After three weeks of voluntary OTAs, the Bucs were back together at the AdventHealth Training Center Tuesday morning for the first of their three mandatory mini-camp practices this week. Under hot conditions – even with occasional cloud cover and the odd breeze – Tampa Bay got about two hours of work in before calling it a day (on the practice fields at least).

The Bucs will be back at it Wednesday and Thursday morning to wrap up mini-camp before enjoying some time off ahead of their return for training camp in late July.

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Matt Matera and Bailey Adams were on hand at One Buc Place for Tuesday’s practice. Here are their observations and takeaways from Day 1.

Two Returns, One Absence And A Host Of Bucs Sidelined

The Bucs saw fantastic attendance for their voluntary OTAs during the last week of May and the first two weeks of June, so there was never going to be a massive influx of new faces showing up Tuesday for mandatory mini-camp. But after they weren’t seen during OTAs, veterans Vita Vea and Al-Quadin Muhammad were both in attendance as mini-camp opened up.

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Vea watched on from the side throughout practice, Todd Bowles said afterward that there’s no injury with Vea. Rather, they just don’t need to see the 31-year-old nose tackle do much of anything during this part of the offseason program. In between periods, Vea appeared to be moving just fine, plus he showed up looking great after more offseason workouts with former Bucs defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

For Muhammad, it was his first chance to get on the field with his new teammates. He told the media after practice that he didn’t participate in OTAs last year with the Lions and went on to have his best year, an 11-sack campaign. So he took the old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach this summer. He was in the building throughout the earlier period of the offseason, taking part in meetings and getting acclimated to his teammates and Bowles’ scheme. Now, he’s happy to be back out on the field.

The one player who missed time in OTAs who didn’t show up Tuesday – making him the only absent player for mini-camp – was new linebacker Christian Rozeboom. Bowles said after practice that Rozeboom’s absence is excused, as he’s dealing with a personal matter and will not be here this week. However, he is expected to be in attendance and ready to go once training camp rolls around.

The Bucs had some other players sidelined for the start of mini-camp, though all of them were in attendance Tuesday morning. Tight ends Cade Otton and Devin Culp, defensive tackle Haggai Ndubuisi, cornerbacks Benamin Morrison and Chase Lucas, safety JJ Roberts and safety/special teams ace Miles Killebrew were all watching from the sidelines. Ndubuisi, who was sidelined all of OTAs with an injury, was sporting a cast on his left hand for the first time.

Bucs DT Haggai Ndubuisi – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs’ First Mini-Camp Practice Highlighted By Team’s New Energy

There’s been a lot of talk this offseason about the Bucs having a new edge, attitude and energy about them heading into 2026. And that’s a good thing considering the team just went through a season that saw a 6-2 start turn into a 2-7 finish that ended its reign atop the NFC South and snapped its at-the-time NFC-best playoff appearance streak.

So, did that new attitude and energy show up as the full team came together for mini-camp? It sure did, with quarterback and captain Baker Mayfield spoke after practice about the new faces, new energy and increased level of competition the Bucs are seeing on the field already this summer.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“When you lose guys that have been here for a long time like Lavonte [David] and Mike [Evans] and [Jamel] Dean and just others… People kind of wait around and wait for those guys to make a play or say something,” Mayfield said. “You get new faces – and obviously Nacho (Rakeem Nunez-Roches) has been here before – but you get guys that come in and spark a new energy, maybe it’s trash talk or just the way they approach the game.

“It uplifts everybody, so it’s been really fun to see. Obviously all the new pieces on defense, that in itself brings a lot of energy. It’s made every single practice competitive. Obviously, we had a day taken away. That’s the type of energy and competition that we’re having right now, which is really good for the Bucs.”

Mayfield alluded to Tampa Bay having an OTA practice taken away last week by the league after the team had too many bodies hit the ground in a previous practice. Despite that sanction, it didn’t lead to a drop off in intensity come time for mini-camp – not in the slightest.

The vibes were high and the trash talk was flying, particularly from the Bucs defense. Nunez-Roches is always one of the loudest, and he’s now joined by newcomer A’Shawn Robinson, whose edge has been well documented. Mayfield has taken note of that, too.

“I think people have said it,” Mayfield said. “We needed some assholes over there, and he’s one of those.”

Even beyond the chatter between both sides of the ball, there’s more intensity to the way the Bucs are approaching practice. A lot of that has come down to the newcomers, and it’s been a sight to see considering two rookies have often led the way on that front. It’s the little things, like first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. running hard and leading the way as the outside linebackers move from one part of the field to another and the aggression with which second-round pick Josiah Trotter hits the sleds.

This is a team approaching 2026 with newfound intensity and a new energy. And as Mayfield said, that’s a good thing for the Bucs.

Offense Outdoes Defense 3-1 In A Spirited Goal Line Period

Tuesday’s spirited mini-camp practice culminated with a lengthy 11-on-11 red zone period, and then a shorter 11-on-11 goal line period. During red zone work, some bodies hit the ground on a swing pass out to running back Sean Tucker, second-year linebacker Nick Jackson nearly intercepted a Jake Browning pass, second-year receiver Tez Johnson made had a nice catch and run and third-year cornerback Demarion Williams came up with a pass breakup in coverage on rookie receiver Eric Rivers Jr.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But the real action came next as the team moved to the goal line period. It got underway with best-on-best in the truest sense of the term, as Baker Mayfield fired a pass intended for Chris Godwin Jr. in the back of the end zone. Only right there for the interception was safety Antoine Winfield Jr., giving the defense an early edge.

Mayfield bounced right back, though, finding tight end Payne Durham for a touchdown on the next play in the front of the end zone on the left side of the field.

And then, it was Jake Browning and the second-stringers who made it a decisive victory for the offensive side of the ball. First, the former Bengals signal-caller tossed a touchdown pass to rookie Ted Hurst, who made a great toe-tap catch in the back of the end zone. Then, off play-action, Browning fired a sidearm throw to another rookie, tight end Bauer Sharp, to finish off the goal line period.

The defense has picked up its share of wins over the offense this summer and won much of the day on Tuesday, but the offense got the last laugh inside the red zone.

Other Observations And Takeaways From Day 1 Of Bucs Mini-Camp

Here are some other quick-hitting observations and takeaways from Day 1 of Bucs mini-camp:

• Watching rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter read, react and fire toward the ball carrier is a lot of fun. He has certainly looked the part thus far and will be one of the most intriguing rookies to watch when the pads come on in training camp.
• Speaking of which, the Bucs defense has been extremely stingy against the run this summer. Granted, the pads aren’t on, but they’re reacting quickly and flying to the ball carrier at or behind the line of scrimmage with regularity right now.
• Rookie outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. had a pass breakup at the line of scrimmage against Baker Mayfield during an early 11-on-11 period.
• Tez Johnson had himself a strong practice on Tuesday, catching a few passes on the run and creating after the catch.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

• After practice, Todd Bowles said that despite a crop of Bucs sitting out Tuesday, there are no long-term concerns with injuries. Everyone should be good to go come training camp in late July.
• Zyon McCollum got his hands on the football during a 7-0n-7 period, but he couldn’t quite come up with the interception.
• Rookie wide receiver Eric Rivers Jr. participated in Tuesday’s practice after missing time during rookie mini-camp and OTAs.