once we reset after the Jets practices and you're looking at just a handful of weeks before you actually play a game where you want to hone in on what you think you're going to be. Those guys, I can't say enough about just the investment those guys put in and how smart they are. It's a great group to work with. They're incredibly physical. Feeling what it feels like in pads with those guys, especially in some of the pass protection stuff as well, it's a firm group up front. It's been great working with those guys. I look forward to continuing to build, keep getting reps and ultimately figuring out where we go with it."

(On RB Bucky Irving's fit in the offense)

"Yeah, Bucky is a stud. Watching him in 2024, he's an explosive play waiting to happen. Obviously, you guys saw it up close every single game. He's just got such a great attitude and a great spirit about him. He's a team guy and always has a smile on his face. Just the person has been cool to get to know. [I am] still getting to know a lot of these guys because you only have so much time in the spring, but [I am] feeling the personalities of guys now…Bucky has been great. Obviously, the talent speaks for itself. The way he runs the football, his feet are always in the ground, so he's always able to change direction and, obviously, that keeps him so balanced to be able to break tackles. The versatility he has in the pass game and the run game – he's done a great job. It's been a blast seeing him cut some of these runs and you start seeing it. The complement between him and Kenny [Gainwell]...Kenny has done a great job since the spring. Obviously, he got the bulk of the reps there and got a good feel for it. Then 'Tuck' (Sean Tucker) obviously made a lot of plays, and Josh Williams has had a great camp as well. We have some backs that are exciting and have a versatile skill set. We'll just kind of keep taking it where it goes, but those guys are a great group of guys, man. Bucky gives me a smile every time I look at him. He's a stud."

(On how his chemistry with Head Coach Todd Bowles has developed)

"It's been great. Todd is awesome to work with. Obviously, he has so much experience. Seeing how he sets up practice and the situational work that we're getting has been cool. It's been a little bit different than places I've been, but we're getting a lot of great work, and it's very intentional with the reps and why we're doing things and why we're working all these situations now for when those come up. He's such an easy guy to pop in and ask any questions [to]. Like I said before, it's a lot of defense in training camp. Going against it in games is one thing, and then you see it up close and realize the issues that they can present to an offense. I've always got questions for him, and it's been cool. His office is right next to mine, so it's been a good relationship, and I look forward to continuing to build throughout training camp before the season starts."

(On whether his vision for the offense has evolved since arriving in Tampa Bay)

"It's a great question. We talked about the first day of camp. It's a great time to try things out and kind of figure out what we can do and maybe something that, like you mentioned, we thought we were going to do but we're not going to end up doing it. So, we're still in that process, though. Right now, like I said, we've got the bulk of the offense in and then [we are] really tailoring it down to get the reps that we need to get reps at in order to get good at something. You have to have some sort of identity, obviously, to be a good offense, and that's what we're focused on right now. There hasn't been anything since we got here where [we've said], 'Oh, I don't think we can do that.' There have been some adds that you go through in the spring, get the summer break to take a look at the stuff from the spring, and you're saying, 'Okay, maybe we can do this or this,' or, 'Maybe we need to add this formation to get this person in this spot.' Football is always evolving, and it really never stops. Like I mentioned before, from now to the middle of the season, things could evolve and take a life of their own, and you're just in a discovery state. That's where it's awesome to have really smart players as well, so those guys can handle a lot of stuff. Us as coaches just have to make sure we don't give them too much, where we can hone in on things and make sure that we're fundamentally sound in the things that we're all coaching."

(On what RB Kenny Gainwell's play style brings to the offense)

"Yeah, he's super versatile. He's great with the ball in his hands. He's very smart. He's a great pass protector. There's really nothing on the field where you can't put him in a situation. It seems like you coach him up one time on something and, boom, he's got it. So, that's been a luxury to have. We'll continue to find out where we can put him in the best spots, along with the rest of those guys, with Bucky [Irving] and the rest of those guys. Kenny is really smart. Obviously, you see it on tape when you watch guys. You get a good feel for just how smart and instinctive they are, how they see the game, then you get to talking to them and you're like, 'Okay, that matches up with how he plays.' He's another one that's just got an energetic spirit about him. He's been a blast to work with, and I'm looking forward to continuing this thing going."

