The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally earned their first victory of the season with a 24-16 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football. While Bucky Irving's career-high 165 rushing yards stole the headlines, Tampa Bay's snap counts revealed some interesting developments involving two rookies who have already made an impact this season.
Edge rusher David Walker and wide receiver Ted Hurst III continue to earn play on opposite sides of the ball. Their playing time against Dallas offers a closer look at where both players stand in Tampa Bay's rotation after five games. All snap percentages are per the NFL gamebook on NFL.com.
David Walker remains part of Buccaneers' pass-rush rotation
Walker played 19 of Tampa Bay's 60 defensive snaps against Dallas, accounting for 32% of the defensive workload. He
finished with two assisted tackles but did not record a sack, leaving him with two sacks through five games.
The rookie recorded his first career sack against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, then added another against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. Although he hasn't registered a sack in either of the past two games, his early production has given Tampa Bay another pass-rushing option.
Walker's opportunities were limited against Dallas, particularly with first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. returning after missing two games. Bain led the edge rushers with 35 snaps (58%), followed by Yaya Diaby with 34 (57%) and Al-Quadin Muhammad with 25 (42%).
Walker ranked fourth in that rotation, showing that he remains a situational contributor rather than an every-down defender. With Tampa Bay continuing to seek consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, his ability to capitalize on those opportunities will be worth monitoring.
Ted Hurst III sees increased playing time against Dallas
Hurst played 33 of Tampa Bay's 72 offensive snaps (46%), up from 25 against Green Bay in Week 4. Although the rookie didn't record a reception against Dallas, the additional playing time kept him involved in an offense that leaned heavily on its running game.
Through five games, Hurst has recorded eight receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown, averaging 16 yards per catch. His first NFL touchdown came on a 40-yard reception against Minnesota in Week 3, demonstrating his ability to produce explosive plays when given opportunities.
Emeka Egbuka led Tampa Bay's receivers with 64 snaps (89%) against Dallas, followed by Chris Godwin Jr. with 63 (88%). Hurst was next with 33, while Tez Johnson played 28 (39%).
The distribution shows that Egbuka and Godwin remain Tampa Bay's primary receiving options, with Hurst and Johnson working behind them. Hurst's increased playing time is encouraging, although his lack of targets against Dallas illustrates that additional snaps don't always translate into more opportunities in the passing game.
Other notable Buccaneers snap counts
Irving played 39 offensive snaps (54%) despite finishing with 175 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. Kenneth Gainwell followed with 26 snaps (36%), while Sean Tucker played seven (10%). Tight end Cade Otton remained heavily involved, appearing on 66 snaps (92%).
Defensively, rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter played 59 of 60 snaps (98%), while Alex Anzalone and Zyon McCollum played every defensive snap. Jacob Parrish appeared on 58 snaps (97%), and rookie cornerback Keionte Scott played 44 (73%).
Tampa Bay's rookies are contributing in different ways through five games. Trotter has established himself as a near-every-down defender, while Walker and Hurst continue competing for opportunities in deeper position groups.
As the Buccaneers prepare to host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6, the playing time of both rookies will remain worth watching, particularly as Tampa Bay looks to build on its first victory.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers' week 5 snaps reveal where David Walker and Ted Hurst stand
