The Bucs were back on the practice fields at the AdventHealth Training Center early Tuesday morning, getting some more work in ahead of Wednesday’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. Under partly cloudy skies and fighting through a short spell of rain, Tampa Bay had a bit of a longer practice, though the team was in shorts and helmets before the competition ramps up tomorrow with another team in town.

Following Wednesday’s practice with the Dolphins, the Bucs will shift their attention toward Friday night’s preseason finale against Miami at Raymond James Stadium.

Pewter Report’s Matt Matera, Bailey Adams and Isaiah Delgado were in attendance for Tuesday’s practice. Here are their observations.

Bucs Who Were Not Practicing

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

The group of Bucs watching from the sideline on Tuesday was similar to the group from Monday. Wide receivers Rakim Jarrett and Raleigh Webb, quarterback John Wolford, cornerback Tyrek Funderburk, safeties Jordan Whitehead, Kaevon Merriweather and Christian Izien, running back Chase Edmonds, outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, defensive tackle Greg Gaines and offensive tackle Justin Skule were all held out.

Notably, though, Tampa Bay did have three players practicing in a limited capacity. SirVocea Dennis was once again sporting a black no-contact jersey, while Sterling Shepard and Devin Culp were also in black no-contact jerseys themselves. Culp missed Monday’s practice, but it was good to see the rookie already back at it on Tuesday even in a limited capacity.

Undrafted rookie outside linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr., who dealt with an injury early on in training camp, walked off the field early in Tuesday’s practice.

It Was A Big Day For The Bucs’ Stars

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As training camp winds down, the preseason finale approaches and the regular season opener on Sept. 8 gets closer and closer, the Bucs’ biggest stars are starting to look more and more ready. Tuesday’s practice may have been lighter in that the team was only in shorts and helmets and didn’t have the type of contact that comes with full pads, but it was still a big day for some of Tampa Bay’s bigger names.

In the team’s 11-on-11 period, Baker Mayfield found Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and rookie Jalen McMillan with regularity, opening first by finding Evans and then hitting Godwin. McMillan later made a nice catch near the sideline before the team’s top two receivers got in on the action even more. Late in practice during the red zone period, Mayfield and Godwin connected for a touchdown.

It was more than the Buccaneer receiving corps getting in on the action, though. Mayfield also found running back Rachaad White wide open in space on play, with no defender near him. In a live setting, White may have gone 50-plus yards to the end zone untouched. Rookie running back Bucky Irving also had a couple of elusive runs, showing off his speed and ability to change direction. And third-year tight end Cade Otton continued his strong camp as well, catching a pass from Mayfield in traffic.

A big theme of the day for the Bucs offense was space. Evans, Godwin, McMillan, Otton and White were all wide open with space to make plays on multiple occasions. It was great sight to see as the group further masters new offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s system.

The big star of the defense for the day was Calijah Kancey, who returned to practice on Monday after missing some time. He had a would-be sack during 11-on-11s, then had two big wins when the defensive line squared off with the offensive line in 1-on-1s. On one rep, he blew right by rookie guard Elijah Klein, beating him with a lightning-quick first step that Klein never recovered from. The other win came against second-year guard Cody Mauch, who fared better than Klein but still lost the rep to a dominant Kancey.

Observations And Highlights From Day 17 Of Bucs Camp

Bucs OLB Chris Braswell – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Here are some quick-hitting observations from Tampa Bay’s 17th training camp practice:

• Calijah Kancey didn’t win ALL of his reps on the day, as left guard Ben Bredeson held up nicely in the opening rep of the 1-on-1 period.

• In that same 1-on-1 period between the offensive and defensive lines, Tristan Wirfs shut down Jose Ramirez, Cody Mauch held off C.J. Brewer, Will Gholston dominated Ryan Johnson, Robert Hainsey won a rep against Logan Hall and Vita Vea dominated Xavier Delgado.

• Also of note in the 1-on-1 period, rookie outside linebacker Chris Braswell beat Tristan Wirfs with an inside move. The needle continues to point up for the former Alabama pass rusher as camp nears its final days.

• Chris McDonald Jr. had the lone turnover in Tuesday’s practice, intercepting Kyle Trask during 11-on-11s.

• Later in 11-on-11s, rookie defensive back Tykee Smith knocked down a Trask pass at the line of scrimmage.

• Following practice, head coach Todd Bowles officially named 2024 first-round pick Graham Barton the Bucs’ starting center.

#Bucs HC Todd Bowles on naming Graham Barton as the team’s starting center. pic.twitter.com/S5PJWBuSna

— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) August 20, 2024