The diminutive wideout from Oregon will play a larger role for Tampa Bay due to injuries at the position.
Bucs wide receiver Tez Johnson, left, runs after a catch as Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett closes in during last Sunday's game in Seattle. Johnson had a career-high four catches for 59 yards, including a 27-yarder, in Tampa Bay's 38-35 win.
TAMPA — Tez Johnson felt right at home last week in the Pacific Northwest, where the rookie from Oregon delivered his long-awaited breakout game against Seattle.
Now, the real test begins.
With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined, one of the smallest receivers in the NFL will have to come up big for the Bucs and keep their offense alive without the franchise’s top two all-time receiving leaders.
“It actually felt like a home game for me,” Johnson said of last Sunday’s 38-35 win over the Seahawks. “I (saw) a lot of Oregon fans out there. I saw a sign that said, ‘Duckaneers,’ so that was kind of cool. (For me), whatever it takes to help out the team with my role, big or small. No matter what, just always staying positive. My goal is to go out there and give my best ability and effort to the team.”
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Johnson had a career-high four catches for 59 yards, including a 27-yarder midway through the third quarter, against the Seahawks.
Johnson went in motion to the left with the two inside receivers running a deep corner and deep post. He got separation after colliding with cornerback Riq Woolen and pulled in his longest reception of the year, to the Seattle 15.
Emeka Egbuka caught a 20-yard scoring pass from Baker Mayfield three plays later to give Tampa Bay a 21-14 lead.
“I was like, ‘OK, this is normal. I made that catch in practice,’“ Johnson said. “I made that catch two weeks before the game. So, we’ve already played the game on Wednesday and Thursday, and Sunday is just a showcase for the families.”
Johnson wasn’t expected to play such a large role this season. A seventh-round pick (235th overall), he was a long shot to make the 53-man roster. But he has 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash and similar elusiveness with the ball in his hands to Bucs running back and former Oregon teammate Bucky Irving.
Johnson was inactive for the Week 2 game at Houston, and his first catch didn’t come until Week 4 against the Eagles, when he had one reception for 8 yards.
But the Bucs receiver position has been decimated by injuries.
Evans suffered a hamstring strain late in a Week 3 win over the Jets and could miss another game or two.
Tez Johnson, shown warming up before a game against the Eagles, wasn’t expected to play such a large role this season, but a combination of injuries to receivers and Johnson's dynamic playmaking ability forced the Bucs coaches' hands.
Godwin hurt his left fibula against the Seahawks, a different injury from the dislocated ankle he sustained last October against the Ravens. He did not practice and is week to week but not expected to go onto injured reserve.
“I don’t know if it was a hit or a twist,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “I just saw him limp off.”
No. 3 receiver Jalen McMillan suffered a neck injury while making a catch in a preseason game at Pittsburgh in August. He remains in a neck brace, and there is no timetable for his return except that it will be after the Bucs’ Week 9 bye.
Mayfield already is comfortable with Johnson, especially knowing opponents have to respect his ability to go vertical on any play.
“(He’s) a guy that is dynamic for us,” the quarterback said. “He can stretch the field vertically with his speed. Obviously, you guys saw the agility that was showcased, but (he is) just a guy that the more he plays the better he is going to get when it comes to recognition on coverage and adjustments on routes. It is great to have him come along, especially because we truly need him.”
Tez Johnson, right, tries to evade Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo on Sept. 28. Johnson has 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash and elusiveness similar to Bucs running back and former Oregon teammate Bucky Irving. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]
Johnson is not surprised by how quickly he has gotten in sync with Mayfield.
“I think it is just a lot of reps at practice,” Johnson said. “Trying to gain Baker’s trust in who he can throw it to and just showing that I know the plays and everyone around him knows the plays — whatever makes Baker feel comfortable.
“We never go into a panic when something happens. We all just buy in and trust ‘Bake,’ trust the coaches, trust each other and just go out there and execute to the best of our abilities. That is something we pride ourselves on.”
Johnson credits his coaches, especially receivers coach Bryan McClendon, for spending extra time with him going over the scripts before each game.
“Every morning, we meet,” Johnson said. “I wake up at 5, he wakes up at 5 and does his runs. We meet in the receiver room at 7:20 every morning and just go over the practice script and continue to stay consistent with the plays, because you never know when your time is coming.
“I (want to) give a big shoutout to the coaches, Coach ‘Grizz’ (offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard) and all those guys that have helped me and allowed me to show my ability on Sundays. I think this past Sunday, it was just me playing confidently and being back in the Pacific Northwest, kind of feeling like home.”
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