INTRO: Bucs training camp is here! The rookies report on Monday, July 21, the veterans report on Tuesday and the entire team will take the field for the first practice on Wednesday. I’ve got a complete training camp preview – including some training camp battles to watch – for you in this week’s SR’s FAB 5 that features 25 critical camp questions. Enjoy!

FAB 1. 5 Critical Camp Questions On Offense: Injury Concerns

1. Will Chris Godwin Be Ready For The Start Of The Season?

This is a big question, and we may not know the full answer for a while. Yet we should receive an update on Chris Godwin and his surgically-repaired ankle on Wednesday from head coach Todd Bowles after the Bucs’ first training camp practice. The media did not witness Godwin do any jogging, running or cutting on the field during the OTAs or the mandatory mini-camp.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

All of Godwin’s rehab has apparently taken place inside One Buccaneer Place. If Godwin isn’t doing that kind of work outside on grass by the start of camp, it may certainly put his chances of being ready for Week 1 in doubt. As it stands right now, Godwin is expected to miss most or all of training camp.

2. Can Tristan Wirfs recover in time to avoid PUP?

It doesn’t sound like it, but we’ll know more about Tristan Wirfs’ knee surgery and the timetable for his recovery on Wednesday when we get the chance to interview head coach Todd Bowles after the first training camp practice. We still don’t know what type of knee injury Wirfs suffered last season that didn’t respond to rest and rehab and ultimately required surgery. Is it an MCL, PCL, meniscus or something else?

Team sources have told me the team is bracing for the fact that he’ll likely start the season on PUP (physically unable to perform), which means he would miss the first three games of 2025 – unless something radically changes. Again, we’ll know more on Wednesday when we talk to Bowles as Wirfs will be two weeks removed from surgery and will get his pre-camp physical.

3. Can O-line Coach Kevin Carberry Level Up Charlie Heck?

That’s what the team hopes – and expects – from Kevin Carberry, who is an absolute offensive line guru along with offensive line coach Brian Picucci. Last year’s swing tackle, Justin Skule, had his game taken to another level under Carberry and he’ll have to work his magic on newcomer Charlie Heck, who replaced Skule in the offseason.

The good news is that Heck has two full months and three preseason games to make some progress before he starts Week 1 at Atlanta. Skule only had a couple of days before he stepped in to start at right tackle for Luke Goedeke prior to the Detroit game in Week 2. Outside of when Wirfs and Chris Godwin will return to action, how Heck develops is the next biggest question in Bucs camp.

4. How Will Tristan Wirfs’ Injury Affect Josh Grizzard’s Game Plans?

New Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard had planned on a few more deep shots down the field in the passing game this year. But Grizzard may have to hold off for the first few weeks of the season without Tristan Wirfs protecting Baker Mayfield’s blindside.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Instead, the Bucs could – and probably will – feature more 12 personnel at the start of the season with both tight ends Cade Otton and Payne Durham on the field to help block on the perimeter. Especially the left side, where Charlie Heck will be filling in for the injured Tristan Wirfs. That’s what Liam Coen did last year when Wirfs missed a game and a half due to his knee injury in Week 9.

5. Can Baker Mayfield Hit The Deep Ball?

Baker Mayfield completed a career-high 71.4% of his passes last year in a records season in Tampa Bay. While he completed 84.3% of his passes inside 10 yards, Mayfield’s completion percentage dipped to 58% on passes 10 yards or more down the field. And at 20 yards or more, Mayfield completed just 38.5% of his throws.

Mayfield needs to spend training camp developing some downfield chemistry with his receivers, including rookies Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson. Backup Kyle Trask actually outperformed Mayfield in the spring in downfield passing. If Mayfield is going to be called on to throw more than 52 passes beyond 20 yards this year, he’s going to have to prove he can be more accurate. That starts in training camp.

FAB 2. 5 More Critical Camp Questions On Offense: Bucs’ Weapons Check

6. Will Emeka Egbuka Be Ready To Start If Necessary?

All eyes will be on rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who may be called on to fill in for Chris Godwin as the team’s starting slot receiver at the start if the season. That will depend on how quickly Godwin can return to action from rehabbing his ankle injury. Ebuka impressed in the offseason, gliding across the field and running smooth routes.

Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

At 6-foot-1, 205, Emeka resembles Godwin physically, and plays like him, too. He’d be a perfect fit in the slot in Tampa Bay’s offense as Godwin’s replacement and then transitioning to a role outside when he returns to action. The key is continuing to develop in training camp. Egbuka has gotten rave reviews for how quickly he’s picked up the playbook so far.

