The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a young, exciting receiver that they’d like to get more involved in the offense.
Ted Hurst is showing flashes, having caught passes in five of his first six NFL games, three of them without starting QB Baker Mayfield. Hurst is a young 22 years of age.
He caught his first touchdown pass against the Minnesota Vikings Sept. 27, and on the season, he has 11 catches for 168 yards and a TD.
His 15.3 yards per catch rank second on the team, not counting fellow rookie tight end Bauer Sharp, who has caught one pass for 21 yards, and all of this has impressed coach Todd Bowles.
Tampa’s offense has its share of playmakers. At receiver, the Bucs have Emeka Egbuka (240 yards, two touchdowns, 28 catches) leading the way, followed closely behind by Chris Godwin (23 catches, 216 yards).
Running back Bucky Irving has probably been the team’s best skill position player, having rushed for 452 yards and two touchdowns on 96 carries.
Even though the Bucs have these weapons and only one football to go around, Bowles would still like to see if offensive coordinator Zac Robinson can find a way to get the rookie Hurst more involved.
“The game’s not too big for him,” Bowles said on the Buccaneers Radio Network this week, “and as he gets the offensive game plan and the situations down that he can see and play fast and, you know, he’s really gonna start coming on right now,”
Bowles kept gushing over his prize from Georgia State.
“We really gotta use him a little bit more. But you got Chris [Godwin] and [Emeka Egbuka] and we only got one ball,” Bowles said. “So that ball, as well as Bucky (Irving), so that ball gets spread around pretty good. But he’s gonna be a heck of a player for us.”
This isn’t the first Buccaneers decision-maker to discuss getting Hurst more involved.
Earlier this month, Bucs’ OC Zac Robinson told reporters he wanted the Bucs to get Hurst the ball.
At the moment, Hurst is fourth on the team in targets with 22.
It’s worth noting that Hurst has been targeted nine more times than Tez Johnson, another promising receiver who’s one year Hurst’s senior.
Hurst has also been targeted seven fewer times than tight end Cade Otton and only one more than running back Bucky Irving.
This suggests that the Bucs should be looking to throw the ball downfield more.
Having Mayfield back could change that situation. Mayfield has been out since late last month with a dislocated thumb.
Having missed Tampa’s last three games. Mayfield practiced Wednesday wearing a glove on his right throwing hand, which is an encouraging sign.
With or without Mayfield, Tampa will take on the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium Sunday afternoon.
It’s a game Tampa simply has to win. The Bucs are already in a big hole at 1-5, and any loss would hurt, let alone one to a divisional rival at home.
Bucs-Panthers is set to kick off at 1 on FOX.