Progress On The Injury Front

After several joint practices in Jacksonville last week and two consecutive preseason away games on Saturday night, the Buccaneers returned to AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa for practice Monday morning.

Tampa Bay will begin practice this week in shells (shorts, shoulder pads and helmets), practice on the field again on Tuesday morning and hold a joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday. The team will then host the Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium on Friday night to close out its preseason schedule.

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera, Bayley Adams and Isaiah Delgado attended practice on Monday, and here’s what they thought:

Bucks not practicing

Buccaneers CB Tyreek Funderburk – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR

A significant number of Buccaneers players were absent from Monday’s practice, with running back Chase Edmonds remaining sidelined, along with rookie tight end Devin Culp, offensive linemen Luke Haggard and Justin Sukur, tight end Payne Durham, wide receiver Raylee Webb, cornerback Tyreek Funderburk, defensive tackle Greg Gaines and safeties Jordan Whitehead and Kayvon Meriweather all watching the game from the sidelines.

Third-string quarterback John Wolford Delayed and injured of Buccaneers lose to Jaguars 20-7 He showed up to Monday’s practice wearing shoulder pads and initially appeared OK, but then donned a bucket hat and watched the 11-on-11 period from the sidelines.

Despite the lengthy list of absentees, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said after practice that some players are “handling injuries” but are relatively healthy at this point in training camp. On that note…

Buccaneers making progress with injury management

Buccaneers ILB Servosia Dennis – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR

Several injured Buccaneers players returned to the practice field on Monday, and others participated more in practice than they have in recent weeks. Defensive tackle Kalijah Kansey returned to practice and took part in 11-on-11 team drills. Joining him in the drills was outside linebacker Joe Tryon Soyinka, who had been absent from practice in recent weeks, only taking part in individual drills and not during team drills.

The fourth-year pass rusher’s return as a starter this week was an encouraging sign. Bowles said after practice. The team isn’t rushing Tryon Soyinka, but he looks good heading into Week 1 against Washington.

Tampa Bay also had second-year inside linebacker Servoisia Dennis return to practice Monday, though he wore a black, no-contact jersey. Still, Dennis returned for the 11-on-11 period and kept busy both blitzing and covering.

Veteran receiver Sterling Shepard also returned to pads for the first time in several weeks but did not practice with the team, while rookie receiver Cameron Johnson hung up the no-contact jersey he wore last week and was a full participant in both individual and team drills.

Buccaneers’ shaky passing and big man interceptions

Tampa Bay’s passing attack was a bit patchy in 11-on-11 periods on Monday, with both starter Baker Mayfield and backup Kyle Trask making some inaccuracies, overthrowing and throwing a few interceptions. Among the Buccaneers defenders with the ball in their hands were Marcus Banks and Josh Hayes.

Buccaneers QB Kyle Trask and OC Liam Cohen – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR

The lone interception during practice came late in the game, when veteran outside linebacker Anthony Nelson intercepted a Kyle Trask pass at close range.

Nelson said after practice that he became just the Buccaneers’ third front-line defender with an interception in training camp, joining defensive tackle Logan Hall and rookie outside linebacker Chris Braswell in the interceptions department in August.

“I’m glad I was able to do that. [interception]”I was a little jealous because only two of them (Hall and Braswell) were able to catch it, but I was in a hurry and I just got a little lucky. Sometimes luck is better than good. You catch it when you can. The ball came to me so I made the catch for self-protection more than anything. I was finally able to use my big wingspan to my advantage,” Nelson said.

Nelson, who recorded an interception in a scrimmage against the Jets last year, is the Buccaneers’ tallest defender and the toughest to pass to. At 6-foot-7 and 271 pounds, Nelson has an 83-inch wingspan and just under 35-inch arms.

Observations and highlights from Bucks Camp Day 16

Below are some quick observations from Tampa Bay’s 16th training camp practice.

• But it wasn’t all bad for the Buccaneers’ passing game, as Baker Mayfield made a nice mid-range pass to Mike Evans along the left sideline to open up an 11-on-11 situation, then completed a long pass down the seam to Cade Otton.
• Jalen McMillan dropped the ball early in Monday’s practice, but overcame it to make a spectacular catch while evading coverage from Lavonte David. The pass was strong, and the rookie receiver kept his hands on the ball.
• Kyle Trask’s play of the day was when he ran, rolled to his right and threw a perfect pass along the sideline to Sean Tucker for the touchdown.
• Vita Bear went 11-on-11 for a sack, beating Graham Barton.
• Speaking of Barton, he runs as a center on the first-team offensive line.
• Latest BucDefensive tackle Brandon Matterson was quick to join the practice. He came out a little later, wearing a No. 56 jersey that may or may not be Randy Gregory’s.