The Bucs kicked off their 2023 training camp at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa under sunny skies and warm conditions. Temperatures were in the upper 80s with a light breeze. It wasn’t cool, but it’s certainly been hotter in camp before.

Every Bucs player was in attendance for the start of training camp. Inside linebacker Devin White took the practice field for the first time this year as a full participant. The team wasn’t exactly sure if he was going to participate or not, but White wisely took the field and put his contract squabble with Tampa Bay behind him to focus on the 2023 season.

Bucs Not Practicing Today

WR Russell Gage

Bucs WR Russell Gage – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Gage was the only non-participant in Wednesday’s practice. It has been revealed that Gage pulled a hamstring back in May and missed all of the OTAs and the mandatory mini-camp. He is expected to miss the first week of training camp and return to action next week.

Gage is not necessarily in danger of losing his roster spot as he took a pay cut to remain with the team, saving the team $3 million in cap space, but having his $7 million for this season guaranteed. Yet if Gage doesn’t return to action soon and perform well he could slide down the team’s depth chart. The Bucs are very high on second-year player Deven Thompkins, as well as sixth-round pick Trey Palmer. Both figure to make the roster.

Tampa Bay is also high on a trio of undrafted free agents in Rakim Jarrett, Kade Warner and Taye Barber. Kaylon Geiger, who spent much of last season on the practice squad, is also in the mix.

Shaq Barrett Returns To Action

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett and ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

One of the biggest – and most pleasant – surprises was seeing outside linebacker Shaq Barrett on the field moving around effortlessly. It was not a surprise to see Barrett practice, as he passed his pre-camp physical. But Barrett wasn’t limited in any way on the first day of camp, and even took part in 11-on-11 team drills.

Barrett looked incredibly fluid cutting and dropping into coverage in pass drop drills. Perhaps most importantly, Barrett did not look tentative at all in charging off the line of scrimmage or twisting or turning his foot. He played without hesitation and appears to be well ahead of schedule, which is great news for Todd Bowles and the defense.

“He looked fine,” Bowles said after practice. “He looked good. He ran around good. It’s the first day, we’ll see as time goes on but I think he’s in good shape.”

Baker Mayfield Enters Camp As The Starter

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and NT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It was no surprise that veteran Baker Mayfield took the starter reps on Wednesday as he continues to build on a good showing in the OTAs and mini-camp. One of the things that sets Mayfield apart from Kyle Trask is his leadership qualities. He goes out of his way to bond with his teammates and decided to do the early-practice calisthenics next to nose tackle Vita Vea and defensive tackle Logan Hall instead of with the offensive players.

Mayfield was joined by running back Rachaad White as the only offensive players wearing white jerseys in a sea of red defensive players doing the stretching and running portion of practice. That’s one of the reasons why Mayfield is earning the respect of the Bucs players – and not just those on offense.

At the start of the initial 11-on-11 practice period, Mayfield used play-action and found a wide-open Cade Otton for a gain of 30-plus yards down the field. Mayfield had a reasonably good start to camp and avoided turnovers, but Trask’s day was equally good as he took fewer snaps than Mayfield did on Wednesday. Trask’s best throw was a laser to Chris Godwin in between two defenders in the first 11-on-11 period.

Ryan Jensen, Aaron Stinnie Held Out Of Team Drills

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As was the case during the OTAs and mini-camps, both starting center Ryan Jensen and reserve guard Aaron Stinnie participated in individual drills, but were held out of 11-on-11 team drills. Both Jensen and Stinnie are recovering from season-ending knee injuries last year and will be eased into team drills over time during this year’s camp.

Jensen hurt his knee last year on the second day of training camp when a teammate was blocked to the ground and landed on his knee. Jensen missed all of the regular season and then was pressed into duty to start for the team’s playoff game against Dallas. Stinnie tore his ACL in the second preseason game at Tennessee last year.

Robert Hainsey, who started all 17 games during the regular season last year, was the starting center during 11-on-11s on Wednesday with Nick Leverett working with the second string.

Bucs Practice Observations

• Undrafted rookie free agent running back Sean Tucker got his first work with the Bucs after missing the entire offseason due to a heart ailment. Tucker looked smooth in his limited work as he has some catching up to do with regards to learning the offense. But the running back who looked very good was second-string runner Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who was decisive with his cuts and seems to be a tick quicker this year. Vaughn also made a nice toe-tap sideline catch on a short pass from Baker Mayfield in 11-on-11.

• Second-year wide receiver Deven Thompkins looked blazing fast on a catch-and-run reception across the middle, in addition to taking an end around for a big gain. Thompkins’ instant acceleration is rare and he figures to be a unique toy that offensive coordinator Dave Canales can play with this year in a variety of ways.

• Rookie tight end Payne Durham had the chance to haul in a nice, intermediate pass during 11-on-11s but heard footsteps from second-year safety Nolan Turner and lost his concentration and dropped the ball. Turner drew praise from head coach Todd Bowles for his progress this offseason.

Bucs DT Logan Hall – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

• Several Bucs looked noticeably bigger at the start of training camp. Backup center Robert Hainsey is up to 305 pounds after playing around 300 pounds last year. Hainsey has been hitting the weights hard this year. Defensive tackle Logan Hall also looks beefier as he’s close to 300 pounds. And fellow defensive tackle Pat O’Connor, whom Will Gholston called “The Incredible Hulk with a beard,” also looks more muscle-bound this year.

• In the first round of kicking competition at training camp, Chase McLaughlin was 3-of-4 on his field goals with his lone miss coming from 53 yards. That kick was wide right and short, and a bit of a surprise considering that McLaughlin is known for having a big leg. Newcomer Rodrigo Blankenship was perfect on all four of his attempts, including his 53-yarder.

• Rookie defensive tackle Calijah Kancey was incredibly disruptive in his first camp practice. The Bucs’ first-round pick just about lived in the backfield on Wednesday, either beating his man 1-on-1 or splitting double teams. The pads don’t come on until Sunday, but Kancey’s quickness is like no other on Tampa Bay’s defensive line.

• The Bucs are once again wearing Guardian helmet caps in training camp for players who line up in the trenches – defensive linemen, outside linebackers, offensive linemen and tight ends. This year they’re black after being white last year. The NFL began the practice last year in camp to try to reduce the amount of concussions and head and neck injuries.