The 2026 NFL training camps have kicked off around the league, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' camp is taking place at the Advent Health Training Center in Tampa, Florida, and Buccaneers reporter Jenna Laine has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and of course the quarterback room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at Bucs camp. We will update this file often. We are looking at who are the breakout players to watch, especially for fantasy football, and which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Dive in to all the updates and be sure to check back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins Aug. 13.
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Latest new s from Bucs camp
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Sunday, Aug. 9
Rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst III made arguably the two biggest catches of the day -- both times were with the first-team offense and fans roared with approval. The first was an overlead leaping grab coming out of a trips formation with Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, with Hurst running a deep out and cornerback Josh Hayes in coverage. Hurst fell hard onto his back and it knocked the wind out of him, making him slow to get up as he was checked out by the training staff. Then during the red zone period, he caught a beautiful fade route for a touchdown with Jacob Parrish in coverage.
The Bucs' third-round draft pick out of Georgia State has gotten more opportunities with the first-team offense due to injuries for Jalen McMillan (knee) and Tez Johnson (groin) and said he feels like he's starting to turn the corner in terms of preparation and performance.
"[I'm] just trying to be myself and exploit and show that that's my game, going up, attacking the ball," Hurst said. "Lately, I feel like I haven't been doing that much, but it kind of starts in the morning. Getting up and coming in at 6:30 a.m., getting the walk-through in before we even get outside so I can just play [as] fast as I want to, not thinking out there on the field."
Other observations:
- Second-year outside linebacker David Walker, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, was once again a force in the backfield for the ninth consecutive day. Walker would have had a sack on Mayfield coming off the left side, as he's been getting work in with the first and second-team defense. Keep in mind though, that this was against backup Ben Chukwuma and not All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Outside linebacker YaYa Diaby also registered a would-be sack.
- Veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin caught several passes from quarterback Baker Mayfield, including one in red zone for a touchdown. He's looked healthy and energized throughout practices and we've seen him show some versatility in lining up all over the formation. "I think he is healthy right now," Bowles said of Godwin. "In the past he has been hurt the last two but he is a lot healthier right now and he is into it mentally he is sharp and he is tough, he understands that he is a great mentor to the guys. He is still a playmaker for us, and he makes big plays in the passing and blocking game. He is peaking at the right time."
- Safety Tykee Smith made an impressive stop on running back Bucky Irving during red zone work, blowing up the play for no gain which got everybody fired up on defense.
- In the red zone, wide receiver Dennis Houston, who, like Hurst, has made the most of some opportunities due to injuries, hauled in an impressive Jake Browning touchdown coming across the back of the end zone with Scott in coverage. The coaching staff has been really excited about Houston's speed and believes he may be one of, if not the fastest on their roster.
- Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and running back Kenneth Gainwell, who both missed Friday's practice due to personal reasons, returned Sunday.
- Still not practicing is cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury since minicamp. Earlier in the week, Bowles expressed hope that he may be able to do some things next week at joint practices at the New York Jets. But Sunday Bowles said, "He's the same as usual," so there has been no change.
Friday, Aug. 7
Quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with tight end Cade Otton on a slant route for a touchdown during a red-zone period. Meanwhile, cornerback Zyon McCollum intercepted Mayfield on a pass intended for Emeka Egbuka during the two-minute drill.
That's the kind of back and forth that coach Todd Bowles has coveted after the defense had a dominant day Thursday.
"I thought the offense started out very well," Bowles said. "I thought it was a lot more give and take today than it was yesterday. The energy was there and the intent was there. We still have some things to clean up. I think both sides made plays. One period, the offense won, one period, the defense won. There was a lot of back and forth, which is what you want to see, trying to make each other better."
Other observations:
Starting left tackle Tristan Wirfs still isn't practicing due to a hamstring injury. Bowles added, "If he's healthy, we'd like to work him back in. It doesn't matter how much. We're not just going to throw him in there and give him a whole bunch of reps, but we'll see how he looks in individual [periods]."
Running back Kenny Gainwell was excused from Friday's practice because of personal reasons, according to Bowles, as was the case for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Bowles said both would be back at practice Sunday as the team has Saturday off.
Rookie guard Billy Schrauth missed practice as well, with Bowles saying he's "kind of banged up" and "I don't know how long he'll be sidelined, but he should miss a few days."
Thursday, Aug. 6
After going three straight days inside the indoor practice facility and having a rest day Wednesday, the Bucs returned outdoors.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield felt the heat from the sun and from the defense, as the pressure got to him several times, and he was flushed from the pocket and forced to throw the ball away as he couldn't find any downfield options because of tight coverage by the secondary. And he was also picked off.
Backup linebacker John Bullock jumped a route on a pass intended for tight end Cade Otton and returned the interception for a touchdown. Rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter, who has made his presence known now that the pads are on, immediately drilled Otton after catching a short pass from Mayfield. Overall, it wasn't a great day for Mayfield and the tight ends, with rookie Keionte Scott breaking up a Mayfield pass intended for Payne Durham.
