Is Tez Johnson A Surprise?
June 25th, 2026
No reason to flip out.
For Joe, there is no question who the Bucs’ top-three receivers are.
There’s “Unc” Chris Godwin, who looks to be the same ol’ Chris Godwin. And, of course, Emeka Egbuka and surely Jalen McMillen should get a ton of snaps.
Joe believes rookie third-round pick Ted Hurst could become a top-three guy and the Bucs will bring him along in due time. Next up would be Tez Johnson, who showed last year as a rookie that the NFL was not too big for him.
In a list of the biggest surprises for each NFL team from underwear football season, Jenna Laine of ESPN believes the biggest for the Bucs was the way Johnson practiced.
Maybe this won’t shock a lot of people, considering Johnson was pressed into action extensively last year in his rookie season and had five touchdowns, but in arguably the most competitive room on the team, Johnson stood out. He had two touchdown catches from Jake Browning in the final June practice and caught several others.
To Joe, Tez looked solid this spring. The word “solid” keeps coming to mind after watching Tez but Joe thinks another word could be used. That would be “confident.”
Again, Tez showed he can hang with the big boys last year. His production waned late in the year, as maybe defenses learned to guard him better. But Tez sure looked like (last year and this spring) that he can hang with NFL defenders.
Yeah, the Bucs will miss Mike Evans. How could they not? But their wide receiver room is deep with guys like Hurst and Tez who aren’t expected to start.
June 25th, 2026 at 9:07 am
Our GM is arguably the Best at drafting WRs in the whole league. I am 100% confident in Tez and Ted to be vital parts of our passing attack.
June 25th, 2026 at 9:09 am
He has some wow factors but I hope he fixes 1 negative that stood out. Several times last year there was a problem with 2 receivers in the same spot. This usually means someone ran the wrong route. Unfortunately he was the common factor in each case. If he fixes this he could be even better this year.
June 25th, 2026 at 9:15 am
I watch Oregon football on the reg – so – NO! This is not a surprise at all for me.
Tez has special abilities. The kid is a freak at finding the first down marker…
June 25th, 2026 at 9:20 am
“Again, Tez showed he can hang with the big boys last year. His production waned late in the year, as maybe defenses learned to guard him better.”
Maybe part of the reason, but Egbukas’ numbers also waned down the stretch.
Not rocket science as to how/why those rookies’ numers trailled off once we got Mike, Chris, & J-Mac back. I’ll take Tez over Shep though, but I don’t want him out on screen plays having to block(get in the way of) CBs or safeties crashing down. Still think he loses snaps to Ted before the end of 2026.
June 25th, 2026 at 9:38 am
He’s finished growing. He’s just a little fella. Good thing he’s a master at avoiding tackles. I think he’s the most exciting player we’ve got. He’s got some major juju. I believe we could run 4 wideouts. Line Tez up in the backfield and put him in motion. If we can stay healthy this year there are gonna be descriptions of opponents defenses such as bloodbath’s, etc.
It’s been said “There is a season”. So true. There are multiple seasons. Harvest season is my favorite season. Bring the wheelbarrow boys!!
June 25th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Gonna be a fun year
June 25th, 2026 at 10:03 am
Jose, I hear a little bit of doubt in your voice regarding Johnson. Not in mine. He will be every bit as good as the other guys.
June 25th, 2026 at 10:12 am
Has he bulked up?
June 25th, 2026 at 10:18 am
Tez certainly has juice, unfortunately he has the same head coach as last year.
June 25th, 2026 at 10:40 am
The big time offensive get this spring was Hurst. If he can develop into a TJ Higgins type, talk about a way to round out the room.
Besides the emotions there was no reason to tie up extra money in Evans at his age with the hamstring.
June 25th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
The little feller will vanish just like Trey Palmer, or Jaelen Darden.
Mike knows.
June 25th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Evans who? Out with the old ,in with the new! Hell Yeah!
June 25th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
“The little feller will vanish just like Trey Palmer, or Jaelen Darden.”
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Well, you said he wouldn’t make the team and would be gone already so better luck with this prediction. You’re usually so good at them too 🤣.
Remember your Dan Campbell was going to show us how a good coach prepares his team and motivates them against Washington prediction ? Aced that one too didn’t you ?
June 25th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Tez is nothing like Darden and Palmer. Put respect on that man’s name. He may not be a starter but he really showed he belongs in the league.
June 25th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
LOL. Tezzette sucks unless we’d let him line up on defense so Vita could hurl him over the line to sack the quarterback.
And Dan Campbell is a real football coach. Unlike Tubby Twocoach.
You muffins should go drink your pink tea together.
June 25th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Re:Tez
Some players suck.
