The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven't found much to celebrate during their 0-2 start, but the early development of rookie wide receiver Ted Hurst III has provided at least one encouraging sign.
Sports Illustrated's Justin Melo included Hurst among five rookie wide receivers making an immediate impact entering Week 3. The third-round pick hasn't put up huge numbers yet, but his usage through two games suggests Tampa Bay is already comfortable giving him opportunities within the offense.
Hurst has five receptions for 63 yards through his first two NFL games. He caught three passes for 36 yards against Cincinnati in Week 1 before adding two receptions for 27 yards in Tampa Bay's 23-19 loss to Cleveland. The Buccaneers' official statistics confirm those
totals.
The numbers only tell part of the story. Hurst was targeted seven times against Cleveland, and Sports Illustrated noted that those opportunities came with an average depth of target of 23.1 yards. Melo also pointed out that Tampa Bay has moved the rookie around, with 40 snaps coming outside and another 20 from the slot through two games.
That usage is noteworthy for a player only two games into his NFL career. Tampa Bay selected Hurst out of Georgia State with the No. 84 overall pick in April, making him the Bucs' first offensive selection of the 2026 draft. His combination of size and speed was a major part of what attracted Tampa Bay to him, and the Bucs have wasted little time trying to put those traits to use.
Hurst has already come close to producing the type of downfield play Sports Illustrated believes could eventually become a bigger part of his game. Tampa Bay took multiple shots in his direction against Cleveland, including a crucial opportunity during the Bucs' final possession.
With Tampa Bay trailing by four in the closing seconds, Baker Mayfield delivered a pass to Hurst in the end zone. The ball reached the rookie's hands, but with a defender tight in coverage and heavy rain coming down, Hurst couldn't complete the catch. The Bucs eventually turned the ball over on downs and fell to 0-2.
Mayfield didn't sound discouraged afterward. He said Hurst remains a player he trusts and made it clear that one missed opportunity isn't going to stop him from looking in the rookie's direction moving forward.
That's the most encouraging part of Hurst's start. Five catches for 63 yards isn't going to jump off the page, but a rookie receiver earning 10 targets through his first two games while being used as a legitimate downfield option is worth paying attention to.
There will still be growing pains. Hurst has caught only half of his targets, and the Bucs need some of those near misses downfield to turn into completions eventually. Sports Illustrated's inclusion of him among the rookie receivers already making an impact speaks more to the role he's earned and the opportunities Tampa Bay is giving him than raw production alone.ng place to start. Hurst has already earned Mayfield's trust and a meaningful place in Tampa Bay's offense. The next step is turning those opportunities into the explosive plays the Bucs drafted him to make.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs rookie making an immediate impact