Rookie cornerback Ayden Garnes had a pass breakup on a Mayfield ball intended for rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst III along the right sideline. Rookie Rueben Bain Jr. also blew up a screen pass to running back Bucky Irving.
Other observations:
Outside linebacker David Walker Jr., who missed his rookie season last year with a torn ACL, had a strip sack of backup quarterback Jake Browning and made the recovery at the end of practice. Walker has had a sack just about every practice. "We didn't get to see him in pads last year, but to see him out there and the way he moves -- he moves like an inside backer, but he plays like an outside backer and he's got great power," coach Todd Bowles said.
Wide receiver Dean Patterson hauled in an impressive deep ball catch working against cornerback Josh Hayes.
Wide receivers Emeka Egbuka (soreness) and Chris Godwin Jr. (rest day on Tuesday), were back in action. Defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson (rest day on Tuesday) and safety Miles Killebrew (knee) were all back practicing. Cornerback Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) was doing individual drills.
Wide receivers Jalen McMillan (knee), Tez Johnson (groin) and David Sills V (knee) were not practicing. Inside linebacker Alex Anzalone also sat out with soreness. The status of nose tackle Vita Vea (back) and left tackle Tristan Wirfs (hamstring) are unchanged.
Bucs' 12-time captain and future Ring of Honor member Lavonte David, who retired this spring, surprised teammates by coming out to practice. Also in attendance was former Bucs Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden, who will call the Bucs' second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 22.
Tuesday, Aug. 4
Tempers flared as the Bucs put on pads for the second straight day -- this time at their annual night practice. Rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter, the Bucs' second-round draft pick and son of NFL great Jeremiah Trotter, had multiple tackles for a loss during Monday's first padded practice. He followed that up with a tackle for a loss during 11-on-11s Tuesday.
Trotter could be seen jawing with starting right guard Cody Mauch, starting left guard Ben Bredeson, starting right tackle Luke Goedeke and backup swing tackle Justin Skule. Fellow inside linebacker Alex Anzalone had to restrain Trotter as he took him to the sideline. Anzalone could also be seen pointing at the offensive line and chirping as they huddled up, appearing to support his younger teammate and directing everyone to get back to work.
While coach Todd Bowles stopped practice to address the team, he praised the 21-year-old challenging for the starting MIKE role. "He had a heck of a day yesterday and he buckled some guys," Bowles said. "If they start playing like that yesterday, he shouldn't need the extra energy today. He's probably a guy you really don't want to mess with either."
He added, "Once you put your helmet on and you go on the field, all is fair game as long as you're doing it the right way. He plays with the right temperament and he plays the right way."
Other observations:
During one-on-one drills, rookie outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. used a nasty hand swipe to blow by starting right tackle Luke Goedeke, drawing gasps from fans in attendance. Mind you, Goedeke is no slouch and is making $22.5 million a year. Bain also had what would have been a sack of quarterback Jake Browning.
Rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst III hauled in a Baker Mayfield red zone touchdown in the corner of the end zone with Zyon McCollum in tight coverage. Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey came flying at Mayfield on that play however, and it would have very likely been a sack. Still, it was good work for Hurst, who also caught a 20-yard pass downfield from Mayfield.
Wide receiver Tez Johnson left the practice field early to get treatment for what Bowles said was a groin injury that he sustained while running. Wide receiver David Sills V also left practice early, but Bowles did not have specifics immediately after practice. He was, however, seen with an ice pack on his knee.
The team was without its top three wide receivers as Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan all sat out. Godwin has been getting maintenance days in camp, while McMillan - who was spotted wearing a compression sleeve on his left calf - banged his knee in practice, according to Bowles, which forced him to miss Monday as well. Egbuka is still dealing with soreness and "tweaked something," Bowles said, and the team is "trying to keep him off the turf."
Rookie Dean Patterson, an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech and FIU (he's also from nearby Lutz), maximized his opportunities in a depleted wide receiver room, hauling in two touchdowns from Browning.
Cornerback Ayden Garnes, an undrafted free agent out of Arizona, closed out practice with an interception off quarterback Jalon Daniels. He also picked off Mayfield during one-on-ones Monday on a pass intended for Kameron Johnson. With Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish both missing time, he's gotten a lot more opportunities and is pushing for the last cornerback spot.
The team has Wednesday off and will return Thursday at their regular 8:30 a.m. practice time.
Monday, Aug. 3
Wide receivers Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka were not practicing for the team's first day in pads -- due to being, as coach Todd Bowles put it, "a little sore." Cornerback Jacob Parrish, last year's starting nickelback who is competing for a starting outside cornerback spot, also missed practice with what Bowles said was soreness.
More observations from the day:
The Bucs have brought back two-time Olympic hurdling champion Roger Kingdom, who served as the team's speed and conditioning coach under Bruce Arians and is part of a coaching staff revamp that also included members of strength and conditioning department. "Obviously, we're stretching and running and doing dynamic warmups and those type of things, trying to stop some of the soft-tissue injuries," Bowles said. "He does a good job aiding in that and making sure guys are doing what they're supposed to do, as far as running form-wise and the way they're supposed to run. It's really helped us out."
