Receiver Sterling Shepard

The Bucs receivers not named Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have combined for 15 catches, 221 yards and 3 touchdowns in six games.

Not good enough, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen said today.

“We need that Z position that we can trust to step in and execute,” Coen said.

“I love Shep,” Coen said, referring to Bucs veteran receiver Sterling Shepard. “His energy. The way he huddles in the locker room, before the game, on the sidelines – I love Shep's energy. I love being around him, but we need a little more performance from this position. We also have to trust that position to throw them the ball and stuff.”

So Shepard received three penalties on Sunday in New Orleans: unsportsmanlike conduct, unnecessary roughness and offensive pass interference.

It was embarrassing. However, Joe certainly thought a call was complete nonsense. Today, Coen said two of them were “doubtful.”

However, Shepard had a critical drop in the game that Joe knows most fans had forgotten about. But the more Joe watches the film, the more obvious it becomes how important the play was and how unacceptable the crash was.

Regardless, Shepard is the Bucs' best option as the No. 3 receiver until someone proves otherwise. And it seems like his old college buddy Baker Mayfield has full confidence in him.

Trey Palmer is expected to return from a concussion on Sunday after missing two games. And freshman Jalen McMillan played like a freshman.