7. Who Is The Bucs’ Sleeper On Offense In Camp?

With so many starters returning on offense this year, including the entire receiving corps, running back room, tight end room and offensive line, it’s tough to pick a sleeper on offense. Any sleeper in Tampa Bay is going to be a reserve, and I think there is one to watch in camp. I did a Pewter Pulse video on a very buzzworthy undrafted free agent in running back Josh Williams, and he’s the guy.

He was never a feature back at LSU. Instead, Williams was part of a rotation in a running back-by-committee approach. But he has good size at 5-foot-9, 210, ideal quickness and vision and superb instincts as a runner and a receiver. Keep an eye on No. 37 in camp. He’ll play a lot in the preseason and will contend with Sean Tucker for the RB3 role.

8. Can Devin Culp Climb The Depth Chart In Year 2?

Cade Otton, who is the Bucs’ iron man at tight end, enters his fourth season as the team’s starter. But there could be a training camp battle for TE2 between Payne Durham, who enters his third season in Tampa Bay, and second-year tight end Devin Culp. Both came on late last year when Otton missed a few games due to a knee injury. Durham is a more complete tight end because he’s a solid blocker and receiver, but Culp, who is a bit undersized at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, is more of a weapon due to his sub 4.5 speed.

Bucs TE Devin Culp – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Durham had four catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns combined in both of last year’s regular season games. Culp had five catches for 88 yards over that same span, and averaged a gaudy 17.6 yards per catch. He’ll need to prove that he’s a better blocker and stronger at the point of attack to overtake Durham, who is the subject of this year’s Camp Diary on PewterReport.com.

9. Will Luke Goedeke And/Or Cade Otton Get A Contract Extension?

The Bucs haven’t spent any time over the summer working on contract extensions for either right tackle Luke Godeke or tight end Cade Otton – both of whom are entering a contract year. The front office has been on vacation and will start some extension talks with their representatives as soon as camp starts next week.

The Bucs won’t feel any pressure to get a deal done this year if the price isn’t right though. Wide receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. each had to play in a contract year during the 2023 season, so there’s a chance that Goedeke and/or Otton may have to do the same. Goedeke’s extension will likely top $20 million per season, while Otton is probably set to earn at least $12 million per year – if deals can get done before the 2026 offseason.

10. Will Michael Pratt Make A Legit Run At Kyle Trask’s QB2 Role?

The Bucs were thrilled to grab Michael Pratt after the former Tulane quarterback was released by the Packers in the final roster cutdown last year. Tampa Bay wanted to draft Pratt but Green Bay beat the team to the punch one spot earlier in the seventh round. Pratt spent the year on the practice squad and made a good first impression on the scout team.

But an offseason injury kept him out of OTAs and mini-camp and stunted his growth a bit in Tampa Bay’s offense. It will be an uphill battle to unseat fifth-year veteran Kyle Trask as Baker Mayfield’s backup because Trask knows the offense and has played in four preseasons. But the Bucs like Pratt’s moxie, leadership and knack for making plays, so we’ll see how he fares in August.

FAB 3. 5 Critical Camp Questions On Defense: Front Seven

11. Can Calijah Kancey Stay Healthy This Summer?

Calijah Kancey missed nearly all of training camp and the first four games of his rookie season in 2023 due to a calf injury. Then Kancey injured his other calf at the end of the preseason and missed the first five games of the 2024 campaign. So can he stay healthy and actually play an entire season opener as well as the first quarter of the season? If he can, it could be a monster season for the 2023 first-round pick.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

When I asked what would happen if he played in all 17 games this year he told me he could lead the league in sacks. Considering he had a career-high and team-leading 7.5 sacks in just 12 games, that might be a stretch. But Kancey could certainly reach double digits and perhaps lead the Bucs again in sacks. Maybe the team should build in some planned rest days in camp for Kancey to keep him fresh for the start of the season?

12. Is This The Beginning Of Yaya Diaby’s Breakout Season?

No Bucs defender was as dominant as Yaya Diaby was at the start of training camp last year. But then a week into camp he rolled his ankle in a pile up and was out until Week 1. It took Diaby some time to get back in football shape and he didn’t quite pick up where he left off. While he forced 65 pressures last year and improved in a lot of areas, Diaby’s 4.5 sack total was disappointing.

Now entering his third season in Tampa Bay and playing exclusively on the right side against left tackles, Diaby can hone his pass rush moves – and do it under the tutelage of pass rush guru Larry Foote, who is the new outside linebackers coach. Playing opposite a proven pass rusher like Haason Reddick should help out, too. Diaby could be on the verge of a breakout season with double-digit sacks if he has a great camp.

13. Does Haason Reddick Still Got It?

Speaking of Haason Reddick, is the soon-to-be-31-year-old edge rusher still capable of being a double-digit sacker in the NFL? After four straight years with double-digit sacks from 2020-2023, Reddick was traded to the Jets last year where he held out for a new contract, missed the first seven games of the season and notched just one sack in 10 games.

