The Buccaneers are out of runway, and their offense is leaning hard on a rookie who was supposed to be learning on the job.
With Tampa Bay sitting at 0-3 and Baker Mayfield expected to miss at least the next three games because of a dislocated thumb, the Bucs are turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels for his first NFL start against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. That puts even more pressure on the players around him to deliver, and one name keeps rising to the top: Ted Hurst.
Hurst was not expected to be a major part of the offense this soon, but injuries have changed the plan. Jalen McMillan aggravated his knee injury in Week 3 and is now out for 6-8 weeks, opening the door for Hurst to take on a much bigger role. The rookie wideout has already flashed enough to make Tampa think there’s something real here, and head coach Todd Bowles recently said a breakout game is coming.
Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson made it clear Thursday that the Bucs want to keep feeding Hurst when the opportunity is there.
"Yeah, I think similar to the rest of the skill guys, coverage can dictate where some things go at certain times. He definitely had some opportunities to possibly get a few more touches, and the ball didn't find him last week for one reason or another.
But yeah, we've got to keep Ted rolling. He's done a great job, man.
I can't say enough good things about him. It was great to see his first touchdown on that - it was a big play.
Obviously, we're down 10-0 [and] we needed a spark. It was great protection, great job by 'Bake' (Baker Mayfield) spotting him, and he ran a great route to finish it off.
So, I've got to find ways, really, for all these guys. We've got a unique skill group [where] the ball can [be] dished around.
So, it might be a game where somebody gets hot [and] they get a [few] more touches, but Ted has been doing a great job. He's separating, he's open, and we've definitely got to find him when he is."
That first career touchdown last week mattered for more than the scoreboard. It gave Tampa a jolt while trailing 10-0, and it also reinforced what the coaches have been seeing from Hurst: he gets open, and he can make plays once the ball gets there.
The challenge now is obvious. Daniels is being thrown into the fire earlier than anyone in the building expected, and Tampa needs production from as many places as possible to help him. Hurst, with his size, speed and growing role, is one of the best candidates to shoulder that load.
The timing could be right, too. Green Bay is 1-2 and coming off a 35-14 loss to an Atlanta Falcons team that looked like the NFL’s worst through the first two weeks. If the Packers arrive with the urgency and desperation the moment demands, the Bucs will have to match it.
For Tampa, the formula is simple enough: get Hurst the ball, let the rookie make a play, and try to finally get that first win.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Suddenly Face A Bigger Baker Mayfield Problem Than Expected
Baker Mayfields thumb injury has turned into a much bigger issue for the Buccaneers than a short-term scare. The veteran quarterback suffered a dislocated thumb and is expected to miss multiple games, with his return hinging on how quickly he regains grip strength. For Tampa Bay, the timing is especially tricky because Mayfield had been in the middle of another season as the teams starter after appearing in three games so far.
The immediate answer is rookie Jalon Daniels, who has been named the backup and will start while Mayfield is out. It puts an abrupt spotlight on Tampa Bays quarterback depth and raises the stakes around how the offense functions without the player the Buccaneers signed to a multi-year deal. The bigger question now is not just who starts next, but how long the team has to live without Mayfield and what kind of shape he is in when he finally returns. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fan Goes Viral For A Gameday Moment Bucs Fans Pounced On
A gameday photo from the Packers-Buccaneers matchup quickly took on a life of its own, with a Green Bay fan in a cheese-themed outfit drawing plenty of attention on social media. Buccaneers fans, already tuned into a rough start for their own team, jumped on the image and helped turn a random moment from the stands into one of the evenings louder online talking points.
It fit the mood around Tampa Bay, where the Bucs came in at 0-3 and were turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback because of Baker Mayfields injury. Green Bay arrived at 1-2, but the game was about more than the records for Tampa Bay supporters, who had little patience to spare and plenty of time to notice, and react to, anything that stood out. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Became The Center Of Tampa Bay's Biggest Debate
The Buccaneers slow start has pushed Todd Bowles into the middle of a conversation nobody in Tampa Bay wanted to have this early. At 0-4, with a 3-12 record stretching back to last season, the losses are piling up fast enough to turn every miscue into a referendum on direction, execution and leadership. Bowles stepped to the podium after the latest setback and owned the mess, taking responsibility while insisting he still believes he can guide the team out of it.
Bowles has handled the public side of the slump the way a veteran coach usually does, but the frustration around the team is only growing because so many of the defeats have stayed within reach. Close games tend to sharpen the focus on the head coach, and if the Buccaneers keep coming up short in those spots, the accountability debate will only get louder. For now, Bowles is asking for patience, even as the results make that a harder sell by the week. [Read more 🡒]