HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the decision to bring in QB Teddy Bridgewater for a visit on Tuesday)

"He brings us a wealth of experience at that spot. Obviously, we don't have it. Kyle [Trask] has been here a few years, but he hasn't really played. Obviously, we have the new guy (Connor Bazelak) just coming in. So, we need the extra arm. We think we need some experience in that room – the more experience, the better."

(On if Bridgewater could potentially help QB Baker Mayfield)

"I believe he can. If he's here, he's definitely a guy that can do that. He's been in some of the same systems as Baker has been in. He has a wealth of knowledge from a coaching standpoint as well as a playing standpoint. He can't do [anything] but help."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's return to practice)

"He was sharp. He was throwing the football. It's like [training] camp days had never ended. He was very good on his reads, as far as understanding where the blitzes were coming from and knowing where to go with the football. I was happy about that."

(On LB Lavonte David's return to practice)

"He's going to make plays every time he's in there. He brings energy to the group, so when he comes back, we're a lot stronger on defense."

(On when G Sua Opeta might be able to play in a game)

"We'll see what kind of shape he's in. It's been a long time. We'll look at the tape today and see what he's done and how much he knows. He missed a year and a half of football. This is really the first day for him in pads, and we'll try to bring him along according to his speed."

(On NT Desmond Watson's progress)

"He's getting better every day. We'll see how much he's competing in training camp."

(On the backup center competition)

"It's a lot of competition. The preseason games will tell a lot, and practices against other people. We know [Elijah] Klein can play guard. We're looking at [Jake] Majors as well, seeing if he can dual role and do some of that. [Ben] Bredeson can play some center as well. Backup center is a tricky position – you have to be able to multitask. You can't just be a backup center, you've got to have something else to you."

(On if he wants the starters to play more than they did last year)

"No, I'm saying a little more in the game they play in. It doesn't mean they're playing in more than one, but we're doing more ones-on-ones than we did in the past. In the preseason game, they need to play probably a little longer than they've played."

(On how many starters will play in the first preseason game)

"Depending on how practice goes on Thursday, a lot of starters are going to get a lot of reps in that [practice]. I expect to see a lot of young guys on Saturday."

(On the number of penalties in practice on Tuesday)

"We haven't tallied them yet, but I did see some flags. We tally them anyway without referees, but those are things that cannot happen. Playing the game full [speed] and simulating one in front of referees are things we need to see. They need to throw them now so everybody can be aware of it and we can get better."

(On winning another goal-line battle in practice)

"I think it was two to two."

GENERAL MANAGER JASON LICHT

(On bringing QB Teddy Bridgewater in for a visit on Tuesday)

"It was a visit today. [We] still haven't signed him, but the intention is to do that. We've talked about this actually over a couple weeks, maybe even over the summer. We had some discussions about it – that it would be a nice addition for the room, good for Baker [Mayfield]. [He is an] experienced guy, obviously very smart – hell of a high school coach, hell of a coach in general – but just a good addition to have that wealth of experience there."

(On whether Bridgewater will compete with QB Kyle Trask for the backup role)

"We still have preseason games to play and all that, but right now Kyle is our backup. That's the intention and that's what we're hoping for. But yeah, everybody's competing."

(On if Bridgewater would be kept on the 53-man roster if signed)

"I think all possibilities are out there. A lot of things happen between now and then, so it's hard to put that together. That's one option though."

(On what Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard said about Bridgewater after their time together in Miami)

"He thinks the world of him. He's a pro's pro. That obviously helps to have our offensive coordinator have a relationship with him. [Head Coach] Todd [Bowles] has a good relationship with him. We had him in here in 2014 for the draft…There might have been a situation where we would have taken him if he fell a little further. A few years ago, he was what was behind door number two. We talked about that today on the sideline. We ended up with Tom Brady, but now we have Teddy on the roster. You can have everything, just not all at once [laughs]."

(On whether Bridgewater was worked out earlier this year)

"No."

