“10 Out Of 10” Feel For Tez Johnson
October 8th, 2025
It’s rare to hear a Buccaneers coach speak for Tampa Bay’s opponent, and it’s also rare to hear a seasoned, retired quarterback talk about seeing something new on a football field.
The Bucs offense stunned a lot of fans and media Sunday in Seattle with 38 points and the first real breakthrough of rookie receiver Tez Johnson.
The seventh-round pick had four catches for 59 yards, after just one reception all season. Joe can’t imagine anyone predicting that kind of production. And it seems Seattle coaches were among the masses, per Todd Bowles.
The Tampa Bay head coach told the Buccaneers Radio Network yesterday that a Bucs plan to spread the ball around flummoxed Seattle.
“They kind of confused them since they weren’t ready for; they were trying to cover a Emeka [Egbuka] and Chris [Godwin] the whole time, but the other guys contributed,” Bowles said.
As for Johnson, Bowles said he is not surprised to see him thriving so soon.
“Confidence is 10 out of 10,” Bowles said of his Johnson feelings. “He has a lot of speed and he is a great route runner. He has outstanding hands. He has a good feel for the game and as he gets the system down you’ll see more and more Tez.”
Joe loved how CBS game analyst Trent Green, the former two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, described Johnson’s short catch and run against Seattle as the most exciting six-yard gain in history.
That’s stretching it, for sure, but Johnson was crazy slippery making two defenders miss. It’s the second play in the All-22 video below. Enjoy!
And yes, Johnson is being coached to hit the turf before his 160-pound frame can endure a hit.
Tez Johnson got extended action this past weekend against the #Seahawks and MY GOODNESS, TEZ BELONGS IN THE NFL!
He’s NASTY with the ball in-hand, accelerating & making people miss! He ran great routes and the last clip is him blocking BETTER than guys 35 lbs. heavier than him! pic.twitter.com/smVFafb7Bk
— IanM (@IannmNFL) October 8, 2025
October 8th, 2025 at 11:43 am
Let’s GGGOOOOOO Tez.
We are going to NEED you sir.
Keep your head in your playbook!
October 8th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Tez and and Emeka are going to be a big part of this franchise for the next decade
October 8th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Grizzard has some of that Mike McDaniel influence in his offense, he has Tez running some of the Tyreek Hill stuff.
October 8th, 2025 at 11:59 am
That downfield block at the end was quite impressive.
October 8th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
woah he can block!!
October 8th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
**TEST**
October 8th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
We have 3 young gifted receivers to carry on after Godwin and Evans are gone. Good time to be a Bucs fan.
October 8th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
He played well. Still want to see Vita hurl him at an opposing QB to get a sack on defense.
October 8th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Joe,
If you’re going to quote somebody, at least be accurate.
Trent Green said, “That’s the most dynamic 6-yard reception you’re ever going to see right there.”
Joe was paraphrasing, otherwise Joe would have used the exact quote. –Joe
October 8th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
There’s 40 yard dash speed and there’s football speed. Tez has football speed.
October 8th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
Aqualung Says:
Still want to see Vita hurl him at an opposing QB to get a sack on defense.
^^^^^^^
Play VV at halfback and throw Tez for 3rd and short conversions, too.
October 8th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
I loved the play where Tez ducked down right before the 2 defenders collided.
October 8th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
We have receivers out the wazoo. And two of the top four aren’t here. Need that RT back and we will be ready to go.
October 8th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
🤣
October 8th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Jacques Green flashback in throwback unis. Im curious to see if he remains effective now there is tape on him and CG’s slip from greatness
October 8th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
GoneGator, “Not only a dwarf, but a dim dwarf who can’t catch but at least can’t study or learn”. That’s funnier than “Still want to see Vita hurl him at an opposing QB to get a sack on defense”. But both are funny. Thanks Aqualung. I like a good laugh now and again!
October 8th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
Wow, he is a feisty and ultra aware blocker…. that surprised me.
October 8th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Tez is a better receiver than Jaques and Reidel
October 8th, 2025 at 1:48 pm
I wish he could play cornerback this week.
October 8th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
Jaques and Reidel could never juke and move like Tez. They were both decently fast but didn’t have the best hands. If Miller was on our team back then, he would have started over those two clowns.
October 8th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
Tez was 8 for 8 in a preseason game. He is dependable and elusive. He’s the WR version of Bucky, and gets overlooked in a very crowded, and very talented WR room. Imagine Tez lined up with a healthy Mike, a healthy Chris, and EE. That’s a sh!t or go blind situation for any DC in the league. Tez was a workhorse at Oregon racking up 1,000 yard seasons. It’s a mistake not to make use of him. Hopefully it’s a corrected mistake against San Francisco and Detroit. Go Bucs
October 8th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
so thats 2 7th round picks in the last 2 years that have made the team lol….
great work scouts and licht!!!
4-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 8th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Voyager,
But not better than Ike!
*Not yet
October 8th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
i’ve been a doubter of tez due to his size. not a doubter any longer. he caught the ball ran like hell and make the seahawks hurt each other, on purpose. i’ve never seen that before. hope it lasts. he sure looks small on the field but played big.
October 8th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Anybody missing Trey Palmer? Where did he end up?
October 8th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
That’s it keep Sucking up to your lover Ironlung.
October 8th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Wow, that was a heck of a block on that run.
October 8th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Gipper Says:
October 8th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Anybody missing Trey Palmer? Where did he end up?
——-
He went to the Saints, where he was set to play this last week, but instead was put on IR.
October 8th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
Holy crap what a block!
October 8th, 2025 at 8:43 pm
coconut – he slipped that time, making it even funnier
October 8th, 2025 at 10:30 pm
This dude is an injury waiting to happen.
What does he weigh a 100 pounds?
Good luck kid.
October 8th, 2025 at 10:34 pm
Woodman…I’ve been going over the threads this evening and determined you are entirely harsh on a few posters for no good reason.
Aren’t we all just fans?
October 9th, 2025 at 12:04 am
Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors for an 85-yard punt return touchdown during his time with the Oregon Ducks.
October 9th, 2025 at 1:50 am
I didn’t know who Tez was, but I fell in love after his interviews post draft! A spitfire who really believes in himself, he reminded me so much of Bucky.
Same goes for My Bu!! Him more, because he’s so polished and mature! He always brought his teammates up in the interviews without being prompted. He has his ish together!
Both have the highest confidence in themselves you will see, to me that’s a good thing in their cases because they don’t let it get to their heads.
LICHT has done it again!
October 9th, 2025 at 9:04 am
TEZ and Otton involvement vs Seahawks made a difference. Otton had been used to mostly help block since season started.
October 9th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
oTez proves what I’ve said for years…. Jacquez Green was just born too soon. He’d be a Hall of Famer in today’s league.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:36 pm
Bucs o-line must be protecting Baker better. He spread the ball around and didn’t have to run so much. Maybe Heck is this year’s Skule.