The Bucs returned to practice on Sunday after a day off and were in full pads. For the second time in training camp, Tampa Bay practiced in their indoor facility from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bucs Not Practicing Today

DT Calijah Kancey

Kancey continues to be out as he recovers from a calf injury. The good news is that he’s out of his boot and hopefully can return by the start of the regular season.

C Ryan Jensen

The Bucs have continued their plan with easing Jensen along. He did not participate but will most likely be good to go for Monday’s practice.

OT Raiqwon O’Neal 

O’Neal was wearing a walking boot on his left foot. His injury presumably occurred during Friday night’s preseason game against the Steelers.

Three Bucs Rookies Held Out

Outside linebackers YaYa Diaby and Jose Ramirez in addition to inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis were not practicing on Sunday. Diaby injured his ankle in the second quarter on Friday night and Tampa Bay kept him out him on Sunday for precautionary reasons. Todd Bowles said after practice that Diaby, Ramirez and Dennis were just sore and will be fine. They played most of the game so that warranted an extra day off.

Mike Evans Puts On A Show

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo By: Cliff Welch/PR

Mike Evans has been having a great training camp. Even knowing this, Evans still finds ways to amaze those that get to watch him. Evans got off to a hot start right out of the gate on Sunday by catching a pass from Baker Mayfield and turning it up the field for a 30-yard gain. That set the tone for the rest of his practice.

The big highlight moment came later on in a separate 11-on-11 session. At the offense’s own 20-yard line with the whole field to go, Mayfield connected on a deep ball down the field that Evans caught and ran the rest of the way for a touchdown. It’ll go down as an 80-yard touchdown as Evans beat rookie cornerback Keenan Isaac and safety Avery Young for the big score.

After another 20-plus yard gain on a throw by Mayfield, Evans showed why he’s so difficult to cover when he’s 1-on-1. We had a Galveston vs. Galveston matchup as cornerback Zyon McCollum was lined up across from Evans. Mayfield threw a beautiful back shoulder pass that Evans jumped up to catch while staying in bounds on the right side. McCollum had solid coverage on the play, but it was just great ball from Mayfield and an even better catch from Evans.

Baker Mayfield Looks Dialed In

If Friday’s preseason game was a spark for Baker Mayfield to begin separating himself from the quarterback competition, he definitely took a step in the right direction on Sunday. There weren’t many footballs that hit the ground when Mayfield was in at quarterback. Mayfield’s chemistry with Evans was off the charts but he hit some good passes to the likes of Trey Palmer as well.

Mayfield looks like he has a firm grasp of the offense and where to go with the football. One of the knocks on Mayfield for his previous play is that he tries to do too much. That wasn’t the case on Sunday as the ball was being moved everywhere. Momentum built time after time when Mayfield was in.

There was a blemish on Mayfield’s record as he was intercepted by safety Ryan Neal over the middle. Mayfield’s interception number has been high in practice, but if he plays like he did during the preseason game he’ll be starting when the Bucs hit the road in Week 1 for the regular season.

Kyle Trask’s Touchdown Throw Makes Up For Average Practice

Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Photo By: Cliff Welch P/R

Kyle Trask had a fairly average day at quarterback. He has committed to scrambling a lot more when the opportunity presents itself but Trask held onto the ball a lot more in this practice. He was sacked a few times because of it, but there also weren’t many lanes to get into in order to extend plays. Credit the defense floor closing those down.

There short and intermediate throws that were completed, but Trask really only had one pass that was over 20 yards. Something seemed a little off from him in practice, whether it was holding onto the ball for too long or settling for the last option, there weren’t many explosive plays to document.

Without a doubt the best moment for Trask came in 11-on-11s later in practice where he helped march the offense drive all the way down the field. Getting into the red zone area, Trask rolled out to his right and found wide receiver Kade Warner in the end zone for a touchdown. It was a great throw with solid touch putting the ball over the defenders but properly on the spot for Warner to get it.

Bucs Defense Brings The Noise

While there were some highlight moments for the Bucs offense, don’t let that distract you from a great day by the defense. There was a session in the middle of practice where it felt like the Bucs were in the backfield for a “would be” sack on almost every snap.

Bucs DT Logan Hall – Photo By Cliff Welch P/R

Outside linebacker Markees Watts, spring-boarded from his strip-sack on Friday night’s game, recorded a hat trick of sacks this afternoon. Anthony Nelson, who also had a nice game, stood out by having two sacks with one on each side of the line.

“Nelson has been very consistent,” Todd Bowles said after practice. “He’s not the fastest and he doesn’t look the strongest and he has kind of a baby face, but he’s been steady since he’s been here. He’s very strong at the point, he’s a very good technician – getting after the passer – not to say more or less the speed guys or the power guys.

“He can do a little of both – he’s very deceptive that way. We use him quite a bit. We consider him a 1A, 1B type of starter, even if he’s not starting. He’s reliable, he knows what he’s doing all the time and he’s always solid. You don’t hear about him enough because he’s always in the right place.”

Other players that got to the quarterbacks in time for a sacks were outside linebackers Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, defensive tackle Logan Hall, defensive back Josh Hayes and safeties Anotine Winfield Jr. and Kedrick Whitehead Jr. on blitzes. Todd Bowles dialed up a heavy amount of blitz calls and the Bucs delivered by providing a ton of pressure throughout the afternoon.

The fact that Barrett, JTS and Hall were the ones making plays is a welcoming sign. Each of these players have been in a lot of discussion for what they’re production will look like this season.

Ryan Neal had an interception off Mayfield and the Bucs also forced two fumbles, with one being recovered by Chris Izien. An all around great outing for the whole defense as a unit.

Bucs Practice Observations

Kurt Warner, Brenda Warner and Ronde Barber – Photo By Cliff Welch P/R

• Kade Warner’s touchdown was even more special as he was able to make the play in front of his parents. NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and his wife Branda were in attendance to watch their son, Kade, and the Bucs. Kurt Warner had a conversation with Todd Bowles and also viewed practice along side recent Hall of Fame inductee Ronde Barber.

• The inside linebackers were getting to the ball as well with Lavonte David and Brandon Bouyer-Randle had pass breakups during 7-on-7s.

• Wide receiver Russell Gage was the one that fumbled when it was recovered by Izien. He ripped his helmet off in anger over his miscue.

• Tampa Bay’s run game faltered during their preseason contest, but they pulled off two straight 20-yard rushes in a row. One was by Rachaad White and the other by Ke’Shawn Vaughn. White had a brief injury scare at the end of practice. He fell after taking a handoff and came up limping. He seemed okay after as he stayed on the sideline chatting with teammates. After practice Bowles wasn’t concerned, and White took to his X account and said he’s fine. We’ll see if he practices on Monday.