(On his impressions of WR Emeka Egbuka after two weeks of training camp)

"He's everything that we thought plus some. It's always good when that's the impression – when a player exceeds your expectations. We're very, very excited obviously."

(On first impressions of OLB Haason Reddick)

"He's as explosive as I thought. He's in excellent shape, and he knows the defense. But what's been the bigger impression for me is what he's been in the locker room so far and the presence he has in terms of being a leader. It's been kind of cool to see. I don't think anybody thought he was going to be anything different than that, but he's going to be an incredible addition not only on the field but off."

(On how the nickel cornerback position has evolved)

"We've had a lot of discussions – myself, my staff, [Head Coach] Todd [Bowles], his staff – on what we are ideally looking for there. What I'm excited about right now is that we have a lot of options there. There have been years where we didn't have any options there. Now we have a lot of options there and we like what we see so far."

(On which positions he's most excited to watch shake out)

"I like that fifth, sixth, seventh spot – however many we keep – at [wide] receiver. I like the depth that we see in the secondary. There's going to be some guys vying for jobs, and somebody's going to be the odd man out at defensive line, too. There's a lot of these positions…Running back, when we get Josh Williams back – he was really impressing us. So, it's just kind of spread throughout."

(On WR Chris Godwin Jr.'s status)

"That we don't know yet. He's doing very well. He's advancing through his protocols. He's exactly where they anticipated and hoped he would be at this point. We've still got a ways to go."

(On the offensive line depth, specifically with T Charlie Heck)

"I think Charlie has done a really nice job there at left tackle. He's getting a lot of reps against quality people and that's going to benefit all of us by the time the regular season comes. We're happy with him, happy with some of our young players – Elijah [Klein], Ben Scott has been impressive, so has Jake Majors. We thought [Luke] Haggard has taken a step this year. Across the board, it's been good. It's been solid. It's been good competitions, which is going to help us all."

(On T Benjamin Chukwuma)

"It's unique that he played two years of college football, but really only one and a couple games in one season as an offensive tackle. His natural strength and athleticism is very, very impressive. Every day he's taken another step forward, just learning the nuances of the game – and there's a lot of nuances. He's a guy you definitely root for given his background. There's a chance you could have something here, but he's still kind of that raw piece of clay that we're still trying to mold. He's with the right people right now to mold him."

(On T Charlie Heck's performance so far)

"Yeah, he's what we thought he was, which is very solid and what we were looking for at that position when we lost [Justin] Skule. I don't think we'll miss a beat. Obviously, he's not Tristan Wirfs, but in terms of what we're looking for in a swing tackle that can step in and play a couple games or a few games."

(On T Tristan Wirfs' progress)

"Yeah, he's doing an excellent job. We just have to be careful and not push him out there too early. I'm sure we'll put him through a battery of tests before we deem him fit to play. I'm sure his doctors will. We just want to be careful with that one. He's a cornerstone player for us and we don't want to put him out there before it's too soon, but he's doing an excellent job."

(On his level of confidence in LB SirVocea Dennis)

"100% confident. He's made a lot of plays. He's very smart. He's running around full speed without hesitation. He knows where he's supposed to be, he knows what his fits are, he's good in coverage. He's really kind of mature beyond his years in terms of football knowledge. [I am] very excited about him."

(On if he's still monitoring the offensive tackle market)

"Still monitoring…Always looking to see what's out there in terms of backups [and] what might be able to help us, what might help us on the practice squad compared to what we have right now. We like all our guys, but yes, we're still monitoring. There are a lot of players out there still that are recognizable names, but sometimes there's a reason they're out there…It could be injury or things like that. We've just got to be careful not to just add names. We want to add somebody that can actually help and will be available."

(On how WR Mike Evans and LB Lavonte David are looking)

"Unreal. It's crazy how Mike to me looks the same as he did – maybe better in some ways – as a rookie. [He] hasn't lost a beat. He's enjoying it. He's having a lot of fun. You can just tell in his body language and the way he jokes around between periods that this is what he loves. It's good to see. And then Lavonte, the same thing. He knows his body better than anybody and what he needs to do to get ready for the season. When he's out there, he looks like he's ready to go."

