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With heavy rain across the Tampa Bay area early Sunday morning, Day 4 of Bucs training camp shifted to the indoor practice facility at the AdventHealth Training Center.

Tampa Bay was in shells for Sunday’s practice ahead of Monday’s fully padded practice – the team’s first of camp.

So with practice indoors and safe from the elements, did that favor the Bucs offense? Not exactly. Todd Bowles’ defense was all over the offense for much of the morning, winning the day in a big way.

Pewter Report was on hand for all the action at One Buc Place. Here are the big observations and takeaways from Day 4.

Bucs Defense Wins Sunday With Sacks, INTs

After Baker Mayfield had a particularly impressive practice Friday, it looked as if the Bucs defense regrouped during the team’s day off on Saturday. Because Sunday largely belonged to that side of the ball.

It felt like there was a concerted effort from offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to air it out a little more on Sunday and take some deep shots down the field. However, whatever he was looking to accomplish in that department fell flat as Mayfield and the Tampa Bay quarterbacks couldn’t connect on anything deep, nor could they escape the pressure that the defense was bringing.

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

Tampa Bay got would-be sacks from seemingly everyone. David Walker had an especially big day, while Rueben Bain Jr., Yaya Diaby, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Chris Braswell all made plays in the backfield as well. Even on some of the completed passes early in 11-on-11s, the Bucs defense would’ve had sacks to end those plays well before they turned into anything for the offense.

It wasn’t just the sacks that won the day for the Buccaneer defense. Tampa Bay’s secondary also came up with several pass breakups and then stole the show with two interceptions. On one Mayfield deep ball intended for Jalen McMillan, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. went up and won the 1-on-1 battle, taking the ball away for an impressive interception.

Not long after, Yasir Holmes pressured Jake Browning into a poor throw right into the waiting hands of newly signed safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. Melifonwu had an impressive tackle for loss earlier in practice, too, and this easy interception added to what felt a little like his coming-out party as a Buccaneer.

Unsung Training Camp Stars Begin To Emerge?

Every August, training camp and preseason stars emerge. These aren’t your everyday, big-name stars. Some may be undrafted rookies, while others may be veteran journeymen.

Granted, the Bucs are only four practices into camp and have yet to put on full pads. But they had one undrafted rookie and one veteran really stand out Sunday. So perhaps Tampa Bay is starting to see some of its potential 2026 camp/preseason stars emerge.

In terms of a standout undrafted rookie, the Bucs saw inside linebacker Caden Fordham put together an impressive practice. There were quite a few different looks throughout the morning in terms of some second- and third-team defenders mixing in with the starters against the starting offense, and that’s where Fordham shined.

Bucs ILB Caden Fordham – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jaylynn Nash

The rookie out of North Carolina State made his biggest plays of the day in quick succession during a red zone period. On one, he came flying into the backfield for what would’ve been a sack of quarterback Baker Mayfield. Soon after, Mayfield had Chris Godwin Jr. open for a touchdown right at the goal line, but Fordham came from out of nowhere to knock the ball away for an impressive pass breakup.

Tampa Bay has Alex Anzalone, Josiah Trotter, SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom leading the way at inside linebacker, so it might be tough for Fordham to crack the 53-man roster out of training camp. However, he should get a lot of playing time in the preseason and could turn into the type of standout performer that the Bucs want to keep around on the practice squad. It happened with two undrafted rookie linebackers last year in Nick Jackson and John Bullock, and it could happen again here with Fordham.

As far as the standout veteran from Sunday’s practice, he came from the other side of the football. That was 30-year-old wide receiver David Sills V, who is off to a great start in camp thus far. He had three touchdowns Sunday morning, with one coming on a crosser over the middle of the field that led to a long catch and run and the other two coming in the red zone period. He has proven to have a strong connection already with backup quarterback Jake Browning, and with Tampa Bay’s top receivers unlikely to see much time in exhibition play – if any – Sills could be a big factor.

Bucs WR David Sills V – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Sills, who is on his fifth team since 2019, is looking to grab the final receiver spot on the 53-man roster. It’ll be tough sledding, considering Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson and Ted Hurst already make up 1-5 and Kam Johnson has the inside track to be the No. 6 given his special teams role.

But if Sills continues to star in camp, he’s another practice squad candidate, especially given his experience in Zac Robinson’s system and the influence he can have on a young receiver room.

Other Observations And Takeaways From Day 4 Of Bucs Camp

Here are some quick-hitting observations and takeaways from a rainy Sunday at One Buc Place:

• Veteran safety/special teams ace Miles Killebrew, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury from a year ago at 33 years old, got a veteran day off Sunday, head coach Todd Bowles said. The fact that the team practiced inside on the turf contributed to that decision, too.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and S Miles Killebrew – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

• Vita Vea remained sidelined for Sunday’s practice, but was in attendance once again. Tristan Wirfs eventually made his way to the indoor practice facility to watch the latter stages of practice, too. Bowles had no updates on either of his injured stars after practice.
• When the Bucs worked through one of their special teams periods, second-year cornerbacks Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison went outside to go through some more individual drills.
• SirVocea Dennis played tight coverage on Cade Otton for a pass breakup in 11-on-11s, then Damarion Williams came up with a pass breakup of his own on Emeka Egbuka shortly after. Josh Hayes then got in on the action with a near-interception after stepping in front of a Jake Browning pass intended for Ted Hurst.
• Williams had another pass breakup earlier in practice, knocking a deep Baker Mayfield pass away from Jalen McMillan for an incompletion.
• Baker Mayfield and the other Buccaneer quarterbacks couldn’t get the deep ball going whatsoever in Sunday’s practice.
• With that said, both Mayfield and backup Jake Browning were effective down low in the red zone period.
• The Bucs will return to the practice fields Monday morning for their first fully padded practice of camp.