Todd Bowles doesn’t sound like a coach waiting around for Ted Hurst to eventually arrive. He sounds like one who thinks the rookie receiver is already close to kicking the door down.
That matters this week, because Hurst’s name is suddenly the one Tampa Bay may need to lean on most. With Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter both ruled out for the Buccaneers’ Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, some of the rookie spotlight that had been fixed on those two now shifts to Hurst.
Through two games, the third-round pick has put together a quiet start: five catches for 63 yards. It’s been enough to show something, but not enough to draw the kind of attention that usually follows the Bucs’ other young names.
Bain, the first-round pick, has been limited to a single tackle and hasn’t come close to the level expected after his dominant offseason. Trotter, on the other hand, has been everywhere for Tampa’s defense, ranking tied for third in the league in tackles and making history in his debut by becoming the first player in NFL history to record both a pick-six and a sack in his first game.
Hurst was never supposed to be the rookie making the loudest immediate impact. When Tampa drafted him, the expectation was that he would be a long-term piece rather than an instant producer. With Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson ahead of him on the depth chart, the plan was for Hurst to learn first and contribute later.
That’s not exactly how it played out. His training camp forced the conversation, and general manager Jason Licht admitted he underestimated him. Hurst’s camp showed enough to spark comparisons to Mike Evans and make it clear he was ready for real work sooner than expected.
Bowles has seen enough to keep raising the ceiling on what comes next.
“I think it's getting to be pretty good. Ted's gonna be a heck of a player for us.
It's only a matter of time before he breaks out. His route running has been crisp.
He's been explosive off the ball. He blocks well.
He has an outstanding catch radius. It's just a matter of time before he catches fire.”
That kind of confidence is exactly what Hurst has earned with his play so far, even if the box score has stayed modest. Bowles likes the details: the route running, the burst, the blocking, the catch radius. In other words, the stuff that usually shows up before the breakout does.
And Tampa could use that breakout now. The Bucs are staring at an 0-3 start if they can’t get past Minnesota, and Baker Mayfield has had his own struggles through the opening stretch. A young receiver who can tilt the field would be a welcome development.
Hurst has the size and speed to matter in this offense, and with McMillan’s health already creating opportunity, he’s gotten more snaps and more chances than many expected. If that continues Sunday, the stage is set for the performance Bowles keeps talking about.
The coach believes the breakout is coming. The Buccaneers could sure use it against the Vikings.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Fans Have A Week 3 TV Map Problem To Watch
Week 3s TV map is one of those Sundays that can make Buccaneers fans do a little channel surfing before kickoff. The NFLs broadcast slate is spread across CBS and FOX with different early and late windows, and the leagues regional assignments mean what shows up on the screen can depend as much on where you are watching as on who you are hoping to follow. Add in the international matchup between Baltimore and Dallas in Rio de Janeiro, and the day has the kind of odd setup that can leave viewers checking listings more than once.
For Tampa Bay fans, the wrinkle is in the regional coverage, where market shifts can change which game is easiest to find and which one gets bumped to the background. CBS has the bulk of the early and late action, while FOX carries a single window, and each network has its own set of broadcast teams attached to the games. It is the sort of Sunday that rewards a quick look at the map before settling in, especially for anyone trying to keep tabs on more than one NFC storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers May Have Found A Defensive Difference-Maker Faster Than Expected
Josiah Trotter has wasted little time turning himself into one of the early stories of Tampa Bays season. The rookie linebacker has piled up 24 total tackles through the first two weeks, putting him among the league leaders right away, and hes already made an impression far beyond simple production. His debut was memorable enough on its own, and the Buccaneers have reason to feel encouraged by how quickly he has fit into the defense.
Trotters opening act has been strong enough to keep him in the weekly awards conversation, with Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week nominations in both of the seasons first two weeks. He has also drawn positive grades from PFF, a sign that the impact is showing up on the tape as well as the stat sheet. For a Tampa Bay defense looking for reliable difference-makers, the bigger question now is whether the rookies rapid rise is just the start of something even more disruptive. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Need One Offensive Change Fast To Avoid An 0-3 Hole
The Buccaneers have already put themselves in an early-season bind by starting 0-2 for the first time since 2014, and now the schedule quickly turns into a test of whether they can stop the slide. Minnesota is next, which makes the timing especially tricky for a Tampa Bay offense that has not yet found the kind of balance it needs to settle in and control games.
The biggest issue remains the ground attack, where the Bucs need a meaningful step forward to help offset what the Vikings do well on defense and take some pressure off the rest of the offense. Tampa Bays passing game has shown enough to keep the conversation alive, but without a more dependable run game, this matchup has the feel of one that could push the team into a much deeper early hole. [Read more 🡒]