Ted Hurst Finally Wows Fans
August 9th, 2026
Beginning to bloom.
Regular readers of Joe’s daily practice notes know Joe has been impressed with rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst.
It’s not because Hurst is 6-4, which is impressive. It’s not because Hurst is fast with his 4.4 speed in the 40, which is impressive for a big guy.
What’s impressive to Joe is Hurst’s consistency. Every day, play after play, Hurst makes catches. Often contested passes. He has reminded Joe more of Chris Godwin than Mike Evans. Hurst doesn’t look anything like Godwin except that he makes contested catches look routine, like Godwin.
Hurst hasn’t really made any “wow” plays. Until today. While Joe thinks Hurst is more like Godwin, today in the final Bucs training camp practice open to the public, Hurst looked more like Evans.
Because of injuries, specifically to Jalen McMillan, Hurst has been getting a lot of snaps with the first team. And he has shown he belongs.
Then came the bomb.
Baker Mayfield launched a pass deep down the left sideline. Josh Hayes had really good coverage on the play. In fact, Hayes would have had a pass defensed. “Would” is the keyword.
The ball was a little high from Mayfield and Hurst decided to use his height and go up and get the ball. He fought with Hayes in midair for the ball and he grabbed it and fell flat on his back. But the rookie from Georgia State held on for the highlight play of practice.
Hurst wasn’t done.
Later in goal line drills, Mayfield launched a ball high on purpose so Hurst could use his height. Hurst looked like Jamal Mashburn going up for the rebound. And Hurst got it and came down with a touchdown with Jacob Parrish all over him.
Joe is very impressed with his consistency, even without the wow plays. Joe hopes Hurst can carry that over to the games.
While Hurst hasn’t made many wow plays, he’s content with being Godwin-like consistent and reliable; today, he decided it was time to be like Mike.
And Hurst succeeded.
August 9th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Watch the Youtube video on Ted Hurst by his former coach Hue Jackson from some podcast interview and you will know that Ted Hurst is a baller and he will eventually be our WR1 sooner than later. Also, Steve Smith says he’s a faster Larry Fitzgerald.
August 9th, 2026 at 11:28 am
We held our fantasy auction draft last night. My final pick was Ted for one dollar. There’s 15 other players in the league and no one thought he was worth 2 bucks. If he locks down the X, no reason he can’t have a really good year. I think he’s going to blow up.
August 9th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Good news
August 9th, 2026 at 11:35 am
Our Gm has a penchant for drafting solid WRs in round 3…
– C. Godwin Jr.
– J. McMillan
– T. Hurst
Not a bad track record IMO.
August 9th, 2026 at 11:39 am
I was there today. Catches exactly as described. Yes very impressive nothing hits the ground with this guy
August 9th, 2026 at 11:51 am
Im guessing no problems getting him the ball so far??
August 9th, 2026 at 11:57 am
I love this kid, I also think Jalen McMillan is injury prone.
August 9th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Baker has no excuses this year. A lot of talent at skill positions. He better be decisive and accurate and quit trying to be Mike Alstott when his first read isn’t there.
August 9th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Like most rookie WR’s he’s going to take some time to ramp up. He’s had a problem with drops in college – about 10% of the catchable passes thrown his way hit the ground. That points to a problem with concentration that a rookie will have more trouble with than a vet.
If the Bucs level him up like they did Godwin as a rookie in 2017 that should be just about right. You die-hard fans might remember Godwin started slow but saved the best for last in his first season with a monster game that beat the Saints in the finale.
I think Hurst has what it takes to be a phenomenal NFL receiver as long as the Bucs bring him along at the right pace. When he’s fully developed in a year or two he’s going to look like a fusion of some of Evans’ skills and a little of what Godwin does well.
IMO, if all goes right he’ll be better than JMac, Tez and competitive with Egbuka for the title of best Bucs wideout.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
Touchdown Teddy
August 9th, 2026 at 1:10 pm
Proudbuc his rookie year he didn’t miss much time if any. Last year in a preseason game he broke his neck. Hes a little banged up in TC deff would not call him injury prone. Injury prone was Dean and Morrison.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
“Hurst looked like Jamal Mashburn going up for the rebound.“
This was unexpected and hilarious all at once.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Marine Buc is right.
Godwin, McMillan, and Hurst look like amazing 3rd round picks for WR.
Scotty Miller (6th round) is still in the league. So is Trey Palmer (
Justin Watson is still in the NFL. (5th round)
So is Tyler Johnson. (5th round)
The only WR bust by Licht is Darden (4th round) He’s currently in the CFL.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Joe, this eases my concerns about Baker just a bit, and confirms what I was thinking about Ted.
The video highlight of Ted in the corner of the endzone, form your post the other day, had shades of Mike written all over it. I’d have thought it was Mike if I didn’t know better.
Now, to read that he successfully skied a deep ball while being blanketed by a defender, confirms for me that Ted may… may… be a blend of Chris and Mike.
This also eases my concerns about Baker just a bit, who’s apparently struggled somewhat with accuracy during camp, and hasn’t thrown too many deep balls. Good to hear he can still sling it for some serious yardage.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
Sounds like he has made plenty of Wow plays to me if he has been that constant over training camp that is wow to me Jason is Amazing or whoever on this staff who scouts WRs an OL
August 9th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Wanna say that all the Scouts are pretty Good lately last
August 9th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
If he’s playing like Mike and Baker is playing +to+ him like Mike, they’re gonna put some points on the board.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
I would agree MacMillan seems injury prone. I believe he missed a lot of time his last year in college and I seem to remember some injury or injuries his rookie year, then of course last year. He also looks pretty spindly and he tends to get lit up.
August 9th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
I was so happy when he used a day two pick on a wr. He’s certainly got a nose for those and olineman.
It’s just a matter of time before injuries start at that position and we needed a big bodied guy who can run, go up and get it.
IMO just a great pick!
August 9th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
Mike like size with Godwin like hands – I’ll take that 👍🏼
Kid was #2 in contested catches in FBS over the last 2 years
August 9th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
If people say he has the dropsies, maybe those people have a problem with data collection and evaluation. Maybe Baker will not seem so inaccurate when he has a receiver with a catching radius who runs his routes.
August 9th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
I’ll take steady Freddy with a splash of WOW from a rookie who should only get better the more he plays. Mike was steady excellent with a lot of WOW until injuries settled in. He made the bad qbs he’s played with look better even the one who people say is great when he’s really not and could be a reason he left for San Fran.
August 9th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
I hope he gets at least a half on the field Friday. We probably won’t see BM6 snd CG13 play much if any. I guess it all depends on how the joint practices go. Time for the rookies and 2nd year guys to make plays.
August 9th, 2026 at 7:52 pm
He needs to stick with the ones now
August 9th, 2026 at 11:00 pm
He’s already better than Evans. Todd’s got this. Even players no one has ever heard of are playing lights out.
Go Bucs go, win win win! 15-2