There was a rookie comforting a rookie last night in the bowels of the Steelers’ home stadium.
Tampa Bay’s rookie playcaller, Josh Grizzard, was walking and holding rookie returner/receiver Tez Johnson within minutes after the Bucs-Steelers game concluded.
Grizzard has a few inches on Johnson and the 35-year-old coordinator had his arm around him like a dad might while consoling his teenager after a rough game.
Johnson had a rocky night in his NFL debut. He [dazzled with a long punt return and botched another](https://www.joebucsfan.com/2025/08/tez-johnson-delivers-as-punt-returner/) that quickly became a Steelers touchdown.
Joe saw other words and gesutures of encouragement for Johnson in the postgame locker room.
Todd Bowles was very upbeat talking about Johnson after the game. No hint of disappointment in his voice, even with the brutal turnover.
> “A muffed punt, I think is a good learning experience for him as a rookie,” Bowles said. “You know, you got to take care of the ball and you got to manage the game back there. That’s one of the prime responsibilities of a punt returner. So it’s a very good lesson for him that he’ll get better with going forward, but I thought he played fast and I thought he played hard.”
Joe is convinced the Bucs want Johnson to win the returner/receiver job. There’s no true battle with him and Trey Palmer, who is close to returning to action. But there’s no way Bowles will continue to tolerate turnovers from a returner.
Johnson has to stop it now.
On offense, Johnson caught four of seven targets for 24 yards, and that included a rough drop on what could have been a big play.
The Bucs have a lot to think about when it comes to how much faith and patience they will invest in the rookie this year.