Todd Bowles came away encouraged by Ted Hurst’s first NFL game, and the Buccaneers coach didn’t sound interested in making it any bigger than that.
Hurst’s debut came in Tampa Bay’s 33-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, a game that already had plenty going on with Baker Mayfield’s three-fumble night, Rueben Bain Jr.’s rough introduction, and Josiah Trotter making history by becoming the first player in NFL history to record a pick-six and a sack in his first game. Lost in all of that was a solid first look at the rookie wideout.
With Jalen McMillan inactive because of injury, Hurst was pushed into a larger role and ended up playing about 75% of the offensive snaps. He caught three passes on three targets for 36 yards, tying Cade Otten for fourth on the team in receptions behind Bucky Irving, Emeka Egbuka, and Chris Godwin Jr. The yardage total also placed him fourth among Buccaneers receivers and tight ends.
The numbers were modest, but the workload told the bigger story. Hurst logged 43 snaps, well ahead of Tez and Kameron Johnson, who played 13 and 5. For a 22-year-old making the jump from Georgia State to the NFL, that kind of usage says the staff trusts him.
He also showed the traits that had already turned heads in camp: separation, toughness at the catch point, and enough speed to keep defenses honest. Those same qualities had sparked comparisons to Mike Evans during training camp, and Hurst didn’t look overwhelmed by the moment.
Bowles liked what he saw, especially the way the rookie handled himself.
"I thought Ted played fast. He played very fast.
He played hard, and when they threw to him, he was open, so they got him the ball. I think he'll be fine."
Asked whether Hurst’s production came mostly in the two-minute offense, Bowles pushed back.
"No, he played fast. I mean, the coverage dictates the targets, and, you know, the coverage was there [when] the targets didn't go that way, but he played fast the entire game."
That’s where the coach’s view lands: pleased, but not satisfied. Hurst showed enough to matter, but Bowles clearly sees a rookie who still has plenty to clean up and plenty of room to develop.
And that matters because Hurst was not expected to be this involved when camp opened. His strong summer, along with his play in Tampa Bay’s first preseason games, changed that picture quickly.
Once McMillan is back, Hurst’s snaps will likely shrink. For now, though, he’s given the Buccaneers something useful: a first game under his belt, and a glimpse of a player whose future in Tampa Bay looks bright.
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