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The Bucs returned to their indoor practice facility at the AdventHealth Training Center on Thursday morning and practiced outside after three straight practices in the indoor practice facility on the turf after a day off on Wednesday. Rainy weather had forced Tampa Bay indoors Sunday and Monday morning, and the team’s third practice of the week was the annual night practice, held in front of Krewe members and preceded by an autograph signing.

But there was no rain – or even much sun – on Wednesday as the Bucs had some high-profile visitors at practice in Bucs Ring of Honor head coach Jon Gruden and legendary linebacker Lavonte David, who retired this offseason. Thursday’s practice was more even – and even-tempered – as the offense and defense each had their moments and made their plays.

If one side had a slight advantage it was likely the defense, which saw outside linebackers David Walker and Rueben Bain Jr. have big days as well as Tampa Bay’s secondary.

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, Kat Beutel and Leah Vrabec were in attendance on Thursday at One Buc Place. Here were the big observations and takeaways from a what is getting to be a rare outdoor practice.

Bucs GM Jason Licht Addresses Baker Mayfield, Vita Vea Contract Talks

After Thursday’s practice, general manager Jason Licht addressed the media for his annual training camp press conference. And of course the questions centered largely around the contract situations with quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive tackle Vita Vea, who are both entering a contract year. Mayfield expressed his displeasure with the team not giving him a longer-term contract offer, while Vea, who is underpaid as the league’s 19th highest-paid defensive tackle, is a “hold in” who is not practicing and has requested a trade.

Licht said that the team has no intentions of trading Vea and hopes he can return to practice soon from his tweaked back.

“I have no plans on trading Vita,” said Licht of the former 2018 first-round pick.

As for Mayfield, Licht said that the franchise tag is a tool that the team can use in the event that a contract extension can’t be worked out in the offseason, and believes Mayfield is a franchise quarterback.

“I’m not going to get into specifics about the contract and all that stuff, but yeah, we do think he is [a franchise QB],” Licht said. “We love Baker. Our feelings for Baker haven’t changed.”

“Baker is all ball. He’s all focused on the season. I’m expecting him to have a great year. We respect the fact that he had a timetable for it (the contract extension). On my end, I’ll always keep the door open on this situation, but he’s very, very focused. I’ve never seen him this focused.”

Licht shrugged off suggestions that the Mayfield and Vea contract situations could serve as a distraction for the team in the locker room.

“Everybody here is very focused,” Licht said. “Everybody here is very excited about this team. Everybody is very optimistic. You feel the energy out here but you also feel it in the building. I feel like the culture is at one of its highest points.”

Legendary Bucs Coach Jon Gruden Visits Training Camp Practice

Former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden visited training camp on Thursday morning and addressed the media before practice. Gruden, the franchise’s all-time winningest head coach who delivered Tampa Bay its first Super Bowl victory in 2002, will be the play-by-play announcer for the Bucs’ second preseason game, which will be at home against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, August 22 on WFLA News Channel 8. Gruden will be in the booth with color analyst Rondé Barber, whom he coached from 2002-08.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Prior to practice, Gruden addressed the local media and talked about his outlook for the Buccaneers, the arrival of new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, the job Todd Bowles has done as head coach, his impression of first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr., and of course the play of Baker Mayfield, who is in a contract year.

“I expect to see a lot,” Gruden said. “He’s one of the more productive guys over the last three years if you’re in to touchdowns and yards passing. The durability is what I love about this guy – 51 straight starts. He doesn’t complain about the injuries. He plays through things. Hopefully we can protect him, and hopefully we take better care of the ball. He has had some interceptions and fumbles. He is reckless, but he is fun to watch. I wish I would’ve had that guy [when I was coaching].”

When it came to Bain, Gruden had a big smile on his face when he talked about Tampa Bay’s first-round pick.

“I was doing the draft at Barstool and I was shocked he got drafted when he did [at No. 15 by the Buccaneers],” Gruden said. “People are all interested and hung up on arm length and it’s stupidity, to be honest with you. If you like James Harrison, you’ll like this guy. He has tremendous effort. That’s the one thing that Simeon Rice and [Warren] Sapp and those guys that played with their hand down did for us. They played every week and they played their butt off in this heat.

“And we’ve got three games in a row I think at home to start the season. You watch this guy – he will stand out, how hard he plays in the fourth quarter. He doesn’t wear down and he’s relentless, and I think that’s what the Buccaneers saw the most.”

Gruden was a color analyst for ESPN for nine years after he was fired by Buccaneers following the 2008 season and is looking forward to getting back into broadcasting live games – this time handling play-by-play duties.

“I’ve heard I’m doing play-by-play, But I don’t know if we’ve solved anything. It’s going to be Rondé’s show – he’s the star,” Gruden said. “We’re going to have a production meeting I know on August 17, and we’re going to finalize the cadence. But I’m excited and I’m a little bit nervous, and as always, really fired up for football season, especially the Buccaneers.”

Several Bucs Back In Action On Thursday

After sitting a few practices with soreness, wide receivers Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka returned to action on Thursday. That was a welcomed sight as Jalen McMillan (knee), David Sills V (knee) and Tez Johnson (groin) were out of practice due to some minor injuries. Defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson also returned to action after a veteran day off on Tuesday night.

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Inside linebacker Alex Anzalone also missed Thursday’s practice due to soreness, according to Todd Bowles. Bucs safety Miles Killebrew was back practicing on Thursday, and cornerback Benjamin Morrison was doing individual drills but did not participate in team drills. Cornerback Kemon Hall and safety J.J. Roberts were still out, as was left tackle Tristan Wirfs (hamstring) and defensive tackle Vita Vea (back).

Other Observations And Takeaways From Day 7 Of Bucs Camp

Here are some quick-hitting observations and takeaways from Thursday’s practice at One Buc Place:

• The Bucs secondary broke up at least four passes in practice and linebacker John Bullock had his second interception of training camp – this time off Baker Mayfield. Mayfield did have a nice touchdown pass to Cade Otton in the back of the end zone when he was rolling to his right.

• Wide receivers Dean Patterson IV and Dennis Houston had nice catches on Thursday, getting extra reps with Jalen McMillan, David Sills V and Tez Johnson out. Houston had a nice touchdown catch on a pass from Jake Browning.

• Tight end Devin Culp made a nice catch and run that covered about 40 yards on a pass from Jake Browning.

• Outside linebacker David Walker had at least two sacks on Thursday, extending his sack streak to one in each of the team’s seven practices. Walker ended practice with a literally strip-sack and a fumble recovery on Jake Browning.