(On the most intriguing backup position battles on offense)

"Yeah, I think the wide [receiver] position is really deep. I know we know the guys that we're going to be really counting on, and then it's finding who those other guys are going to be. I know Tez [Johnson] has had a great camp. You guys have seen that if you've been out at practice. He's making explosive plays every single day. You feel his juice out there. He's done a great job from the spring to now with the offense and getting lined up in the right spots. He's doing a great job. Obviously, Ted [Hurst III] is coming along. He's still young, still learning, still figuring everything out, but he's been sharp so far. You've got Kam [Johnson] and [David] Sills [V] and some of the other guys that are all competing. They're doing a great job. All of them have made plays throughout camp. The ball has really been kind of going everywhere. As you guys have been out there, a lot of guys are getting involved, so it's been great. Then the tight end room, finding out with Bauer [Sharp] and Ko [Kieft] and those guys, and [Devin] Culp, seeing how that's going to shake out. It's still so early in camp, but it's been cool to see the versatility throughout all those position groups and the different things they can do."

(On how the offense's resilience has helped players adapt to another new system)

"You said it. It's a resilient group. From the moment I got here, guys were coming up to my office, introducing themselves. You could just feel the group. They want to be great. Obviously, they've experienced that as well, so the evidence is there for them to play at a very high level. You feel it every single day from those guys, whether it's the offensive line setting the tempo, you know that Baker [Mayfield] going to bring it every single day, guys like Jalen McMillan, obviously, showing resilience from his injury last year and coming back, and how he looks right now…All those guys. It's a really cool group. That word that you mentioned, resilience, it's definitely helped with just kind of [the mentality of], 'All right, whatever we've got to do is whatever we've got to do.' You definitely feel that from those guys every day."

(On what has stood out about rookie QB Jalon Daniels)

"Yeah, he's done a great job. He's really smart. Coming into a completely different scheme from the college scheme that he played in, he's taking it all in. He's getting a decent amount of reps throughout practice, but his arm is explosive. You guys have seen it out there. There's not a throw he can't make or a throw he doesn't believe he can't make, which, obviously, that is finding the right balance with a young [guy]. He's done a great job. He just continues to learn to play the position. 'When can I hang in the pocket and go through my reads? When can I bail and try to make a play?' Obviously, he's got some unique ability outside the pocket, but that's the biggest thing with all those young guys – play within the scheme, play within the timing and the rhythm of the offense, get the ball where it needs to go, and then if it does break down, that's where you use your God-given ability and make a play. Jalon is doing a great job, and his arm, like I mentioned, is one of the better ones I've been around."

(On how QB Baker Mayfield has improved since they were together with the Los Angeles Rams)

"The dropback pass [and passing downs are] always, for every quarterback, the toughest downs. His ability to continue to progress and move from one to two to three, and if three's not there, then you've got to move and go do your thing…That's probably the biggest thing – those reps in the pocket on third downs and in those tight situations. He makes so many plays outside the pocket, but then his ability to click through things and find a completion on the backside – that's NFL football, everybody has got to do it. So, that's probably the biggest growth but then also being in a system that he's comfortable with and a lot of the reads. He's had built-in reps throughout the last handful of years. His arm looks even better than I remember it from [Los Angeles] and he's throwing the ball accurately. Chandler [Whitmer] has done a great job just tightening up his footwork and getting the fundamentals over and over. If you guys talk to Chandler, there's nobody that likes footwork more than him. Those guys have had a great relationship and a good working relationship. So, there are a lot of things that he's definitely grown in, but I'd say the dropback pass [game] is probably it."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's response to adversity throughout his career)

"Like I remember watching him at the University of Oklahoma – or at Texas Tech, for that matter – he believes in himself. Whether other people believe in him too, he really doesn't care, as you guys know. He's the same guy every single day, one of the most competitive people I've ever been around. Being back out at practice in these settings and seeing that, and really the ownership he takes if something doesn't go right...He's got great ownership about him of, 'Hey, my bad.' You always love that from your starter. You always love that from your leader. If those guys have accountability and ownership, it bleeds to the rest of the group. It's been so fun just to see, again, being out there and feeling the juice that he brings. Of course, he's talking to the defense. He's the guy that's getting the whole thing going, and we wouldn't want anybody else."