(On NT Desmond Watson's progress)

"We have some milestones that we want him to hit before we get him out there. He's doing a solid job getting there. That's all I'll say."

(On if some of the injured wide receivers might miss all of the preseason, or if they could appear in games)

"Yes, I think we'll be getting some of them back. It could be next week."

WIDE RECEIVER STERLING SHEPARD

(On the additions to the wide receiver room)
"Obviously, the more playmakers, the better. These young guys are different -- a lot different than a lot of the young guys I have been around throughout my career. [They are] very smart and pro-ready. I cannot tell you what it is, but every year it seems they just get more and more pro-ready, especially 'Mek' (Emeka Egbuka). 'Mek' is a super smart dude. He has a lot of questions, which is great -- and the same with Tez [Johnson]. So, those two guys I have been really impressed with, along with the other young guys we have."

(On WR Garrett Greene making the adjustment from quarterback to wide receiver)

"In OTAs, he was still trying to get it down. I have talked to [Garrett] Greene a bunch as well, [saying], 'When you are going around the house like you are going around a corner, try these three steps. It will train your brain to get these drills down a little bit better.' He came back to training camp, and you can tell he has been working on his stuff. [I have been] very impressed with the way he has been able to catch up with the position."

(On going against the young cornerbacks)

"I am primarily in the slot, so I am not really going against those guys as much but just seeing the way that they work -- [No.] 21 (Benjamin Morrison), some of those young guys -- but like I said I am primarily in the slot, so I do not get to go up against those guys as much. Everybody has been looking great. We are definitely ready to go against somebody else. After it is the same guys for two weeks, it gets a bit monotonous, but [we have to] keep pushing."

(On Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard)

"I have always known that he was going to be a great offensive coordinator. He has been showing that. [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles has been doing a good job putting him in positions where he has to get in game-like situations. [We have] been doing a lot of call-it periods so there is no script, and he cannot go off of a script. It has been looking great. We have been doing first, second, and third downs, and different down-and-distance, so it has been looking good the way the offense has been gelling."

(On what his expectation is for the offense this year)

'We want to be the number one offense. That is always the goal; that is what we speak about all the time, and that is what we try and remember when we step out onto the practice field. Everything has got to be top notch -- if not, then we are not doing something right. We have high expectations for ourselves, and when we are not doing that right, there is going to be somebody who tells you that. I think there is a healthy balance of vets and younger guys in the room, so we have high expectations for ourselves."

CORNERBACK KINDLE VILDOR

(On how training camp has been so far)

"I feel like it [has] been going [well] so far. [I've] been able to showcase my talents and everything like that in a new scheme. So, I feel like it's been going pretty well so far."

(On showcasing his ability in the three preseason games)

"Preseason is always good to go out there and show what you can do against another opponent and in a game-like situation. It's always a good evaluation for the coaches and everybody watching."

(On the mentality of generating takeaways from the secondary throughout training camp)
"I feel like that was a big emphasis of going into OTAs and stuff like that. We put [some film together] and [were] watching all of the turnovers, how to create more turnovers and everything like that. That just shows what we're able to do going into camp. We're able to showcase that and get turnovers so it can translate into the games."

(On OLB Haason Reddick's performance in training camp so far)

"[He's] dominant. I feel like he is going to be good for us going into this year – another edge rusher next to Yaya [Diaby]. I mean you can't double both so if they try to double Haason then Yaya will get free, if you try to double Yaya [then] Haason will get free. It will be a great one-two punch."

(On learning a new defensive system under Head Coach Todd Bowles)

"I feel like [Head Coach] Todd [Bowles], he is an offensive-minded defensive coach. He does a lot to try to keep the offense guessing. It's good, I'm able to learn -- I feel like I've got it down pat for the most part. [I'm] going to continue to watch film, take more notes and everything so I can get even more comfortable than I am now."

-BUCCANEERS-