HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On seeing T Tristan Wirfs and WR Chris Godwin Jr. back at practice)

"It's great to see them out there – it's the first time they've [gotten] out there. They were limited in practice, but they flew around and did the things we asked them to do. We'll see how the week progresses right now. [They're] just getting their feet back underneath them, but they looked good today."

(On whether Wirfs could potentially play on Monday night)

"Both of them actually can, but we'll see how the week goes. We've got to see how recovery goes from today to tomorrow to the next day and then we'll kind of go from there."

(On T Luke Goedeke missing practice on Thursday)

"He's got a foot injury, so he didn't practice today, and then we'll see how the week goes for him and how he recovers."

(On clarifying that both T Tristan Wirfs and WR Chris Godwin Jr. could possibly play Monday night)

"We'll see how they come along during the week. We've got a lot of things…They've got a lot of tests to pass."

(On whether T Luke Goedeke's foot injury happened in the Atlanta game and if he pushed through it)

"Yes."

(On whether DL Logan Hall practiced on Thursday)

"Logan practiced."

(On what he sees from the Houston Texans, and what this week's emphasis is)

"We've got to start fast. We know they play great. They play very fast, especially at their home place. They've got the two edge rushers that set the tone. The quarterback is very accurate and obviously Nico Collins is a hell of a receiver and they have more players other than that. [They're a] talented team. [they were] in the playoffs the last two years. So, it's going to be another tough battle."

(On the Texans needing to reshuffle their offensive line due to injuries and if that presents an advantage)

"Well, nothing yet. They're shuffling just like we are. So, right now we're just trying to get our feet under us. It's not about advantages, it's about us taking care of us and playing fast. Whatever they have, they have. Whatever we have, we have. We've got to go down there and try to win the game no matter what."

(On Tampa Bay's rushing attack against the Falcons)

"It was tough sledding initially. Atlanta had a good plan on first and second down to start out. We had made some adjustments and got some tough runs in there. I don't think it's going to be easy to start the season, especially in the first or second quarter. We had to stay afloat in the second half, so we kind of got away from it a little bit, but we always want to try to run the football. I think the whole league wants to try to run the football first. So, we've got to get better there."

(On the performance of P Riley Dixon and WR/KR Kameron Johnson against Atlanta)

"Well, it was great for the return game. Obviously, anytime you can get field position, which we don't have much of…To get a punt return to get across the 50 and for Riley to give us field position and to punt the ball like he's been punting has been great."

(On if WR Kameron Johnson made the team because of his ability as a returner)

"He was our best returner and he just had to get healthy, you know, for the most part. The receiving room, from a stacked position, I think everybody has their specialty and what they do, but we did not have a kick return or punt returner, so to speak. So, Kam just had to come in and play well and basically stay healthy, which we wanted him to do, and we thought he'd be okay. He turned out to be a right choice for us."

(On whether contact on K Chase McLaughlin after one of his kicks affected his misses)

"No, it shouldn't have. I mean, he's gotten hit before and he's made those plays. We've just got to make them."

(On what makes Houston's defense challenging)

"They have a very ball-hawking secondary. They keep eyes on the quarterback at all times. From [Jalen] Pitre, the nickel, to the two outside guys to the edge rushers that make the ball come out. They're very in sync. Demeco [Ryans] does a great job and makes sure those guys are going 100 miles an hour at all times."

(On not coming away with a takeaway in Week 1)

"We've had our chances. We dropped three of them. So, we've just got to catch them."

(On the report that CB Jamel Dean restructured his contract, and how Bowles thinks Dean played in Week 1)

"I thought, from a man-to-man standpoint, [it was] some of the best press technique he's had since he's been here. From a zone standpoint, [there were] two plays you want to have back. They were minor plays, but you still want to have him back. I thought he competed at a very high level. He's been business-like since he's been there, he's been healthy, he's been helping the young guys come along. So, he's been great."

(On whether CB Jamel Dean fell down on the play where S Antoine Winfield Jr.'s forced an incompletion at the end of the game)

"He stumbled right there."

(On the many late reviews/overturns towards the end of the game in Week 1, and if any of them were surprising)

"I mean, probably some of them, yeah. I'm surprised how they shook out, but [it's] nothing I can discuss right here at this time probably without getting fined. So, I'm going to be quiet."

(On CB Jacob Parrish's NFL debut)

"I thought he played hard, especially he was very good in the run game. I thought he played his man-to-man [well], as well. He's got some things to clean up in zone coverage, especially in the second half, but I thought he was solid in his debut."

