It was almost lost in the aerial fireworks ignited by quarterback Baker Mayfield and rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka last Sunday in Seattle – an impressive, if brief, display by another rookie pass-catcher, Tez Johnson.

The seventh-round pick out of the University of Oregon made his first impact as a Buc with four catches for 59 yards. The highlight was a lunging 27-yard grab in the third quarter that gave Tampa Bay a first down at the Seahawks’ 15 and set up a Mayfield-to-Egbuka 20-yard touchdown, pivotal in getting the Bucs back into the game. 

With everything that followed, ending in the Bucs’ dramatic 38-35 win, it was easy for that play and Johnson’s performance to be overshadowed. But it was a confidence-builder for No. 15 and served notice that he could play a meaningful support role in the passing game – especially with All-Pro Mike Evans still out with a hamstring injury.

The message: Don't take the guy who is officially the lightest player in the NFL at 154 pounds on his 5-10 frame lightly.

For Johnson, making a contribution in his old neck of the woods in the Pacific Northwest – where he teamed with Buc tailback Bucky Irving – was especially gratifying.

“It actually felt like a home game for me. I (saw) a lot of Oregon fans out there, (including) a sign that said, ‘Duckaneers,’ so that was kind of cool,” he said. “(I want to do), whatever it takes to help out the team with my role – big or small, no matter what – just always (staying) positive. My goal is to go out there and give my best ability and effort to the team.”

His first taste of meaningful game experience occurred a week earlier when he had one catch for eight yards in a 31-25 loss to the Eagles – a memorable moment for the native of Birmingham, Ala. “It was fun playing against them and seeing a lot of the guys you watch playing as a little kid,” he said. “You see guys out there on the field (who) you played with on (Madden) and now you are actually going against them.”

Developing an early rapport with the quarterback has been a thrill and something on which he hopes to build – especially with the receiving corps not full strength.

“(I’m just) trying to gain Baker’s s trust in who he can throw it to and just showing that I know the plays and everyone around him knows the plays – whatever makes Baker feel comfortable,” he sad. “We never go into a panic when something happens, we all just buy-in and trust ‘Bake,’ trust the coaches, trust each other and just go out there and execute to the best of our abilities. That is something we pride ourselves on.”

Mayfield’s poise in the huddle has also made a big impression on the newcomer.

“Not one time on his face (has) it looked like he was panicked,” he said. “I specifically remember when he was in the huddle, he was just smiling, he was just like, ‘Hey, are you all ready?’ … I’m kind of like, ‘Oh, we (have) to go out here and at least get into field goal range or something,’ and he goes out there and smiles and is like, ‘(Are) you guys alright? (Are] you ready?’ Like, ‘Okay, yeah we are ready,’ and I think that gave everyone confidence. We went out there, we executed, beautiful pass to Emeka [– I love that dude, he is great. Emeka is awesome, Baker [Mayfield] is awesome, [the] whole team is awesome. I love watching Emeka play, he is pretty fun, he is one of a kind.”

Johnson played against Egbuka in college, when the Tacoma, Washington native starred for Ohio State. Once rivals, now he  loves having him as a teammate and seeing him thrive  in the pros. 

“I never thought we would play on the same team, but I do not look at him as a rival anymore, he is my brother,” Johnson said. “It is one of those things that when you see Emeka play, you (are) just so hyped for him. We create all these dance moves because I know he is going to score every game. I tell him every game you are going to score today, so we need another celebration. It’s awesome seeing the success he has, the happiness on his face and him back in Seattle – I think he had like 60 people there, it was elite. He deserves it; I love that guy to death.”

Johnson is quick to give credit to his coaches for providing him with an opportunity – especially wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon and offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.

“They [are] always on me and just stay positive,” he said. “(They] just encourage me to be the best I can be. Coach ‘B-Mac’ he is always out there going over scripts before the games. Right before we leave or take off if it is an away game, we are going over the script. Every morning, we meet – I wake up at 5, he wakes up at 5 and does his runs – we meet in the receiver room at 7:20 every morning and just go over the practice script and continue to stay consistent with the plays, because you never know when your time is coming… 

“Coach ‘Grizz’ and all those guys that have helped me and allowed me to show my ability on Sundays. I think this past Sunday, it was just me playing confidently and being back in the pacific northwest, kind of feeling like home.”

Increasingly, Johnson is feeling at home as a pro  – and one particular moment underscored that last week, apart from any of his catches.

“My welcome to the NFL moment was meeting Cooper Kupp pregame,” he said. “…Everyone knows he has been a big mentor to me in college. My coach, Junior Adams, coached him a while back in college and I have watched everything he has done. (I) was similar to him coming out of college with option routes. Cooper Kupp is one of those guys I look up to. Meeting him this pregame, and him just telling me congratulations for being here, it was really surreal.”