The second day of Bucs mandatory mini-camp took place on Wednesday at the Advent Health training center. This practice was entirely outdoors with it sunny and a sweltering 88 degrees as the Tampa Bay players participated this morning.
Starting out the players stretched and warmed up while “Enter Sandman” by Metallica blasted through the speakers. This comes after the band played at Raymond James Stadium last Friday and Sunday, which Bucs general manager Jason Licht was in attendance for each show. He surely approved of the selection.
Day 2 of #Bucs mini-camp has began as they blast Enter Sandman by Metallica to start practice! 🤘
Willing to bet Jason Licht chose this song. pic.twitter.com/iZfngva2ex
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) June 11, 2025
Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera were on site to witness the practice and the day’s events.
Bucs Players In And Out
It was a similar turnout for who was and was not practicing for the Bucs on Wednesday. Inside linebacker Lavonte David was present but not practicing, as was left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who continues to wear a wrap on his right left. Chris Godwin as expected was out and did not come outside at any time.
Rookie outside linebacker David Walker was out once again. Also out were offensive tackle Silas Dzansi, quarterback Michael Pratt and safety Marcus Banks. A player that practiced yesterday but did not today was rookie second round corner Benjamin Morrison. Returning to practice was wide receiver Trey Palmer, who participated in punt return drills.
Bucs’ CBs Pick Off Baker Mayfield 3 Times
Bucs starting quarterback Baker Mayfield has not had the hottest of mini-camp through two days. The former Oklahoma gunslinger was intercepted three times during the course of Wednesday’s practice. Credit deserves to go to the Bucs’ defense as they were able to make the plays and continue some momentum from the day before.
The first interception believe it or not came cornerback Jamel Dean during red zone drills early in practice. The throw was to the left side of the end zone where Dean got his hands on the ball. The veteran cornerback may have been tackled beforehand, but he ran all the way back to the end zone. During his run, Mayfield tried to strip the ball away from him.
Bucs CBs Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Following the run to the end zone head coach Todd Bowles could be heard yelling at Dean, who was gassed after the play. Bowles was pointing out that it was the first play of the session and he shouldn’t be holding up practice.
“He rested in the end zone on the first play,” Bowles said. “He needed to get his behind back and get lined up and play.”
Mayfield’s second interception was his worst of the day and it was a no doubt about it pick-six by rookie undrafted free agent Roman Parodie. During the play Parodie was covering rookie first round pick Emeka Egbuka, who ran a route to the right sideline. While coving him well, Parodie stepped in front of the throw by Mayfield and took it easily to the house with nobody even remotely around him.
Another starting corner made the third interception of the day, this time being Zyon McCollum. It’s important to note that this was a two-minute drill where the wasn’t a lot of time on the clock and the number of timeouts available were unknown. Looking at the left sideline, McCollum was ready for the ball to come his way and was able to pounce on it for yet another turnover.
Jalen McMillan Has A Bounce Back Day
When Baker Mayfield was playing well, more often than not the ball was going to Jalen McMillan. It was a fantastic bounce back performance from McMillan, who struggled on Tuesday with a dropped wide open pass and another near miss of a touchdown after a ball was ripped out of his hands.
While Mike Evans did dress and warmup with the team, he hardly participated in 11-on-11 drills when it was the offense against the defense, so McMillan was essentially the type guy. The first big play happend on a play action pass where Mayfield found McMillan running across the middle of the field to the right side of the numbers, beating Tykee Smith to create separation. McMillan then caught a pass on a slant on the next play.
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
Practice then moved to red zone drills and McMillan scored two touchdowns during that program. When the starters were in and getting opportunities, McMillan was the main receiver that was targeted. The first two practices felt like a microcosm of McMillan’s rookie season. Struggles in the beginning only to thrive towards the end of it. Later on, he just had a step ahead of McCollum for another big play.
There’s no question that it wasn’t Mayfield’s best day of practice for Tampa Bay, but he also wasn’t egregious during the whole session. There were some brief flare-ups, but also several completed passes.
Kyle Trask Has Been Balling
There won’t ever be another quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask while they’re in Bucs uniforms, but Bucs fans can feel better in the event that Trask has to come in during a regular season game. Simply put, Trask has balled out during the first two days of mini-camp.
Bucs OC Josh Grizzard and QBs Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask and Connor Bazalek – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
Trask has been so poised in the pocket with an understanding of the offense and has been willing to dare to make the big throws deep. That paid off today with his highlight throw being a deep ball to rookie seventh round receiver Tez Johnson for a touchdown. After the throw, rookie undrafted center Jake Majors was screaming in celebration of the throw that Trask made.
This also orchestrated a run where Trask continued to make big throw after big throw for significant gains as he found holes in the defense. In particular, Trask found chemistry with wide receiver Dennis Houston as they connected on a couple of passing completions.
Other Notes And Observations From Day 2 Of Mini-Camp
- Bucs Outside linebacker Haason Reddick spoke after practice and addressed why he wasn’t there for OTAs, citing he wanted to stay in shape and had some things to button up. He believes he showed everyone today how in shape he is.
- After a great day on Tuesday, rookie third round corner Jacob Parrish struggled heavily on Wednesday. He was beat by receivers several times a dropped a very easy, can of corn interception that hit him off the chest. We’ll chalk it up to the highs and lows of a rookie.
- Yaya Diaby continues to be a menace in the backfield. He had at least two sacks during the day.
- Tampa Bay ran a lot of bunch formations with the receivers. There weren’t too many players lined up traditionally outside, though the bunch looks gave them more room to get vertical and too the sideline as well.
- Undrafted free agent defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas made some nice moves into the backfield and showed good hustle tracking down a running back on a screen pass.
Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
- Speaking to the media after practice, right tackle Luke Goedeke said the linemen Ben Chukwuma, Jake Majors and Charlie Heck stood out to him.
- McMillan had more of the highlights but Emeka Egbuka also had a touchdown on a throw from Baker along with a great catch and run when he was fully in stride. It’s easy to see the flashes of what can make him a great receiver.