(On S Tykee Smith's performance in his debut at safety)

"Tykee probably had more tackles than everybody. I thought he played very well. He had like seven tackles, four assists…He had some good hits for us in the run game and plugged in there like a linebacker. I thought he settled in nicely."

(On whether CB Benjamin Morrison could play against the Texans, and what his role might be)

"He's trending towards being up this week if he can have a couple of days of good practice. He'll be [on] special teams, but we'll try to get him some defensive snaps as well to get his feet wet."

(On Houston Texans RB Nick Chubb on film)

"He's tough. I mean, anytime you face him, he he's going to be tough. He's hard to bring down, he has very good eyes. He's not just a tough runner – he can see he understands, he sets his blocks up. He's a football player. He's an old school football player, so that's always tough."

(On Chubb looking like he's fully recovered from his previous injuries)

"He has and he's playing like it."

(On how CB Benjamin Morrison would be used on defense if active)

"Well, depending on how the series go…I mean, we played a bunch of plays the last game. If it turns into one of those, he'll end up getting some reps, but it won't be inside."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On seeing T Tristan Wirfs and WR Chris Godwin Jr. back at practice)

"Good. Yeah, I mean, obviously those two guys are important guys for this building as a whole, whether they're on the field or off the field. Yeah, it's good to see them though…Chris flying around, getting them back out there. Yeah, it just brings a little extra juice to practice."

(On what wasn't working in the run game during the first half against Atlanta)

"Yeah, you know, they were flying around. They made some good plays. But [it was] just a little bit of some details here and there, staying a little bit too long on some combination blocks [and] you know, not fitting it up the right way. They also just made some plays. So, it's about physicality, starting fast, and like I said to you guys after the game – it's better to learn from a win than a loss. So, we know that we need to start a lot quicker on offense just to get the run game going."

(On WR Emeka Egbuka asking for a specific play call before his last touchdown)

"We had run that play a couple times earlier in the game and knew that we had a good shot at it and just having it to the [middle of the] field, knowing Jessie Bates III, an aggressive safety, seeing the concept a couple times is going to drive that in route to Mike because I threw it to him earlier. Yeah, Emeka did a great job just winning on the on the route as well."

(On Egbuka having the confidence to speak up in that moment)

"He's just a confident guy. So, I mean anytime he's saying something…If he's talking, he means business."

(On how the team can perform better in primetime games)

"Just the little details – executing [and] doing the right stuff. Like I told you guys, obviously we have a great team, but it's about just doing our job [and] trusting the guy next to you to do theirs – especially in the prime time games when you're waiting around all day…Not doing too much – just do your job, your job only, at the very highest level you possibly can and then just execute it."

(On Houston's edge rushers and if he'll need to get the ball out quicker)

"Yeah, I mean there anytime you play a team like this that that has two bonafide studs on the edge, you game plan for them. You understand that the protection on some things – when you're trying to push the ball down the field – you're going to need extra guys in there, whether it's chip block or different things like that, double teams. So, you know where they're at at all times. You know when they're on the field and off the field. So yeah, you pay attention to that and yeah, just as a whole, their whole defense plays extremely hard. I mean, Demeco [Ryans] being the guy he is, he coaches them really hard, expects that, because he played that way, too. That just jumps out on the tape and, yeah, they have good players at every level."

(On OL Graham Barton's performance at left tackle in Week 1)

"[It was] really good. Like I said to you guys, I think the O-line played great, pass protection wise. Some of the some of the different things were on me, just getting them ID'd to the right spot, but I thought those guys played great and especially Graham. Switching out there to left tackle against some good edge rushers is not an easy task, but luckily he's comfortable there."

(On RB Rachaad White's pass protection abilities)

"Yeah, I mean, Rachaad has always been really good at it. He's taken that extremely personal, worked his tail off to do it…He understands where we're going, who he needs to have his eyes on. That's been the biggest jump for Bucky [Irving] – understanding where we're at in pass [protection] as well. So, he takes ownership of that, but it's always nice to know that even when they're trying to heat you up, you've got somebody that's going to protect you."

