Ted Hurst Got A Workout
August 14th, 2026
Rookie receiver Ted Hurst makes his debut.
Joe was stoked to see what rookie receiver Ted Hurst could do under the lights for a change tonight.
He gave Bucs fans some exciting plays in the preseason opener against the Jets. But there could have been several more if he was playing with backup QB Jake Browning. Or even Baker Mayfield.
A bad back kept Browning out tonight. In his place, Connor Bazelak started for the Bucs. Joe will be polite and just say Bazelak isn’t exactly a sharpshooter.
As a result, Bazelak made Bucs receivers work. Few passes were on target. Joe was glad Jalen McMillan wasn’t on the field.
Hurst would have had a touchdown had Bazelak not thrown behind Hurst on a short pass into the end zone. The ball was ripped out of Hurst’s hands — that is the first time Joe has seen that. But Hurst did show Bucs fans that if the ball is near his hands, more likely than not it will be a catch. Hurst has impressed Joe so much with the way Hurst makes tough, contested catches look routine.
If Hurst looks solid with a less than accurate QB, imagine what Hurst can do with a more accurate quarterback?
Hurst finished the Bucs victory with 2 catches on 6 targets for 19 yards. He did not play in the second half.
August 14th, 2026 at 9:57 pm
Hurst is very smooth and glides into his routes like he is a few inches shorter. Hurst looks like a keeper for sure.
August 14th, 2026 at 9:59 pm
Hurst is a true WR1 in the making.
August 14th, 2026 at 10:07 pm
Good job
August 14th, 2026 at 10:13 pm
Should have played Daniels the whole game
August 14th, 2026 at 10:13 pm
Hurst would of been much better with any QB other than Bazelak, multiple throws were behind him, wish he could of been paired up with Jalon daniels. I am very pleased with Ted Hurst. Lets play him next week as well, we need to get Tez some time on the field as well.
August 14th, 2026 at 10:13 pm
Crazy how he seems very shifty at 6’4
August 14th, 2026 at 10:13 pm
Unfortunately he played with Bazelak tonight. Should have had several more catches. Looked good for his first game in the NFL.
August 14th, 2026 at 10:13 pm
Hurst is an excellent 3rd round pick!
August 14th, 2026 at 10:15 pm
Hurst looked great, in particular considering how terrible Ballsack is. Heck, without Hurst making some nice catches, Ballsack might have got cut during halftime.
August 14th, 2026 at 10:21 pm
lol @ rod munch,too funny bro!
August 14th, 2026 at 10:21 pm
You can see the basketball background with how well he moves in space. As long as Ted can stay healthy, put on a little more muscle and get sharper wit his route stems he’s off to the races.
I’m not gauging too much off catching passes from Connor “Where’s my” Bazelak
August 14th, 2026 at 10:53 pm
I can’t wait to see Hurst with Daniels next week
August 14th, 2026 at 11:05 pm
I see great things for jalon Daniel’s. Going to be a good one !
August 14th, 2026 at 11:06 pm
Ted Hurst is going to help us all with some relief from the Mike Evans pain.
August 14th, 2026 at 11:13 pm
BuccinBaker6, Says:
August 14th, 2026 at 10:53 pm
I can’t wait to see Hurst with Daniels next week
———-
Honestly I wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucs try to hide Daniels and keep him 4th on the depth chart. In fact, if Ballsack comes in before Daniels again next week, then that to me a sure sign they’re wanting to hide Daniels and keep him off other teams radars – because in no world is Ballsack a better QB than Daniels.
August 14th, 2026 at 11:17 pm
yep hurst really looks the part as well…
looks good out there…even when the qb was leaking oil
August 14th, 2026 at 11:26 pm
daniels is oozing poise…you can’t hide him on the PS
(from the small sample size i’ve witnessed)
August 14th, 2026 at 11:33 pm
Daniels and Hurst together would’ve been something to see…
Both are absolute studs.
August 15th, 2026 at 5:59 am
Joe, he certainly showed what you’ve been mentioning in your practice notes about his ability to grab passes that aren’t exactly “on target”.
The incompletion that we challenged (hit the ground) is a great example. The replay showed he clearly had control of the ball (to me, anyhow). It was just short and hit the ground as he was wrapping it up.
I’m not worried about the almost-TD that got ripped out of his hands. He showed enough otherwise, that to me, this was a simple rookie mistake in pre-season and nothing more.
Otherwise, a solid performance for a rookie in his first pre-season game.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:29 am
Hurst was wide-azz open most of the first half. A decent QB would have hit him for 7-8 catches. Bazelak looked terrible. I only saw one good pass from him the entire first half.
Daniels was a far better looking QB. Not only does he have wheels, but he has some serious zip on the ball and seemed far more accurate. I only wish Hurst was on the field when Daniels was playing so that we could have seen a little more of what he can do.
August 15th, 2026 at 11:47 am
Hurst looked good but I think he will be even better with more playing time. It’s got to be tough for these guys going out in their first ever NFL game and playing well. All the rookies now have that under their belt and can just go and ball out.
August 15th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
He looked great. Really exited to see what he can accomplish with BM in. I’m hoping he starts.
August 15th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
Meanwhile, Trey Palmer is playing in the final minutes of the 4th quarter of preseason game 1 for the Taints. LOL
August 16th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
Daniel’s already on the radar,football execs, well they watch football..Here’s your sign