Reddick has been reunited with Larry Foote, his original position coach in Arizona, and is ready for a rebound season. He’ll also be embarking on a revenge tour as Reddick will face every team he’s ever played for this season in Tampa Bay: the Jets, the Eagles, the Panthers and the Cardinals. On a one-year, prove-it deal, Reddick could really cash in on a bigger contract in 2026 if he can return to double-digit sack form.

14. Is SirVocea Dennis The Real Deal At MLB?

There has been a lot of hype about SirVocea Dennis, who is slated to start at middle linebacker and replace K.J. Britt. Dennis had a promising start to the 2024 season and was on track to unseat Britt as the starter last year before a shoulder injury in Week 4 cost him the rest of the season. Dennis’ shoulder has been surgically repaired, but can it hold up once the pads come on?

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles loves Dennis’ football I.Q. and his ability to both blitz and drop in coverage, where he’s had his share of interceptions in practice over the past three offseasons. But can Dennis stay healthy and live up to the hype? Seeing is believing, and we’ll start watching him on July 23.

15. Who Will Have The Better Camp At DT – Logan Hall Or Desmond Watson?

Bucs defensive tackle Logan Hall enters a contract year coming off a career-high 5.5 sacks in 2024 and the best game of his career – a seven-tackle effort versus the Commanders in the playoff loss. Head coach Todd Bowles called Hall, the team’s top pick in 2022, one of the most impressive players during the offseason program. Can he build upon that in camp and have a cash-in-type season in 2025 – in Tampa Bay or elsewhere?

Desmond Watson, an undrafted free agent out of Florida, grabbed the headlines when he became the largest player in the NFL at around 450 pounds. Will Watson lose enough weight to get in shape and truly factor into the competition for the DT6 role? Or will Elijah Roberts, the team’s fifth-round pick, steal the show at defensive tackle in camp instead?

FAB 4. 5 More Critical Camp Questions On Defense: Secondary

16. Will Benjamin Morrison Report To Camp On Time – And Stay Healthy?

The vast majority of the second-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft were unsigned all summer due to the fact that agents want to get those players fully guaranteed contracts — or as close to fully guaranteed as possible. On Thursday, several second-rounders did agree to terms, so there has been some movement in this area.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With rookies reporting on Monday and the first camp practice taking place on Wednesday, it seems likely that Morrison will be under contract by then. But will he be healthy? Morrison has been cleared to practice following hip surgery he had last fall. But Morrison missed the last two mini-camp practices with a hamstring injury and needs to be on the field to learn the defense and try to win a starting job.

17. Can Jamel Dean Hang On To His Starting Job?

Dean, who turns 29 later this season, is in a make-or-break season in Tampa Bay. While he has a Super Bowl ring and plenty of experience as a starter in Todd Bowles’ defense, Dean’s penchant for getting injured and his failure to create takeaways prompted the team to draft two ballhawk cornerbacks in Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish on Day 2. Morrison is the biggest threat to Dean and will likely be his primary competition in training camp.

Dean not only needs to cover well and avoid injury during training camp, he also needs to come up with some interceptions because Morrison is a ballhawk who recorded nine picks in his first two seasons at Notre Dame. There is a chance Dean hangs on to the starting job in camp due to his experience, but he’ll lose it to Morrison if he ever gets injured.

18. Is Zyon McCollum Ready To Capitalize On A Contract Year?

It’s been a fast three years in Tampa Bay for Zyon McCollum, who replaced Carlton Davis III as the team’s starter last year and was the team’s best cornerback. McCollum had a very good, but not great season last year. He fell short of his goal of six interceptions by only snaring two, yet he still wound up tied with Tykee Smith for the team lead.

McCollum is entering a contract year and may have to play it so both he and the team can gauge his true value. If the uber athletic corner can lock down receivers a little more often with tighter coverage in 2025 and come up with a few more interceptions, he could really cash in during the 2026 offseason.

19. How Will Tykee Smith Adjust To Playing Strong Safety?

The Bucs anticipate Tykee Smith making a smooth adjustment to replacing Jordan Whitehead at strong safety. He’s fared well at safety during the offseason and he’ll have a month in training camp to really nail down the position switch. Smith played safety as well as in the slot at Georgia, so he has some experience to draw from.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and SS Tykee Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Smith took it upon himself to ask Todd Bowles to move to strong safety so he could increase his playing time during his second season in Tampa Bay. That says a lot about his character and confidence. And more plays could mean more plays on the ball in 2025. Smith tied for the team lead in both forced fumbles (three) and interceptions (two) as a rookie.

