Baker Mayfield is continuing to play at such a high level while leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 5-1 record – with fans letting out the ‘MVP’ chants for the first time in the NFL.
But one Buccaneers player – a rookie no less – wrongly believed those chants were actually for him.
Rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson made his first start for the Buccaneers this past weekend, due to injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin with the former Oregon man scoring his first touchdown. After celebrating his first time in the end zone, fans had begun the ‘MVP’ chants – with Johnson admitting that he thought they were for him.
Speaking after the game, he told reporters: “When I scored and I heard the MVP chants, I’m thinking they’re talking about me. So I asked Shep (Sterling Shephard). ‘Shep, they were chanting MVP?’
“He was like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘I ain’t do nothing this year.’ And he was like, ‘They’re talking about Baker, Tez… I was embarrassed.’”
Johnson could be in line for an even further role in the offense in the coming weeks after impressive rookie Emeka Egbuka suffered a hamstring injury that could see him sidelined for multiple weeks.
This adds to Evans and Godwin being out – the latter expected to return next weekend when the Buccaneers take on the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.
Johnson is starting to make his mark in the NFL after an impressive two years in Oregon, scoring 20 touchdowns in his final two years.
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His best season had been with his adoptive brother playing at quarterback, in Denver Broncos star Bo Nix.
Johnson was adopted by Nix’ family after going to high school together, with Johnson having a difficult upbringing. He spent one season playing with him in college in 2023, now both in the NFL.