Kyle has in five years proven to the professionals who watch him everyday that, he sucks.
Dwarfey Johnson proved he’s worse than Dexter Jackson II from app state, only worse, he sucks worse.
Re: Dan Campbell vs the Commanders
Expect the Lions to treat Jayden Daniels the same way they treated Sam Darnold. The Lions are more injury decimated than the Bucs. Dan Campbell’s solution is to play press man because it’s the simplest scheme to execute and play fast. No mental gymnastics to speak of. Undoubtedly he will also have a double spy on Jayden at times while covering the fargin tight end over the middle. Lions win by at least two scores and provide yet another lesson on what a good coach looks like versus what an academia looks like.
This you bro ? Rhetorical question – we all know.
June 25th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
So is it that Simple,T?
As Lee Corso would say…Not so fast my friend!
Ted has proven himself objectively. Let’s not forget that dynamite comes in small packages. Ted doesn’t fear defenses, he’s not passive, he has reliable hands, he’s consistent,he has an eye of an eagle for the first down marker and end zone, he knows how to avoid hits n gain additional yardage when doing so, he’s motivated, he’s electrifying, n he’s exciting contrary to out of bounds guru Jalen Darden, one play wonder Trey Palmer, tears for fears Dexter Jackson, n I can’t forget “scared of the Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, “Jaquez Green”. Let’s quit comparing Ted to former Buc’s bust.
June 25th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
WTF?!
ROTFLMAO!
Ron White is correct.
June 25th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
So is it that Simple,T?
As Lee Corso would say…Not so fast my friend!
Ted has proven himself objectively. He doesn’t fear defenses, he’s not passive, he has reliable hands, he’s consistent,he has an eye of an eagle for the first down marker and end zone, he knows how to avoid hits n gain additional yardage when doing so, he’s motivated, he’s electrifying, n he’s exciting contrary to out of bounds guru Jalen Darden, one play wonder Trey Palmer, tears for fears Dexter Jackson, n I can’t forget “scared of the Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, “Jaquez Green”. Let’s quit comparing Ted to former Buc’s bust.
June 25th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Knock on wood and break the jinx, the surprise for me was his durability which has so far kept up with his ability and thus maintained availability.
June 25th, 2026 at 4:24 pm
I still love that photo. He looks like Superman making a crash landing.
June 25th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Think of it this way- if we roll out 4WR’s our opponent will have to bring out a 4th string corner to attempt to cover. Good luck with that! Heck, we could play 5 WR and Baker and our O-line. Someone will get open and in a hurry. Talk about stressing secondaries, lol!
June 25th, 2026 at 4:48 pm
Better yet if we come out in a 2 back set then audible them to split out. Linebackers will have to cover them.
June 25th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
@stpetematt
Shlt bro – just think, even with 3 WRs on the field we’re getting Godwin, J-mac, or EE vs opponents number 3 CB not to mention Cade, Buck, and Gainewell
Tez will get some reps and have a chance to shine assuming he’s working as hard as reports say he is
June 25th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
They all have to prove where they stand starting next month.
June 25th, 2026 at 11:51 pm
Again, Tez showed he can hang with the big boys last year. His production waned late in the year, as maybe defenses learned to guard him better.
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Amazing how Tez’s production waned… and e2’s… and Godwin’s…. and Mike didn’t do a lot…
I wonder if there’s a common thread, like maybe the QB was the issue. Maybe passing for a 122 yards means there’s not a lot of yards to go around.
June 26th, 2026 at 6:29 am
exactly tez numbers went down when Baker’s play went in the tank. kids really special in a scotty miller type way and needs more opps, go tez!!
June 26th, 2026 at 8:59 am
@dmatt
Think you misread my comment. I was quoting aquabungs comments on Tez and Campbell – I’m a Tez fan from the start 👍🏼
June 26th, 2026 at 9:32 am
I expect Tez to have a big year Not in yards yet But becoming a TD magnet in the endzone. Tez burning it downfield for a 30 or 40 yard TD will become one of Bakes favorite reads. Tez was a 1000 yard receiver in a major college program and a lot of NFL teams said he was to small. He was a steal in the 7th round
June 26th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Nobody can replace that ship-jumper that just jumped ship, but we need to BOLO for somebody who can cover 85-90% of the same skill set.
Tez was a pleasant surprise last year. I could see him growing into a role like that. I’ve never seen the Hurst kid play. Maybe he is a clone. Maybe he’s not. Only time will tell.
June 27th, 2026 at 6:05 am
I see Zac getting Tez more involed in the screen game.
June 28th, 2026 at 11:32 am
That pic always gets me Joe. With pads on that amazes me. Standing exactly upside down fully extended. Wow!
Go Bucs!