Tampa Bay Buccaneers players had close to ten separate fights with Jets players during their one-day-only joint practice in Florham Park, New Jersey. At one point, Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans was ready to take on the entire Jets sideline.
“I don’t know if it’s because we’re going up against them one day or what,” Evans said. “That’s the most I’ve ever seen in a joint practice, and I’ve had a lot of joint practices. But they were all settled once everybody’s cooled down.”
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was not a fan of the brawls. “You don’t like the scuffling or anything like that. It’s young guys, and that’s not what it’s about.”
Bucs WR Russell Gage went down in a one-on-one drill and had to be carted off. Devastating news for a veteran who’s been plagued by injuries ever since coming to the Bucs from the Falcons. WR Chris Godwin says it’s heartbreaking.
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“My heart goes out to Russ,” Godwin said. “That’s my dog. He’s been battling things since he’s been here. To see him go down again, it’s very, very tough. We’re praying for him.”
The Bucs split reps at quarterback with Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask, while Arron Rogers took the majority of the snaps for the Jets.
Right away, New York went downfield against Tampa Bay on 7 on 7 with Rogers and Zach Wilson throwing touchdown passes. Bowles says he was on the other field and didn’t see the plays, but he heard the Jets crowd roar, so he knew the Jets scored, and he’d have to look at the tape before commenting.
Bowles did say that neither Mayfield nor Trask had the better day competing for the starting job and thought both had some good plays. Bowles confirmed that Trask will get the start against the Jets in Saturday night’s game.
The Bucs had planned on having two days of joint practices, but the Jets called off Thursday’s practice.
Bowles says they’ll get their work in tomorrow, practicing amongst themselves at the Giants facility in East Rutherford. It won’t be a joint practice, but the Bucs needed a field in a hurry, and the Giants obliged.
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