On Wednesday morning, the Buccaneers gathered at the AdventHealth Training Center for their first practice of training camp. Under partly cloudy skies, temperatures in the low 80s and a light breeze, Tampa Bay began preparations for the 2024 season, when they will be looking to make a fifth consecutive playoff appearance and win a fourth consecutive NFC South title.
Like other teams, the Buccaneers started training camp wearing shorts and helmets because they have to wait until next week to don pads.
Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera, Bailey Adams and Adam Slivon attended the team’s first practice of camp, and here are their thoughts.
Bucks not practicing
rear Placed on the active/non-football injured list Rookie quarterback Zach Annekstad and second-year tight end Tanner Taula did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, and, as expected, veteran outside linebacker Randy Gregory also did not participate. Failed to report again. He was switched to the reserve/non-reporting list on Tuesday.
Tristan Wirfs appears and takes full part in contract negotiations
Tristan Wirfs and his team are in the process of working on a long-term contract extension with the Buccaneers but have yet to come to an agreement, so after the 25-year-old “sat out” during mandatory minicamp in June (he attended but did not participate to avoid fines), it will be interesting to see if he does the same when training camp opens on Wednesday.
Buccaneers Pro Bowl LT Tristan Wirfs is in training camp with his helmet in hand. Wirfs attended minicamp but did not participate as he continues to pursue a new long-term contract with the team. #Wearethecrew pic.twitter.com/T970eTYkC4
— Pewter Report 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) July 24, 2024
Instead, Wirfs was on the training field and was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. It wasn’t a surprise to see Wirfs on the training field, as he had reported there yesterday as expected, but the fact that he took part in not only warmups but also individual work and the full 11-on-11 drill seemed to be one of the bigger surprises of the day.
But Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles may not be among those who may have been pleasantly surprised by the Pro Bowl left tackle’s full participation.
“No, I’m not surprised,” Bowles said. “He loves the game. He loves to play. And he loves his teammates. He did a good job today.”
When asked if Wirfs could take a step back if he puts on pads to stay healthy until his contract issues are resolved, Bowles was quick to respond with a to-the-point answer.
“He’s doing well,” Bowles said.
Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans shine on first day of Buccaneers camp
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and starting wide receiver Mike Evans, who completed 79 passes for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, returned to the field together on Wednesday and picked up where they left off.
On Mayfield’s first passing attempt of the 11-on-11 period, he fired a pass over the middle to Evans, drawing a roar from the crowd. Evans then caught Mayfield’s second pass of the day, then two more after that. Watching Wednesday’s practice in a vacuum, it’s hard to believe Evans is just 31 years old and entering his 11th season in the NFL.
“It’s always a blessing to start training camp healthy and be able to come here and do what you love and live your dreams,” Evans said after practice. “Obviously, it’s not easy. It’s hard, but I’d rather not be anywhere else. So I’m happy to be able to do this. I look at pictures of myself and [from] At that first camp I weighed 240 pounds and was in bad shape, but I was just a young, hungry kid, and I’m still that hungry now. [I] “I’ve just gotten smarter.”
Mayfield started Wednesday’s game strong, working with Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and Cade Otton throughout the 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods. This year feels different for Mayfield and the Buccaneers because there isn’t a quarterback competition like last year. Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million contract with the team this offseason, and there’s no question who will be the leadoff man heading into 2024.
“Baker has the keys to the bus and he’s driving it,” Bowles said. “He’s comfortable and we’re comfortable with him. We’re both in great places right now. He’s got to command the offense. We talked about getting the ball where it needs to be, understanding the offense and making the right checks. And I think he’s taken that on his shoulders and is back in great shape and we expect him to do that, but he’s been a lot more consistent than he was last year.”
Observations and highlights from the first day of Buccaneers training camp
Buccaneers C Graham Barton – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
Below are some quick observations from Tampa Bay’s first training camp practice.
• As expected, there was some offensive line shuffling on Day 1. Robert Hainsey and rookie Graham Burton were swapped in to the first-team offensive line at center, while free agents Ben Bredeson and Su’a Opeta both slotted in at left guard on the starting unit. Opeta is known for his run blocking, but he was jolted backwards at the line of scrimmage by Will Gholston on a pass protection play. Opeta is strong, but not the biggest of the guards, and He is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 305 pounds. Bredeson is a bit large at 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds.
• Cornerback Zion McCollum had a strong practice, first blocking a diving pass on 11-on-11 and then covering Mike Evans in tight coverage on third down late in the third period. Baker Mayfield completed a tight-window pass to Evans, but McCollum’s coverage couldn’t have been better. Mayfield looked incredibly good at the start of camp on Wednesday.
• Veteran cornerback and former Houston Texans Tavierre Thomas intercepted a Kyle Trask pass off the hands of Sterling Shepard during the seven-on-seven period.
• Trask then answered back with a sharp pass to Shepard near the sideline, ultimately finishing strong after an up-and-down day.
• John Wolford may be the best third quarterback in the league. He is very poised and accurate and had a really solid day in his limited playing time as the team’s third quarterback. Wolford throws the ball very easily and his passes rarely land on the ground or put him in danger. After three years in Sean McVay’s Rams offense in Los Angeles, including two seasons with new Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Cohen, Wolford now knows this offense better than Baker Mayfield does. He is a huge asset to the Buccaneers quarterback staff. Wolford threw a great pass to rookie Cameron Johnson in practice on Wednesday for a touchdown deep in the post.
• Rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan has subtle aggression and fluidity. After catching a pass, McMillan lightly head faked his way past outside linebacker Anthony Nelson, who was covering in the flat, and then evaded strong safety Jordan Whitehead for a first down. McMillan’s movements, splitting the Buccaneers’ defenders, looked like the deft moves of a veteran. Mike Evans called McMillan “polished” after practice.
• Veteran running back Chase Edmonds served as the backup behind Rachad White on Wednesday, with rookie Bucky Irving, the team’s fourth-round pick, serving as the third running back. This isn’t surprising, as Edmonds has more NFL experience and, as a result, a better understanding of the playbook. Expect Irving to work more in camp as the days and weeks progress. Irving’s instant acceleration was evident on his outside runs that gained first downs.
• Rookie Tykee Smith made his first appearance as a nickel cornerback on the starting defense.
