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After months of growing anticipation, Bucs training camp is underway. Thursday was the second day of training camp and there were some standout performers as well as a few who underwhelmed.
Following Day 2 of camp, who were the biggest studs and duds on the practice fields?
Studs From Day 2 Of Bucs Training Camp
QB Jake Browning
For the second straight practice, Browning was a stud – even more so on Thursday as he threw three touchdown passes during practice. Browning started the day off on Pewter Report’s “Duds” list after throwing an interception down the seam to middle linebacker John Bullock. But he shook off that interception and rebounded in a big way. He caught fire during the team’s low red zone period, throwing a pair of touchdowns to wide receiver Tez Johnson and another one to David Sills V. All throws were on time and on the money.
Then in the two-minute drill, as he was under duress, Browning launched a pass from midfield and hit Johnson in stride at the goal line for another touchdown and what turned out to be the play of the day. Four touchdowns make him a stud on Day 2 for sure.
Bucs QB Jake Browning – Photo by Cliff Welch P/R
WR Tez Johnson
Johnson’s day would’ve been perfect if he could have held on to a pass in the end zone from Baker Mayfield that was coming in hot. But Johnson had a great catch on the move in the back of the end zone from Browning, added another in the redzone drill, and then outraced Josh Hayes for a deep touchdown toward the end of practice. Johnson culminated that big play with a backflip, which got the fans excited. Wednesday was a rough showing for Johnson, but he bounced back big time on Thursday.
CB Jacob Parrish
Through the first two days of practice, Parrish has stuck to receivers like glue. He’s only had one pass breakup, which came on Wednesday, but his coverage on the outside has been so good that quarterbacks don’t even really target him. With Benjamin Morrison still not practicing due to a hamstring injury, Parrish is way out in front for the starting outside cornerback spot.
OLB David Walker
Walker has been getting third-string reps opposite Chris Braswell and has been a menace to the Bucs’ reserve offensive tackles. He’s constantly in the backfield and is showing off a wide array of pass rush moves. Next week when the pads come on it might be time to give Walker some reps on the second string opposite Al-Quadin Muhammad and bump Anthony Nelson down to the third string. Walker could wind up as OLB3 if he keeps turning heads and has a strong camp and preseason.
ILB John Bullock
The Bucs added three new inside linebackers this offseason in veterans Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom as well as second-round draft pick Josiah Trotter. That’s going to make it tough for Bullock, who stuck last year as ILB5 due to his special teams play, to make the team, especially with SirVocea Dennis in a contract year. But Bullock made a big interception in practice off Jake Browning and added a tackle for loss, and that certainly will help his cause.
CB Keionte Scott
Scott has put together two really strong practices – not just at nickelback in the slot, but also on the outside and playing safety. Todd Bowles is putting a lot on the rookie’s plate, but he’s responding well so far and has been assignment sound. He even saw some time in the starting lineup on Thursday opposite Zyon McCollum with Jacob Parrish in the slot. While playing in the slot may be home base for the Miami star, Scott looks very comfortable playing outside and has the size for it at 6-foot, 190 pounds.
Bucs CBs Zyon McCollum and Keionte Scott – Photo by Cliff Welch P/R
Ss Tykee Smith & Antoine Winfield Jr.
Smith and Winfield have been solid and reliable in coverage to start camp, but Tampa Bay’s safeties teamed up to make a dynamic play on Thursday. After Emeka Egbuka caught a pass from Baker Mayfield, Smith punched the ball out and Winfield was there to scoop up the fumble and advance the ball. For a Bucs defense that needs to generate more turnovers, Thursday was a good start with two takeaways.
Duds From Day 2 Of Bucs Training Camp
OLB Josh Hayes
Hayes is a second-team cornerback right now with Benjamin Morrison sidelined, but he struggled on Thursday, surrendering touchdowns to David Sills V and Tez Johnson. Sills beat him to the front of the end zone pylon for one score and Johnson had a step on him downfield for the other. It wasn’t like Hayes was necessarily burned on either play, but he wasn’t in position to make a play on the ball, either. Close doesn’t count unless it’s in horseshoes or hand grenades.
CB Benjamin Morrison
Morrison is still not able to practice due to his hamstring injury from June. He was in uniform and was wearing a helmet, which means he’s close to being ready, but Morrison is missing some valuable time to learn and grow as a cornerback in Todd Bowles’ system. He missed more training camp time last year than he participated in.
OLB Chris Braswell
Braswell, a former second-round pick, is on the hot seat this year and is not a lock to make the roster. Tampa Bay added two outside linebackers this offseason in Rueben Bain Jr., the team’s first-round pick, and Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency. That, coupled with David Walker’s return to action this year, and Braswell will need the training camp of his life to stick on the 53-man roster. Through the first two days Braswell has been largely invisible, which is not a great start to camp.
The Pewter Report Podcast Recaps Each Bucs Training Camp Practice
For more coverage on Bucs training camp practices, watch the Pewter Report Podcast – presented by Prize Picks – on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel. Each Pewter Report Podcast goes live at 4:00 pm ET on the days the Buccaneers practice. Visit PewterReportTV for more our exclusive Camp Diaries with QB Jalon Daniels and OLB David Walker and other Bucs video analysis.