The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back in Tampa after their trip to New York for joint practices and a preseason game, and Day 12 of training camp brought a little bit of everything: a key lineman working his way back, a takeaway on defense and a red-zone period that tilted heavily toward the offense.
Left tackle Tristan Wirfs was back on the field in pads, which marked a positive step as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury. He worked in individual drills but did not get into team periods. Head coach Todd Bowles said Wirfs is "ramping up" to a full return.
There was also a notable first for cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who took part in both individual drills and team drills for the first time all camp. On the other side, cornerback Zyon McCollum was out and working off to the side with trainers.
The absences kept piling up at receiver, too. Emeka Egbuka sat out with a toe injury, while Jalen McMillan was sidelined by a knee injury. Linebacker Christian Rozeboom also did not participate Monday.
Even with some regulars out, the defense still made a few noise-making plays. John Bullock came up with an interception after a tipped ball from quarterback Jalon Daniels, and Josiah Trotter added a fumble recovery for the defense as well.
Bullock’s ball production has been a recurring theme in camp. He’s picked off a few passes already and is making a push to stick on the roster again. After spending time with the Buccaneers as a UDFA last season, then joining the Colts in the offseason, he’s now back in Tampa and could land on the 53-man roster once more as a special-teams contributor.
But the biggest swing of the day came in the red zone, where the offense found the end zone repeatedly. Chris Godwin scored on a touchdown catch with Keionte Scott in coverage. Ted Hurst added another at the pylon with Morrison nearby, and Dean Patterson finished off the sequence with a touchdown that didn’t face much resistance.
That kind of finish is exactly what the Buccaneers want to see after struggling in the red zone last year. If that sort of efficiency carries over into games, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson should be very happy.
In Other News...
Ayden Garnes Is Giving Bucs Fans A Rookie Story To Love
Ayden Garnes has already given Buccaneers fans a preseason moment to remember, and it came from a player who arrived in Tampa Bay with plenty of reasons to be noticed. The undrafted rookie cornerback made a splash in the preseason opener with a 47-yard pick-six, the kind of play that can turn a camp battle into something much more interesting for a team sorting through the back end of its roster.
Garnes has been drawing attention for more than just his play on the field. Before his NFL career, he underwent a bone marrow donation procedure after being identified as a match during a collegiate drive at Duquesne University, a selfless act that potentially saved the life of a woman in her 20s. Now he is trying to turn that same blend of character and athleticism into a place on the Buccaneers roster, and he has given himself an early story worth following. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Get A Tristan Wirfs Boost As Emeka Egbuka Sparks Concern
Tristan Wirfs finally got back on the field for the Buccaneers during their joint practice with the Jets, a welcome sight for an offense that has been waiting to see its Pro Bowl tackle ramp up for training camp. Backup quarterback Jake Browning also returned after missing a preseason game with a back strain, while linebacker Christian Rozeboom was sidelined, adding another layer to a practice day that already carried some lineup shuffling.
The concern moment came with Emeka Egbuka, who left early after a lower-body toe issue while working against New York. The rookies departure briefly changed the tone of the session, even if the injury is not viewed as a long-term problem, and Tampa Bay will be watching closely to see how he responds as camp moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Defense Flashed As Tampa Bay Got A Crucial Camp Boost
The Buccaneers got a useful jolt at training camp practice as they continued preparing for their preseason matchup with Kansas City, and the defense made sure it was the group drawing attention. Jacob Parrish, David Walker and Yaya Diaby were among the standouts, with the unit stacking up pass breakups and sacks while showing the kind of activity Tampa Bay has been looking for as camp rolls on.
There was also a welcome sign on the injury front, with Tristan Wirfs, Benjamin Morrison and S JJ Roberts back on the practice field. The defensive highlights kept coming as the day went on, including takeaways that helped underline how sharp the group looked, even if there is still more to learn about how quickly that momentum can carry into game action. [Read more 🡒]