The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t get the kind of start they wanted in Tuesday’s first joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Baker Mayfield didn’t sugarcoat it.
Jacksonville set the tone early, according to Mayfield, and Tampa Bay spent much of the day on the back foot. “They gave us some good looks and were playing with their hair on fire,” Mayfield said about Jacksonville's defense.
“If this was a full game, I don’t think we would have come out on the winning side. A little eye-opening.”
That’s not the kind of line an offense wants hanging over a practice, but there is at least one reason the Bucs can point to as a positive: rookie wideout Ted Hurst III.
Hurst was one of the few Tampa Bay players who stood out in a rough session against a Jacksonville defensive backfield described as fast and dynamic. According to BucsGameday Founder Logan B. Robinson, the Bucs managed just one passing touchdown in 11-on-11 and situational work, and Hurst was the one who finished it off with a catch in the corner of the end zone.
For a team that has been looking at its next wave of pass-catchers, that matters. Hurst, the former Georgia State standout, was one of the top mid-major prospects in this year’s draft and looks positioned to handle the X-role in offensive coordinator Zac Robinson's offense.
Pewter Report put it plainly on Tuesday: “The saving grace for Baker Mayfield was when he connected with Ted Hurst III…” The outlet also noted that “It was clear that Mayfield favored him over Chris Godwin Jr.”
That kind of usage only adds to the sense that Tampa Bay is building something real in its receiver room. Hurst joins Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, and Jalen McMillan in a young group the Bucs have assembled, a particularly notable point with Godwin getting older and Mike Evans departing in free agency.
Hurst still has plenty to prove before anyone starts making statistical comparisons to Evans, but the physical profile is easy to see. He’s a big target with athletic traits, and that makes him a natural fit for the red zone and other high-leverage snaps.
The Bucs will get another crack at Jacksonville tomorrow, and Mayfield should have a chance to steer the offense into a cleaner showing before Tampa Bay tries to finish the preseason undefeated on Friday.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Have A Bigger Ayden Garnes Question Than Making The Roster
Ayden Garnes has already done the hard part of getting noticed. The undrafted rookie defensive back has put together a strong preseason for the Buccaneers and appears headed for the 53-man roster, which is an accomplishment in itself for a player trying to survive his first NFL camp.
Garnes, though, is not acting like someone who has arrived. He has been clear that he is not ready to be a starter yet, and his focus is on carving out quality playing time behind Tampa Bays current defensive backs. For the Buccaneers, that makes his roster case only the beginning, because the bigger question is how quickly he can turn a promising start into a real role. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Defense Drew Attention After Jaguars Star's Practice Scare
Joint practices are supposed to give teams a sharper look at themselves, but the Buccaneers ended up part of a more concerning scene when Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. went down with a left shoulder injury. Thomas did not return to practice afterward, turning an otherwise useful preseason session into one that immediately shifted attention toward the health of one of Jacksonvilles top pass catchers.
Liam Coen said Thomas is expected to be ready for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, which will calm some of the alarm for now. Still, the Jaguars are juggling more than one receiver issue, with Jakobi Meyers also dealing with injury and rookies taking on extra reps in their absence, giving Tampa Bay a front-row view of how quickly depth can get tested in August. [Read more 🡒]
Rueben Bain Jr. Just Gave Bucs Fans Another Reason To Believe
Rueben Bain Jr. may not have taken the field in the Buccaneers preseason game against the Jets, but he still found a way to get people talking when Tampa Bay met the Chiefs. The rookie edge rusher showed up in a facemask inspired by Batman villain Bane, a fitting bit of edge for a player who has already started drawing attention for the kind of physical style that can translate quickly in the NFL.
Bain has been linked to former defender James Harrison because of the way he projects as a pass rusher, and the early signs have given Bucs fans something to watch beyond the box score. He already made a nod to franchise history by wearing Warren Sapps jersey when he signed his rookie contract, and moments like that help sell the idea that Bain understands the standard he is walking into, even before the real work of the season begins. [Read more 🡒]