(On QB Baker Mayfield using disappointment as motivation)

"Yeah, I think you'd probably have to talk to him a little bit more about it, but he's been through a lot. Obviously, he was the No. 1 pick, kind of gets kicked to the curb in Cleveland – I'm not sure if it was warranted or not, it is what it is. Then, like I said, he was able to reset himself in [Los Angeles] and just take off from there. His mentality is that underdog mentality he's had since I'm sure he was eight years old starting to play football. That'll never leave that guy, and it's a good thing. It's just channeling it the right way, channeling everything the right way and using that chip that he has in a positive way."

RUNNING BACK KENNY GAINWELL

(On backfield mate RB Bucky Irving)

"I think it's a great thing getting both of us out there, and, you know, him being back balling – I'm super excited to see him back on the field. I think it's just great to see us both out there on the field at the same time – I love it."

(On how his game differs from RB Bucky Irving's game)

"I think I'm a big guy in between the tackles, Bucky is a spread-out guy, and both of us do basically the same thing when we get ready to run routes and stuff. So, I mean, it's just different sizes [and] body types, but at the same time we both have to be ready for what is to come and go out there and attack it."

(On if there are any defenders that have stood out to him in training camp)

"I'm really loving what I'm seeing from Yaya [Diaby]. He grabbed me one time yesterday and I was like, 'Dang!', but I'm loving what I'm seeing from basically everybody – but Yaya stood out to me."

(On what he is hoping to get out of the first preseason game)

"I'm definitely looking forward to going against other guys, their schemes and what they have set for us, and you know, other linebackers – getting one-on-one, route running with people, and pass protection – just seeing what other people have in their bags. Just taking what I have and just go try to get better."

TIGHT END PAYNE DURHAM

(On how he thinks the tight ends will be utilized on the passing game in Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson's offense)

"To go first, I think Zac and all the offensive coaches have done a great job installing it and breaking down the installs where it makes sense and kind of group things together. It's been a very seamless, easy transition for us, so that's been awesome. Tight ends, we're already used a lot. It kind of goes back a couple years ago to kind of how we're moving around and how they're scheming things for us. We're definitely going to have our opportunities to make plays and it's definitely a fun offense as a tight end to play in."

(On how rookie TE Bauer Sharp has been performing)

"Yeah, Bauer is looking really good. He came in and he [has] had the right mindset and just put his head down and gone to work. He's done really well and [he is] continuing to grow and [get] better every day. It's really cool to see."

(On how he feels about the offense being healthy going into this season after last season's injuries)

"Absolutely. When we're on, I think we're a top run team in the NFL. Having the boys upfront back will be huge. Even in parts of last year, I think it speaks to our depth that we were able to kind of plug and play guys. You see Graham [Barton] playing left tackle in the first couple [of] games, and how he kind of transitioned into that. I think it helped his game at center. Having everyone back, getting Bucky [Irving] back and 'K.G.' [Kenny Gainwell] and Sean [Tucker] come out in the Buffalo game and have a great offseason. I think it would be really exciting to run the ball back to the standard that we know we can."

(On how Head Coach Todd Bowles focuses solely on football)

"I think, first and foremost, the team that we have in ourselves and those players, everyone is bought in on the mission of this season. The outside media is one thing that is going to happen regardless, but that hasn't stepped an inch in our locker room at all. In that aspect of it, it's been very easy for [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles because there is none of it for to coach off of. I can speak for days about [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles, what he is to this team and this locker room and the leader of men that he is. I love playing for him. I think he is the best, and I'm really excited."

(On how it feels to give back to the community during training camp)

"It's huge. Military Day yesterday, none of us could do our jobs if those guys didn't do their jobs. That one, for me personally, is huge. Getting the kids out here…I remember being a kid going to things like that and how much it meant to me and how I still remember it. It's awesome being able to give that back and just making someone's day."

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