Pewter Report's Bucs Training Camp coverage is presented by USF Football
Get your season tickets to see the Bulls by CLICKING HERE
The 2025 season kicks off Thursday, August 28 at 5:30 p.m. against Boise State!

When Tez Johnson was made the Bucs' seventh-round pick back in April, most expected him to be strictly a return specialist. Profiling as shifty stick of dynamite, it made sense. Johnson looked the part when he made his first punt return against the Steelers last Saturday, displaying his elusiveness during a 37-yard return.

Then things changed.

With wide receivers Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan out to begin the year — likely for the first four games — other guys now need to step up in the room.

"We're going to need guys to step up," Head coach Todd Bowles said on Tuesday. "With Chris down and then Jalen going down, a lot of guys have stepped up and we [have] got to see them step up even more so. The depth was well needed and [there are] still some decisions to make after this game against Buffalo."

All of this points back to Johnson, with Bowles taking time on Wednesday to discuss how the former Oregon Duck has developed within Josh Grizzard's offense. For Johnson, now is his time to shine in the last preseason game this Saturday night if he wants to be involved and play a pivotal role behind wide receivers Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka.

Tez Johnson Got His Feet Wet Last Week, Can He Catch Up In Bucs' WR Race?

Tez Johnson had the expected rookie ups and downs last week. After his aforementioned punt return, Johnson muffed an ensuing return that the Steelers recovered just outside of the red zone that led to a short touchdown drive.

Bucs WR-PR Tez Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

It was not perfect, but to running back (and Johnson's former Oregon teammate) Bucky Irving, he believes that "Tez" played well.

He just has to stop overthinking and settle in.

"He played pretty well," Irving said. "He has got to stop thinking so much and just realize this is a game we have all played our whole life. I feel like once he just settles down and realizes this is a game we have played since we were kids, he will be on the right track and do a great job."

It often takes time for NFL rookies to get their feet under them. In Johnson's case, he suffered a leg injury during training camp that kept him out of the preseason opener. When he has practiced, he has capitalized on his opportunities. In particular, he received an increased workload during Wednesday's practice session and stood out.

Will that translate to having more involvement in an offense missing two of its top wide receivers?

Bucs WRs Tez Johnson (83) and Kam Johnson (19)- Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

"Depends on how much he can learn," Todd Bowles said. "We still have to see him again against Buffalo. He got his feet wet last week and he's got to grasp the offense. He's been out for a while, so he's still on a learning curve right now. But we'll see how much he can take in and see how well he does on game day on Saturday."

Behind Mike Evans and first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, the depth chart gets murkier. Sterling Shepard is the presumed WR3, even if that means he starts the year on the practice squad and gets elevated to the active roster due to contract reasons. Johnson will make the team after being a draft pick and his return ability being much needed.

It then will be a fight after him, with Ryan Miller, Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett, Kameron Johnson, Dennis Houston, Jacob Harris, Garrett Greene, and Jaden Smith all competing for just one or two spots on the Bucs 53-man roster.

Tez Johnson Fits Right In With Bucs WRs Mike Evans And Emeka Egbuka

Mike Evans is putting the finishing touches on one of his best training camps as a Buccaneer. Even though Evans turns 32 years old today, do not let the age fool you. M1K3 remains the top dog, and as the veteran in the wide receiver room, he likes what he sees in Tez Johnson.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

"That is my guy, man, Evans said last month. "With the ball in his hands, he is a crazy athlete. He catches the ball really well for a smaller, faster guy. Because a lot of smaller guys do not have the best hands, but he has really good hands. [He is] super positive, a fun guy, very down to earth. He knows a lot about the stuff I like, so we will listen to old music in [the locker room], and he knows about that."

Not only has Johnson gotten a stamp of approval from Evans, but he is also forming quite the bond with fellow rookie Emeka Egbuka.

"Me and Tez are building a super close relationship — probably too close, he's my roommate right now so I hear him snore every night," Egbuka mentioned last month. "He's a dynamic athlete, super fun to watch with the ball in his hands just like lightning in a bottle when he gets [the ball]. I think he's already made four or five defenders miss this camp and everyone hits one of those, 'Oohs,' like that every time he gets the ball.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson and CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

"Learning how to be more creative in my route craft from watching him and me helping him in any way I can with whatever he may need help with. We're becoming a close-knit group, not just me and Tez but me, Tez and our other rookie wide receiver Garrett Greene. We're kind of all learning the playbook and doing the rookie thing right now. It's been going great."

For Tez Johnson, Saturday night's preseason finale against the Bills presents a chance for him to star. It will mainly be backups out there fighting for the final roster spots, but it is Johnson's last chance to climb up the wide receiver pecking order. Although small in stature at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, that did not stop him from having a productive college career. After spending his first three years at Troy, transferring to Oregon put him on the map and he proved to be a productive playmaker, recording 169 receptions, 2,080 yards, and 20 touchdowns across 2023-2024.

Now possessing the chance to do more than returning kicks and punts, he is one player to watch closely.