TAMPA — Third-round rookie Ted Hurst played 43 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 52 offensive snaps and caught three passes for 36 yards in his NFL debut as new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson leaned heavily on a three-receiver look in a 33-27 loss to Cincinnati.
Robinson’s play-calling debut put the Buccaneers in 11 personnel — three receivers, one running back, one tight end — on 43 of 52 snaps. The grouping produced 246 yards, a 49.2% success rate, 5.72 yards per play and both of Tampa Bay’s offensive touchdowns. The Bucs also ran five plays in 12 personnel and four in 21 personnel, pairing Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell in the backfield.
Hurst, the Georgia State product, stepped into a larger role after wide receiver Jalen McMillan was inactive with a knee injury sustained about a month ago in training camp. Head Coach Todd Bowles said the rookie earned his playing time.
“I thought Ted played fast,” Bowles said. “He played very fast. He played hard, and when they threw to him, he was open, so they got him the ball. I think he’ll be fine. I mean, the coverage dictates the targets, and, you know, the coverage was there [when] the targets didn’t go that way, but he played fast the entire game.”
Emeka Egbuka led the receiving corps with five catches for 63 yards on 49 snaps, drawing targets on each of Baker Mayfield’s first three passes. Egbuka missed a large chunk of the preseason with a toe injury after a rookie campaign in which he posted 938 yards and six touchdowns on a team-leading 63 receptions. Bowles was encouraged by the early returns.
“I mean, it’s good,” Bowles said. “He’s still working his way back [from the toe injury]. He’s missed a lot of time, but obviously coming in and being effective early kind of helped him out going forward. As we get in better shape, going down the line for the guys that haven’t practiced too much, I think we’ll be a lot better going forward.”
Chris Godwin caught four passes for 40 yards on 49 snaps, converting two third downs — one on a tunnel screen where he weaved past the sticks, the other a 30-yard reception down the middle where he spun away from safety Jordan Battle after hauling in the pass about 12 yards downfield. It was Tampa Bay’s longest play from scrimmage.
“He played hard and he played fast,” Bowles said of Godwin. “He played winning football for us. You know, we lost the game, but certain people had some good performances, but they don’t count when you lose.”
Four lost fumbles ultimately sank the Buccaneers. Bowles noted that every Tampa Bay possession except a one-play kneel-down at the end of the first half ended in either a score or a turnover. Mayfield completed 23 of 28 passes for 282 yards despite steady pressure from Cincinnati’s pass rush.
The Buccaneers return home to Raymond James Stadium for their Week 2 matchup, where McMillan’s availability will determine whether Hurst continues logging starter-level snaps in Robinson’s three-receiver scheme.