20. Who Wins The Reserve Safety Battle Between Shilo Sanders And JJ Roberts?

Shilo Sanders is one of the most popular Bucs on the roster – mostly due to being a social media star and the son of Hall of Famer and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. While he brings plenty of name recognition to Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent signing, the team really likes the dynamic athleticism of J.J. Roberts, a fellow undrafted free agent out of Marshall. Roberts had a draftable grade by the Bucs whereas Sanders didn’t, and he was given much more guaranteed money ($300,000) than Sanders ($1,572).

Roberts also has more versatility, as he’s being cross-trained to play nickelback in addition to free and strong safety. Sanders is mostly a strong safety that can also play free safety, but doesn’t have the ideal speed (4.52) to play deep like Roberts does (4.43). Yet Sanders has some real intangibles and is a heavy hitter. The battle for safety No. 5 on the depth chart will come down to preseason performance, especially on special teams.

FAB 5. 5 Critical Camp Questions On Coaching/Special Teams

I’ll end this special Bucs training camp edition of SR’s FAB 5 with a few questions about the Bucs coaching staff and special teams.

21. Will We See More Press Coverage In Camp?

Head coach Todd Bowles has said that he wants to see his corners play closer to wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and not give up the ridiculous amount of cushion that they did last year. Cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross was having his players play more press man coverage in the OTAs and in the mini-camp, so that’s a good sign.

Whether the corners show press at the line of scrimmage and bail into zone or wind up playing press man, tighter coverage should result in more pass breakups and interceptions and fewer easy completions. There is more competition at cornerback this year with the arrival of Day 2 picks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish and veteran Kindle Vildor, so any cornerback who gives up too much cushion in camp could slide down the depth chart.

22. Is Josh Grizzard Ready For His Shot At Calling Plays?

The Bucs have had four different play-callers on offense over the past four years. Dave Canales, who was Byron Leftwich’s replacement, became the head coach in Carolina after one year in Tampa Bay in 2023. His replacement last year, Liam Coen, became the head coach in Jacksonville. Now it’s Josh Grizzard’s turn to step and keep Tampa Bay’s high-powered offense humming at 30 points per game.

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard and OL coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With the success Canales and Coen have had, Todd Bowles has been a kingmaker at finding capable play-callers. Grizzard has the same trait that both of his predecessors had – little to no play-calling experience. Bowles has become a master at getting inexperienced offensive coordinators ready by doing unscripted call-it periods in practice, and Grizzard will get plenty of reps doing that in camp. Time will tell how effective it will be and if Grizzard will truly be ready for his moment at Atlanta in Week 1.

23. Who Emerges As Tampa Bay’s Punt Returner?

The Bucs will have an open competition for the punt return duties this year after Trey Palmer underwhelmed in that role last year. Palmer, who fell out of favor with offensive coordinator Liam Coen and slid down the receiver depth chart as a result, averaged just 8.8 yards per return with a long of 17 yards despite being one of the fastest Bucs with 4.33 speed. He’ll be in the competition this year, but can’t be viewed as the favorite.

Newcomers Tez Johnson and Emeka Egbuka are in the mix, and Johnson has a lot of experience returning punts in college. He’s viewed as the current favorite heading into camp. Others battling for the punt return job include Kam Johnson, who has a real shot at winning it too, as well as Garrett Greene, an undrafted free agent wide receiver. Winning this role will be key for one young Buccaneer’s chances of making the 53-man roster as a reserve.

24. Who Wins The Kick Returner Next To Sean Tucker?

Bucky Irving was the Bucs’ best kick returner last year, averaging 29.3 yards per return. But once he emerged as the starting running back, he was removed from kick return duties. Sean Tucker will be the primary returner, as he averaged 27.3 yards per return, but Tampa Bay will need to find another returner to line up alongside him.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Todd Bowles prefers running backs as kick returners, and Rachaad White, D.J. Williams and rookie Josh Williams will be in the mix. But special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey will also audition wide receivers. Rookies Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson will factor into the competition, as will Rakim Jarrett and Kam Johnson. This will be quite the competition for one return spot in camp and the preseason.

25. Will Veteran Riley Dixon Be Challenged By Jake Julien For The Punter Job?

Riley Dixon, a 32-year old punter with nine years of experience, signed a two-year, $6 million deal with $3 million in guaranteed money. The fact that he spent some years in New York working with special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, his experience and his contract guarantees signal that the punter job is Dixon’s to lose in training camp. The Bucs went through three punters last year and could definitely use some stability there.

But Jake Julien was signed from the CFL and has a booming leg. He’s 26 and has a longer shelf life in the league as a result. Conventional wisdom says that Dixon wins the job and Julien winds up on the practice squad if both perform as expected in camp and in the preseason. Yet if Julien truly impresses and beats out Dixon the team doesn’t really have any allegiance to the veteran and the roles could be reversed. This is a sneaky training camp battle to keep an eye on this summer.