(On the lack of production from the tight end position in Week 1)

"Yeah. I mean [we had] just a few missed ones to Cade [Otton] to be honest with you, or else he would have had a couple of catches. But yeah, the tight end's role is one that's not always the most pretty one – they do a lot of dirty work, but when they get their opportunities, try and take advantage of it. I always try and let the defense dictate where the ball needs to go. When I was talking to you guys after the game, they had had some of the shorter throws, intermediate stuff early on in the game…There were options there to get it to them. So, they they'll make plays for us."

(On what the traits of a good third-down offense are)

"Versatility. Understanding what a defense is trying to do on certain downs and distances. Obviously, we're talking third down, but in those in those windows, what do they do? What does the coach rely on, especially in critical situations? What are they always going to fall back on? What's their change up that they want to throw in there? And just being able to have options at the line of scrimmage. This offense demands to have a high football IQ [from] everybody. So, being able to go to the line of scrimmage with two plays and possibly a kill to get to a third. Our guys are smart – they're able to handle that and that allows us to be successful on third down."

(On Mayfield leading the team in rushing and whether that "juices him up")

"A little bit. Yeah, it tickles the fancy a little bit, but I'm not I'm not trying to go out there and do it every down. I'm no Lamar [Jackson] or Josh [Allen] by any means. Yeah, it's just trying to take advantage of the looks we have, on third downs especially. If they're not accounting for me, it's 'How are we going to convert? What's that look like?' Sometimes the opportunity arises."

(On returning to his home state of Texas)

"It's always awesome. It's always awesome to get Whataburger after the game as well. That's a really big plus. But yeah, it's always good to go back to Texas, knowing there there's a lot of people there to support. We have a bunch of guys that have roots there as well. So, it's a good time."

(On if there are any similarities between former Offensive Coordinators Dave Canales and Liam Coen and current Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard)

"Yeah. I think just the confidence in those guys, their belief in what they try and do leadership wise with the guys – no matter if it's going good or bad, staying with it, constant communication, being the same person throughout all of it. Yeah, there's a lot of similarities with it. I think any good [offensive coordinator] understands the ebbs and flows of the game and knows what he wants to get to and Josh [Grizzard] does a good job of that."

(On Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard calming down in two-minute situations)

"He does. Yeah, he does. He's so meticulous about what he wants to call, trying to get the perfect one in there. Sometimes I think you know as we're going along and learning together, call one, we'll make it work, and when we get our shots, we'll take it. But, yeah, in the in the high-stress, two-minute situations, he's calm because we know that when you're going fast, up-tempo, defenses can only get so many calls out there. So, he knows to call certain things and he trusts us to be able to go out there and execute and our guys are good at it."

(On the passing game running through WR Mike Evans)

"Oh, 100%. That's the big thing – he draws attention wherever he's at. Obviously 'Grizz' (Josh Grizzard) being the guy he is within our offense, motioning guys, trying to get single coverage…When they don't want to let him have single coverage, that opens opportunities for other guys and they're taking advantage of it. So, his opportunities will be there. We're confident in that."

(On if he suggests play calls to Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard based on what he sees)

"Yeah. Obviously, I trust him and whatever he's going to call but there's certain times…I mean, take for instance last week, when we're not starting fast we need to get something going. When we're in between series on the sideline, talking about what we really want to get to what we're thinking…When you're all on the same page doing that – and that goes throughout the week – we're all constantly communicating about it and what we're trying to get accomplished. Then, on the sideline it's like, 'Okay, this isn't working, what do we need to do to give the guys a spark?' He's good at that."

(On who he thinks he compares to when it comes to scrambling)

"I don't know. That's a good question. You're catching me on the spot with that one. I don't know."

WIDE RECEIVER MIKE EVANS

(On WR Chris Godwin Jr. being back at practice)

"It was amazing. Everybody was super ecstatic out there. Every time he ran a route, everyone was just watching. He looked good, looked really good."

(On how the team can build off of a great start heading into Week 2 of the season)

"Learning from mistakes we made last week and continue to work hard. We have been here before."

(On WR Emeka Egbuka's performance in Week 1)

"He is super prepared. He is one of the most prepared players that I have been around. I know he is a rookie, but he is super prepared, polished, super explosive, and a great playmaker. He is going to continue to make plays for us. It is a good way to start off your career with two touchdowns -- it is hard to get touchdowns in this league for sure."

(On how much Director of Performance Nutrition Jessica Pastuf and the Sports Nutrition department play a role in the players' performances)

"Nutrition and sports science is such a big part of our team and the professional sports aspect now. [You have] guys who are playing longer, and 'Jess' (Jessica Pastuf) has been huge for us -- for me specifically -- helping me get my weight down and making sure that I am at optimal playing weight."

