Tez Johnson’s Window To Show Himself As Bucs WR Is Huge Open
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When Tez Johnson was made the Bucs’ seventh-round decide again in April, most anticipated him to be strictly a return specialist. Profiling as shifty stick of dynamite, it made sense. Johnson appeared the half when he made his first punt return in opposition to the Steelers final Saturday, displaying his elusiveness throughout a 37-yard return.
Then issues modified.
With vast receivers Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan out to start the 12 months — seemingly for the primary 4 video games — different guys now have to step up within the room.
“We’ll want guys to step up,” Head coach Todd Bowles stated on Tuesday. “With Chris down after which Jalen happening, lots of guys have stepped up and we [have] acquired to see them step up much more so. The depth was effectively wanted and [there are] nonetheless some selections to make after this recreation in opposition to Buffalo.”
All of this factors again to Johnson, with Bowles taking time on Wednesday to debate how the previous Oregon Duck has developed inside Josh Grizzard’s offense. For Johnson, now could be his time to shine within the final preseason recreation this Saturday evening if he needs to be concerned and play a pivotal position behind vast receivers Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka.
Tez Johnson Received His Ft Moist Final Week, Can He Catch Up In Bucs’ WR Race?
Tez Johnson had the anticipated rookie ups and downs final week. After his aforementioned punt return, Johnson muffed an ensuing return that the Steelers recovered simply outdoors of the purple zone that led to a brief landing drive.
Bucs WR-PR Tez Johnson – Photograph by: USA Right now
It was not excellent, however to working again (and Johnson’s former Oregon teammate) Bucky Irving, he believes that “Tez” performed effectively.
He simply has to cease overthinking and settle in.
“He performed fairly effectively,” Irving stated. “He has acquired to cease considering a lot and simply understand this can be a recreation we now have all performed our entire life. I really feel like as soon as he simply settles down and realizes this can be a recreation we now have performed since we had been youngsters, he might be heading in the right direction and do an excellent job.”
It typically takes time for NFL rookies to get their ft underneath them. In Johnson’s case, he suffered a leg damage throughout coaching camp that saved him out of the preseason opener. When he has practiced, he has capitalized on his alternatives. Specifically, he acquired an elevated workload throughout Wednesday’s observe session and stood out.
Will that translate to having extra involvement in an offense lacking two of its high vast receivers?
Bucs WRs Tez Johnson (83) and Kam Johnson (19)- Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“Will depend on how a lot he can be taught,” Todd Bowles stated. “We nonetheless must see him once more in opposition to Buffalo. He acquired his ft moist final week and he is acquired to know the offense. He is been out for some time, so he is nonetheless on a studying curve proper now. However we’ll see how a lot he can absorb and see how effectively he does on recreation day on Saturday.”
Behind Mike Evans and first-round decide Emeka Egbuka, the depth chart will get murkier. Sterling Shepard is the presumed WR3, even when meaning he begins the 12 months on the observe squad and will get elevated to the lively roster resulting from contract causes. Johnson will make the staff after being a draft decide and his return potential being a lot wanted.
It then might be a combat after him, with Ryan Miller, Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett, Kameron Johnson, Dennis Houston, Jacob Harris, Garrett Greene, and Jaden Smith all competing for only one or two spots on the Bucs 53-man roster.
Tez Johnson Suits Proper In With Bucs WRs Mike Evans And Emeka Egbuka
Mike Evans is placing the ending touches on one in every of his greatest coaching camps as a Buccaneer. Though Evans turns 32 years outdated at the moment, don’t let the age idiot you. M1K3 stays the highest canine, and because the veteran within the vast receiver room, he likes what he sees in Tez Johnson.
Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“That’s my man, man, Evans stated final month. “With the ball in his palms, he’s a loopy athlete. He catches the ball rather well for a smaller, quicker man. As a result of lots of smaller guys don’t have one of the best palms, however he has actually good palms. [He is] tremendous optimistic, a enjoyable man, very right down to earth. He is aware of quite a bit in regards to the stuff I like, so we’ll hearken to outdated music in [the locker room], and he is aware of about that.”
Not solely has Johnson gotten a stamp of approval from Evans, however he’s additionally forming fairly the bond with fellow rookie Emeka Egbuka.
“Me and Tez are constructing an excellent shut relationship — most likely too shut, he is my roommate proper now so I hear him snore each evening,” Egbuka talked about final month. “He is a dynamic athlete, tremendous enjoyable to look at with the ball in his palms identical to lightning in a bottle when he will get [the ball]. I feel he is already made 4 or 5 defenders miss this camp and everybody hits a type of, ‘Oohs,’ like that each time he will get the ball.
Bucs WR Tez Johnson and CB Benjamin Morrison – Photograph by: Cliff Welch P/R
“Studying learn how to be extra artistic in my route craft from watching him and me serving to him in any method I can with no matter he might need assistance with. We’re turning into a close-knit group, not simply me and Tez however me, Tez and our different rookie vast receiver Garrett Greene. We’re form of all studying the playbook and doing the rookie factor proper now. It has been going nice.”
For Tez Johnson, Saturday evening’s preseason finale in opposition to the Payments presents an opportunity for him to star. It should primarily be backups on the market preventing for the ultimate roster spots, however it’s Johnson’s final probability to climb up the vast receiver pecking order. Though small in stature at 5-foot-10 and 165 kilos, that didn’t cease him from having a productive faculty profession. 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 throughout 2023-2024.
Now possessing the possibility to do greater than returning kicks and punts, he’s one participant to look at carefully.
