Tez Johnson Delivers As Punt Returner — And Then Doesn’t
August 16th, 2025
Up-and-down debut.
Yeah, Johnson showed Bucs fans exactly why the team hopes he’s the man to revive their bland punt return game.
Johnson made his NFL debut after sitting out Preseason Week 1 with a hamstring injury. The seventh-round pick, fielded a first-quarter punt at the 14 yard line, ran straight, juked right at the 19 yard line and flashed his elite change of direction. Johnson turned back left and was gone.
If he ran outside blocker Jacob Parrish after cutting up field, he might have had a chance to take it to the house.
Instead, Johnson’s inaugural NFL return was to the Bucs’ 45 yard line — a 31-yarder.
Joe wonders what last year’s Bucs return man, Trey Palmer, was thinking while watching Johnson’s debut. Palmer’s longest punt return last year was 17 yards.
But Johnson also bungled a bouncing punt that the Steelers recovered in the third quarter deep in Bucs territory. That led to a quick Pittsburgh touchdown. Johnson also seemed to misjudge a fair catch earlier in the game that cost the Bucs a harmless eight yards.
Typical up-and-down rookie night.
Johnson also had an eight-yard reception with the second-team offense, one that saw him juke defenders for yards after catch. Johnson also had an 11-yard catch and a 2-yard catch over the middle with the third-teamers, and an ugly drop on a crossing route.
Enjoy Johnson’s opening return below — and his horror show.
Rookie Tez Johnson nearly takes the punt back to midfield
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OUR BALL 💪
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August 16th, 2025 at 9:08 pm
Welp he just lost that
August 16th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
We do not need those heroics during the regular season smh
August 16th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
Very nice. But he he would have ran past the left side of his blocker.. your right Joe, he had a good chance to score – let’s see some more in the final preseason game and hopefully it’ll revive our return game 💪
August 16th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
Enough of Tez. He has sucked ever since that return.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:12 pm
Another training camp wonder who can’t play in a game
August 16th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Wow he just went from hero to goat. Better in ore season. Just hope he’s not a bubble player . If so bye bye .. that’s what gets you cut .
August 16th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
I honestly think Tez might have played himself off the team tonight. Ran the wrong route a few times, couldn’t real in some catches. He has some nice moves, but that muffed punt was a HUGE mental mistake. He didn’t catch the ball and then tried to go after it. Just a terrible decision.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Just like that he’ll be lucky to make the practice squad. Can we talk about how bad Trask looked? He looks jumpy and scared in the pocket and holds that ball way to long. Bazelak looks like a major improvement through 2 preseason games.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:15 pm
Now’s the time to make a stupid mistake like that. He won’t do it again.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:22 pm
Good God what a bunch of bone-headed moves. You’re right- he goes outside of Parrish it’s probably a long TD. And the muffed fair catch was a disaster. I think he was worried it hit another Buc that was blocking, but if you’re calling for a fair catch, MAKE THE CATCH.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:24 pm
Tez isn’t all that. Greene is more reliable and a little faster. Miller and Shep need to be on the roster. Tez not so much.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:29 pm
Tez Johnson=Kenny Bell
August 16th, 2025 at 9:30 pm
He looks extremely dynamic. Made a dumb decision, he’ll learn from that.
August 16th, 2025 at 10:04 pm
I agree he looks super-dynamic. But you have got to avoid bone-headed mistakes. I hope the coaches can help him avoid any in the future…
August 16th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
ME13, JMac, EE, Godwin, Greene, Miller
August 16th, 2025 at 10:19 pm
Kid has a lot to learn at the pro level .cant make those mistakes when real bullets start to fly !
August 16th, 2025 at 10:28 pm
Dumb rookie decision, tried to get cute and lost an opportunity at reps for it
August 16th, 2025 at 10:43 pm
Gotta be smarter than that. Also needs to fair catch it and not let it go.
August 16th, 2025 at 11:07 pm
fans being fans are over blowing this. Horrible mistake? Sure
type of mistake he will ever make again? nope
more problematic is he was not underneath the ball and made the decision of a fair catch too late
August 16th, 2025 at 11:24 pm
Learning experience. See how he does next week.
Lots of rookies making mistakes tonight.
They closed out the game well.
Loving that kickin’ Dixon. Like Carmarda with his head on straight. Been doing it for while too.
August 16th, 2025 at 11:31 pm
He is not NFL material.
August 16th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
Tez looked every bit of a seventh round draft pick with limited upside. Wishing he is the answers for our return gamed is fun but probably not going to happen. We have seen this movie before. On another note, #22 Kindal Valdor looked good and had some really nice plays tonight.
August 17th, 2025 at 1:03 am
Yes,Tez made a few typical rookie mistakes. He failed to fair catch a punt which he could’ve prevented from rolling down to the endzone, then, on a later punt return, he tried to make up for the earlier punt which this time led to a fumble. He was simply trying to do too much. He’ll learn rebound n learn from those mistakes. Remember, once the pads came on, he was out with an injury for most of training camp. The rust will wear off n he’’ll be himself once he get acclimated to the nfl level. One thing that stood out to me is he has heart, vision, n moves.
August 17th, 2025 at 3:25 am
Ehhhh one bad play yeah it looked awful but every rookie gets one of those bonehead plays, better to happen in preseason than the regular season
August 17th, 2025 at 4:21 am
Tez needs a red-shirt season. He needs 10-15 more pounds also.
August 17th, 2025 at 4:35 am
Give this kid a chance he can make people miss.
He had a great 3rd down conversion in the 2nd Q making 2 defenders look like I was playing.
Go Bucs
August 17th, 2025 at 6:28 am
Tough night for Tez. But he does have skills to overcome that. And support of coaches and teammates. Because they know what he’s capable of. He just needs to stay with it and he will be fine.
August 17th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Garrett Greens may be a better choice for returning punts, and as WR. At least give him some more reps to find out. If Greene is a better choice, Tez can be put on the PS where he can continue to develop.
August 17th, 2025 at 8:23 am
“Garrett Greene “
August 17th, 2025 at 8:39 am
Punt returner is one of, if not THE, riskiest positions to play in pro football. Plenty of players enshrined in Canton fumbled punts as rookies. Give it a rest, people. Johnson vs. Greene is a great problem to have. Plus, we FINALLY have a decent punter again.
August 17th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Tez is just fine, y’all on crack if you think one stupid slip up will cost him a spot. The dude makes people MISS.
The Punt snafu was a damn one off and he learned right away. Rookies make mistakes, plus it was a so-called worthless pre-season game. So. The best place to learn is there.
Armchair Coaches/GM’s are hilarious.
August 17th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Tex Johnson is brave, but so Tiny.
He’s one hard shot away from leaving us without a returner.
Might want someone who can hold up to the rigors of the NFL.
August 17th, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Joe, I know you’ve been watching Tez a lot more than I have and you think he has potential. With that said I will withhold any negative comments until I see more of what he can do. He just had a bad night last night and it was frustrating to watch. Hopefully 83 will improve next week against the Bills.
Go Bucs 2025 !!
August 17th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Tez and Kyle can play catch while they look for new teams in September.