(On Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard's performance in his first regular season game as the offensive play-caller)

"He did a great job his first time calling it. We could have executed better on some [plays], but we did fairly decent for our first time together in that offense. He is going to continue to get better."

WIDE RECEIVER EMEKA EGBUKA

(On if he "called game" before his game-winning touchdown catch)

"It was a play that we ran earlier on in the game -- we ran it two or three I want to say. I was open every single time. My touchdown was probably the one I was most covered on just because they had seen it before. [I] felt confident enough to be able to tell the guys that if we the opportunity to go back to it -- 'Grizz' (Josh Grizzard) was on the same page and he wanted it called -- we got it on the opposite hash, so a different side of the field, and we made it happen."

(On his production during Week 1 versus the Atlanta Falcons)

"I had a very productive game, but I am just glad at the fact that I was able to go out there and play fast. Whether that meant having two touchdowns like I did or no catches at all. As long as I was in the right spot at the right time -- doing what was asked of me -- and putting the right stuff on film, I think the results and statistics follow that. Like I said, it was a productive night, but we put in a lot of work for this and that is what just surfaced that day."

(On what is says about the offense to come through in the clutch when it was crunch time during Week 1)

"I think it shows our resilience -- our perseverance. We have great leaders, and I think being a great team you have to need that. You look at Lavonte [David], Mike [Evans], Baker [Mayfield], Vita [Vea], Antoine [Winfield Jr.], nobody was phased. In that moment, we knew what we had to do to go down and win it, and we were able execute. Big time win for the squad, especially on the road, [divisional] game, and all that type of stuff. That one almost counts for two."

(On what challenges the Houston Texans present)

"They have two amazing pass rushers on the outside, a great defensive back room -- one of the highest paid guys and rightfully so. I think [Derek] Stingley [Jr.] is an amazing player. [They have] safeties who come downhill, they hit, they make tackles. From watching film, the way that they play the game from the top-down, they play the game with emphatic energy. They play as a unit, so we have to match that as a team. I have no concerns about the way that we play the game -- we play the game very hard -- I think it is going to be a traditional football matchup in that sense."

(On WR Kameron Johnson's 54-yard punt return and the impact a play like that has on the offense)

"It just gets the whole offense going. Knowing that we do not have to drive that extra 50 yards he ended up picking up for us… It kind of deflates the defense as well, it makes it easier on us to be able to do our jobs and move down the field. Winning that field position battle is kind of the unspoken stats that do not really come up on the stat sheet. You talk about field position, those are not really the glamorous ones that are highlighted, but we won the field position battle by like four yards in that game. When it comes down to a one score game like it did, those all matter."

WIDE RECEIVER KAMERON JOHNSON

(On what he saw during his 54-yard kick return against Atlanta)

"First off, let me praise my teammates, because they blocked their tails off during that return. I [have] to give it to 'Deebo' (Deion Jones), Jacob Parrish and everybody, so it was pretty crazy. Seeing them block it down the field, I saw the two gunners, so I was like, 'Okay, that's all I need.' I fielded the ball, I was just making sure I was seeing my teammates right and I just cut up and then saw the green grass and it was crazy."

(On finding out he won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week)

"I remember 'T-Mac' (Thomas McGaughey) coming up to me in the specials team like, 'Did they tell you?' I was like, 'What [were they] supposed to tell me?' Then [Head Coach Todd] Bowles announced it to the team and I thought it was just awesome. I did not know it was the longest one in a decade. God is great, it was such an amazing blessing, and I am grateful for that."

(On how meaningful it was to make such a big impact dealing with injuries during training camp)

"As soon as I got to this level, I have been dealing with a lot of stuff. It is always amazing when you are just competitive and they keep you around, believe in you and you show them that you can do it. It is pretty cool"

(On the difference in the return game for Tampa Bay this season compared to other seasons)

"We just have some dogs on the special team's unit. Everybody up front is blocking their tails off. Everybody trusts in the coaching scheme and everything. I mean, we just have some goons on the squad, so it is going to be fun to watch."

(On his mentality during the punt return)

"In this game, you just have to have confidence in yourself and confidence that whenever you get a chance to showcase that you can do that, it is going to a big play -- a big house call. You always have to envision yourself -- put yourself in that position to make that play -- when it comes, make the most of the opportunities."

-BUCCANEERS-