The Bucs got their three-day mandatory mini-camp underway Tuesday morning at the AdventHealth Training Center. With dark skies, lightning in the area and rain in the forecast early on in the practice window, the team began in its indoor facility before ultimately making its way back to the fields outside after the weather passed.
After two weeks of voluntary OTAs, this week of practices is, as the name suggests, mandatory. That meant some of the team’s key veterans who didn’t participate in OTAs – the likes of Mike Evans, Vita Vea, Haason Reddick and more – were in attendance. Tampa Bay is scheduled to continue its mini-camp Wednesday morning before wrapping up on Thursday. From there, the team breaks until returning in late July for training camp.
Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera, Bailey Adams and Adam Slivon were on hand at One Buc Place to watch everything unfold before post-practice press conferences with head coach Todd Bowles, quarterback Baker Mayfield, running back Rachaad White and defensive back Tykee Smith.
Here are Pewter Report’s observations and takeaways from the first of the Bucs’ three mandatory mini-camp practices:
Some Key Bucs Were Sidelined For The Start Of Mini-Camp
While the Bucs didn’t have anyone no-show the first day of mini-camp, there were some key players who didn’t participate in practice for a variety of reasons. Veteran linebacker Lavonte David, who is entering Year 14 in the NFL, was in attendance but didn’t participate.
The other notable non-participant was All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs. He was wearing a brace on his right knee and was seen doing some pass sets off to the side about halfway through practice. While the brace looked to be a bit of a hindrance, Wirfs appeared to be moving well.
After practice, head coach Todd Bowles said holding Wirfs out from practice was “precautionary” and that it stemmed from something he picked up this offseason.
Rookie outside linebacker David Walker, offensive tackle Silas Dzansi, quarterback Michael Pratt, safety Marcus Banks and wide receiver Trey Palmer were all watching practice from the side, and while it looked like defensive back Christian Izien was working out early on, he watched the team periods from the sideline.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin, who is making his way back from the season-ending injury he suffered last October, eventually came out to watch practice from the sideline as well. For now, Bowles said, Godwin is doing his rehab work inside and when the Bucs training staff gives the OK to move that work outside, they’ll obviously do so.
Bucs Olb Haason Reddick
Bucs OLB Haason Reddick – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The good – and expected – news of the morning was that newly signed Haason Reddick was at One Buc Place working out with the team after missing voluntary OTAs. Bowles noted after practice that Reddick came into mini-camp in great shape and was flying around just like they expected him to.
Competitive Red Zone Period Was Dominated By The Bucs Defense
Bucs Olbs Haason Reddick And Yaya Diaby
Bucs OLBs Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
While there was a lot of individual work and install being done early on in practice, the intensity ramped up at the end of the morning as the offense and defense squared off in a red zone period. Initially, the offense started just inside the 5-yard line before moving back to just inside the 15 as the period continued.
Overall, it was a period won by the Bucs defense. Linebackers Deion Jones and Anthony Walker Jr. were vocal both from the sideline and on the field, and that increased the competition as well. The first-team offense, led by Baker Mayfield, was forced into two incompletions to start things off inside the five.
From there, the second-team defense was stymied by back-to-back sacks from Jose Ramirez and rookie Elijah Roberts.
After moving the ball back about 10 yards, the offense did get some movement on a completion from Mayfield to Cade Otton. Kyle Trask then ended practice with a touchdown pass to Kameron Johnson over Roman Parodie, giving the offense a small win to close things out.
But the biggest play of the period came before that, as Jalen McMillan looked to have a touchdown catch in traffic only for Tykee Smith to finish the play by knocking the ball loose for an incompletion.
It was a pretty good day for the defense overall, as Anthony Nelson had an earlier sack while rookie Jacob Parrish had a dropped-interception-turned-PBU. The big turnover of the morning came on a ball that was tipped repeatedly by Rakim Jarrett before cornerback Bryce Hall got his hands on it for an interception that he returned down the sideline for a pick-six.
Baker Mayfield, Emeka Egbuka Already Developing Good Chemistry
Bucs Wrs Emeka Egbuka
Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has already thrived with his current crop of weapons during his time in Tampa Bay. He threw for 4,000+ yards in back-to-back seasons to start his Buccaneer career, and he tossed a career-high 28 touchdowns in 2023 before topping that with a new high of 41 in 2024. The personnel he’s been working with has already been top-tier, but it got even better this offseason as the team drafted Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the 2025 Draft.
Mayfield immediately took Egbuka and his family out to brunch when they arrived in Tampa back in April, and the quarterback and his rookie receiver already seem to be developing good chemistry together on the field.
During Tuesday’s mini-camp practice, Mayfield fired a bullet of a pass into traffic to Egbuka, showing great trust in his new pass-catcher to haul it in. The former Buckeye did so, catching it between a group of defenders near the goal line. Soon after on a play that ultimately could’ve been whistled dead thanks to a would-be sack by Anthony Nelson, Mayfield finished the play and threw another dart to Egbuka, who made a great contested catch with fellow rookie Jacob Parrish in tight coverage.
After practice, Mayfield raved about what he’s seen so far from the Bucs’ first-round receiver.
“Obviously, the physical tools. At this level, you’ve got to have talent. Obviously, he has that, being a first-round draft pick,” Mayfield said. “The thing that sticks out is how cerebral he is. He’s so smart. Right now, I think we can plug and play him at any receiver spot. He understands the offense that well, and that’s just him being a pro already. He’s not a rookie – he doesn’t act like it, at least.
“It’s been really good to see him take that ownership. He takes it extremely serious. He’s in constant communication. He always wants to be in the right spot at the right time. He’s much like J-Mac (Jalen McMillan) and Chris (Godwin) of understanding when to be open, the voids in the zone defense and how to be friendly to the quarterback. So, it’s a nice luxury to have.”
Other Notes And Observations From Day 1 Of Mini-Camp
Bucs Qb Baker Mayfield
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
While the defense had its share of moments on Tuesday, the offense did too. Kyle Trask looked particularly sharp, with one highlight being a beautiful throw to second-year tight end Devin Culp near the sideline. He caught Culp in stride, and the speedy tight end raced to the end zone untouched from there.
It was somewhat of a tough day for second-year receiver Jalen McMillan, as he dropped a wide-open deep ball early in practice before the aforementioned play that saw Tykee Smith jar the ball loose to break up what could’ve and should’ve been a McMillan touchdown in the red zone.
The Bucs had a small video board on the far sideline during Tuesday’s practice, and it showed replays of the previous play during the 11-on-11 period. Head coach Todd Bowles said after practice that it’s something they’re testing out, as it’s an alternative to seeing those replays on the tablets on the sideline.
Baker Mayfield’s connection with Sterling Shepard is still there, as the two linked up for a nice play during 11-on-11s.
Yaya Diaby had a would-be sack early in practice, and SirVocea Dennis may have had one as well on a blitz.