The Bucs roster has reported to Tampa Bay, and as a result, they have started their journey into the 2025 season. It starts at home in Tampa Bay, but they hope it ends on the road in Santa Clara, where they have a chance to raise the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in five years.

The worst part of football, especially during training camp, is waiting for injury updates as they occur or as players attempt to return from injuries sustained the previous season.

In the case of the Bucs, they had to battle the injury bug more than they did any divisional opponent. It will make monitoring injuries throughout camp a big part of our coverage here on Bucs Wire over the next couple of weeks.

After day seven, the veterans stole the show in a variety of ways at Bucs training camp.

Former Bucs are all over Bucs training camp

Former Bucs defender Robert Ayers is with the Bucs in 2025 as a coaching assistant through the NFL’s coaching program. Ayers played with the Bucs for two seasons and has some connections to current players, including Lavonte David.

Joining Ayers with the Bucs at training camp is another former player turned front office member in Cameron Brate. The Harvard graduate is back in Tampa Bay and has been seen at practices, but with no designation for his presence. On Thursday, it was announced he is a part of the Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship program in the NFL. The fan favorite tight end will now be working with Jason Licht in the front office, with the rest of his staff in 2025.

Jamel Dean makes a bold comparison for the Bucs in 2025

Jamel Dean has been rumored all offseason to be a target for the Bucs to shed salary cap spending in one way or another. Whether it be through a release or trade, not many people are counting on Dean to be on the Bucs in Week 1 in 2025. Despite that, Dean is preparing for the best season of his career by changing his diet and altering his recovery.

Apart from his diet and recovery, Dean is also focusing on the build of the team, and it is reminding him of the Bucs Super Bowl LV team. We have heard this from others but now Dean is throwing his hat into the ring ib believing in what he is seeing from this team.

Mike Evans feeling ‘grateful’ has us on alert

Okay Bucs fans, this may be tough to hear, but could we be seeing the last year of Mike Evans in the NFL and in a Tampa Bay uniform? Speaking to the media, Evans made a statement that sounded a lot like someone who knows something that no one else does.

Evans said, “I just feel like I’m just more grateful, I’ve always been grateful, but I have a different type of gratitude now as I’m getting up there in experience. And, you know, watching the young guys, and that motivates me, and winning motivates me.”

Perhaps Jason Licht was let in on this, and that is why the team pulled the trigger on drafting Emeka Egbuka in round one back in April.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs training camp notebook, Day 7: Veterans dominate news day