The team was forced to practice indoors due to heavy rain for the second straight day. Bowles joked, "I think I've been here about eight years, and this is the second time in a row we've gone indoors. Every other year we've been outside." They'll do it a third day in a row Tuesday as it's a night practice.
There's been no movement on Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea's contract since his 'hold in' began at the start of camp. but the team just installed his image on one of four corners of Raymond James Stadium's exterior, along with quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Chris Godwin and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Sunday, Aug. 2
Bucs coach Todd Bowles clarified that the hamstring injury that has plagued outside cornerback and 2025 second-round draft pick Benjamin Morrison -- forcing him to miss the start of training camp -- is actually a different hamstring than the one that limited him last season.
Morrison missed all of preseason last year and played in 10 regular-season games -- with three starts -- as a result of a quad injury and then a right hamstring injury. On top of this, Morrison underwent bilateral hip surgery. He is competing for a starting spot on the outside with Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish but has yet to participate in team periods in camp, making his evaluation a tough one and raising concerns over depth at that position.
"Hopefully he gets some work in this coming week," Bowles said of Morrison. "I would like to see. He was out here moving around better, but I'll see what the trainer says."
Monday will mark the team's first padded practice of camp.
🗣️ TAMPA 🗣️ BAIN
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 2, 2026
Rueben Bain Jr.'s entire family showed up & did not disappoint 😂 pic.twitter.com/USgLdxCJSk
More observations from the day:
Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. picked off quarterback Baker Mayfield on a deep ball pass intended for wide receiver Jalen McMillan, whom he battled on a contested catch.
WR Tez Johnson, who hauled in a deep ball touchdown from QB Jake Browning earlier this week and punctuated it with a celebratory backflip, pulled in a touchdown from Mayfield on a crossing route during a red zone period.
All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, but like Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea, he was spotted on the sideline during the indoor practice. Benjamin Chukwuma, who started two games last season, has been getting reps in Wirfs' spot.
Friday, July 31
One day after quarterback Baker Mayfield said he felt "disrespected" during his failed contract negotiations with the Bucs and vowed to have a "really big year," Mayfield put together his strongest training camp practice so far. He heaved a deep pass to wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, slipping it past safety Tykee Smith and cornerback Ayden Garnes for a touchdown. He also connected with wide receiver Jalen McMillan for a deep touchdown with cornerback Damarion Williams in coverage.
"It sucks to see him go through this and whatnot, but it's not going to change his mentality, the way he plays," guard Cody Mauch said of Mayfield, whom he agrees with on having a big year. "He's going to go off."
Outside cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who missed the first two training camp practices with a lingering hamstring injury and is competing for a starting job, did return to practice but was limited to positional drills.
All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs was back out on the practice field after spending Thursday indoors to receive treatment for a hamstring injury. Coach Todd Bowles said, "He's not practicing yet, but he's moving around better so we'll just continue to monitor him."
Thursday, July 30
Tight end Bauer Sharp, a seventh-round draft pick, had a leaping touchdown grab in the corner of the end zone from quarterback Baker Mayfield during red zone. Mayfield also connected with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka for a score with Zyon McCollum in coverage.
Not to be outdone though -- backup quarterback Jake Browning had multiple connections with wide receiver Tez Johnson, including a 50-plus yard touchdown through the air with Josh Hayes in coverage. In signature Johnson fashion, he did a celebratory backflip.
More observations from the day:
The offense may have made some notable plays, but the defense had some strong moments too. Safety Tykee Smith punched the ball loose from Egbuka's hands with safety Antoine Winfield Jr. pouncing for the recovery.
Inside linebacker Alex Anzalone made some key stops in coverage against running back Bucky Irving and tight end Cade Otton in the red zone. Coach Todd Bowles said, "He doesn't panic out there like most guys do being at the 'backer spot. He kind of covers like a safety. So, he has very good awareness and headiness about that."
Unlike Wednesday, defensive tackle Vita Vea (back) and left tackle Tristan Wirfs (hamstring) were not out on the practice field and instead were inside receiving treatment. Bowles said he does not have a clear timeline for recovery at this time.
Cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who missed Wednesday with a hamstring injury, was on the field with teammates but was limited. He is among the players competing for a starting job on the outside.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr., a 10-year veteran, was given a maintenance day.
Wednesday, July 29
Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea did not participate in the team's first training camp practice Wednesday morning, standing on the sidelines during team periods and observing positional work with his defensive line teammates.
Though, Vea's lack of participation wasn't just about wanting a new contract, which was the primary reason he didn't practice during mandatory minicamp. Bucs coach Todd Bowles said Vea tweaked his back during the team's conditioning test and is "day to day."
All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs also tweaked his hamstring during the test and did not practice Wednesday.
More observations from the day:
Cornerback Zyon McCollum notched a sideline interception off quarterback Baker Mayfield near the end of practice -- the first takeaway of camp. The pass was intended for wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. It should be noted, however, that it would have been a sack by rookie outside linebacker and first-round draft pick Rueben Bain Jr. That's how Day 1 went: a little back and forth between offense and defense.