The Bucs continued their training camp before the first preseason game this weekend with their 11th practice of the 2024 season. The first half of practice took place outside where it was hot and slightly cloudy, but with a nice breeze. However, the weather started to turn ominous, sounding off the lightning sirens throughout the Bucs’ facility, so Tampa Bay moved to the indoor facility for the latter half of practice.

The Bucs wore shoulder pads and shorts during practice, though it still felt as if the physically was at a high level. Thing got chippy at the beginning of practice before cooler heads prevailed once they felt the cooler air hit inside.

Pewter Report’s Matt Matera, Adam Slivon and Isaiah Delgado were in attendance this morning. Here were their observations.

Bucs Who Were Not Practicing

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

It was essentially status quo once again for Bucs players that did not participate on Wednesday. Strong safety Jordan Whitehead, inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, outside linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr, wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Kameron Johnson and running back Chase Edmonds were all out again.

Outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka stuck to the same routine he’s had over the last two days of wearing his helmet and pads and doing individual drills but not participating in 11-on-11 periods. Given how long all of these players have been out it would be very surprising if any of these players were available for Saturday’s preseason game.

Fellow outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, who won’t be ready until after the preseason due to a high ankle sprain, was once again with his teammates watching them practice not wearing a boot or any type of ankle brace, which is a good sign.

Baker Mayfield Baked – Inside And Out

After a sluggish performance on Tuesday with several turnovers, Baker Mayfield was on point during Wednesday’s practice session. He did not turn over the football nor did he even put the ball in harms way. It didn’t matter whether the Bucs were inside or outside today, Mayfield was hot and in a groove, finding great production with several different receivers.

Of course it wouldn’t be a 2024 Bucs’ training camp practice if Mayfield didn’t connect with Mike Evans for the first the big play. As the Bucs began 11-on-11s in the red zone, Mayfield hit Evans right on the nose for a 25-yard  touchdown down the right side of the end zone. The ball was thrown with fantastic touch as it just sailed enough over the head of cornerback Zyon McCollum but before the safety could get over to stop it.

On the very next play Mayfield targeted Chris Godwin for another accurate ball on the left side of the end zone that was caught for another score. Just a couple of plays later, it was Cade Otton’s turn to score a touchdown, as Mayfield found him over the middle, continuing a string of days where tight ends have ruled in the red zone. Right before the Bucs went inside, he had another 15-yard connection with Evans against the defensive starters.

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

The only negative from Mayfield that came from outside was that he hit his thumb on a teammate’s helmet after throwing a pass. While he shook the thumb briefly, he continued to practice and didn’t slow down.

Practiced moved indoors and Mayfield was still in the zone. He immediately found Evans for a first down. During the next session of 11-on-11s, Mayfield connected with Otton on three completions in a span of four plays. It’s become apparent how comfortable Mayfield feels with his top targets.

Then it was time for Trey Palmer to get in on the fun, as he and Mayfield teamed up for the highlight of the day – a deep ball down the field in which Palmer caught the ball in stride and then ran another 45 yards down the field for a touchdown. Palmer, who is known for his speed, left everybody by the wayside as he sprinted into the end zone without anyone near him. Palmer absolutely launched the ball up top by the scoreboard inside in celebration. Palmer and Mayfield connected for another 15-yard gain later on.

Mayfield’s last exclamation point to Wednesday’s practice came in goal line at the end of practice finding Evans yet again for another touchdown. Their timing looks leaps and bounds better than even it was during the regular season. Keep in mind that Evans was tied for the league lead in touchdowns last year. They can be even better in year two together.

Kyle Trask Finds A New Favorite Target

Bucs QBs Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask and OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

At the beginning of training camp Kyle Trask and Sterling Shepard became a dynamic duo, connecting on several splash plays and touchdowns. Shepard has been out the past couple of days, but it appears Trask has found a new tag team partner in wide receiver Cody Thompson.

Trask hasn’t always been known for pushing the ball down the field or trying to make the big play. However, something got into him Wednesday. When Tampa Bay was outside, Trask stood in the face of pressure and fired off a deep ball that was caught for a huge gain by Thompson. There’s an argument to be made that edge rusher Jose Ramirez might have gotten to Trask for a sack, but even seeing Trask’s willingness to take a shot down the field was welcomed.

In quite a similar play where oddly enough Ramirez was closing in again, Trask found Thompson on a crosser where he ended up on the right side for a gain of over 35 yards on the throw-and-catch. Trask wasn’t perfect on the day as he ended up throwing two interceptions, which we’ll get to in a moment. But the fact that he has found chemistry with Thompson in the way he had with Shepard builds more intrigue as to how they’ll do together in the first preseason game, which is Saturday in Cincinnati.

More Bucs DBs Get Their First INTs

Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

We at Pewter Report have paid close attention to all the interceptions and turnovers that have been caused by the defense so far in training camp. On Wednesday, we can add three more players to the list of Bucs’ with picks this camp as each of them recorded their first of the summer.

All of these interceptions occurred inside the indoor practice facility and the first came at the hands of safety Kaevon Merriweather on a throw from Kyle Trask. Merriweather was in zone coverage in the middle of the field as Trask overthrew the receiver and Merriweather pounced on it. He’s had a nice camp so far since coming back from injury.

Two plays later, rookie undrafted free agent cornerback Tyrek Funderburk got his first of training camp off of third-string QB John Wolford. Funderburk showed a thrilling display of athleticism leaping up into the air near the right sideline as Wolford attempted to throw it over his head and get it to the receiver. It felt like Funderburk was in the air for several minutes, and it’s easy to see why Todd Bowles is a fan of his.

Towards the end of practice during a goal line drill, second-year defensive back Josh Hayes picked off Trask in the end zone. It was a poor decision by Trask and unknown he was looking for, but Hayes dropped an interception the other day so it was good to see him hold onto it.

Observations And Highlights From Day 11 Of Bucs Camp

Bucs C Graham Barton and DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

• Rookie defensive back Tykee Smith had a sack on Baker Mayfield blitzing off the edge. Clearly the ankle injury isn’t bothering him too much and it was good to see him continue to show off another aspect of his game for how he’ll help the Bucs this season.

• Outside linebacker Jose Ramirez had a slow start to camp but he’s really come on the last couple of days. He keeps causing pressure right around the quarterback that would prevent some plays from happening in the pocket if there was live tackling. Ramirez is still behind Markees Watts in terms of chance to make the team, but he’s making progress.

• Center Graham Barton got work with the starters and Baker Mayfield today. He snaps were clean, which was good to see after some recent struggles.

• Barton also had to match up against Vita Vea in one-on-one pass blocking drills. Vea hit him with a swim move that he wasn’t ready for, but held on his own during a later rep. That’s going to happen against Vea but there’s not many better to go up against in practice throughout the league.

• Other notable lineman matchups in one-on-ones including left tackle Tristan Wirfs shutting down rookie outside linebacker Chris Braswell, but Braswell rebounded against reserve tackle Brandon Walton. Also defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and left guard Ben Bredeson had a good back-and-forth battle.

The Bucs will have one more practice on Thursday before having Friday off to travel to Cincinnati to play against the Bengals this Saturday.