TAMPA — The Bucs have competition in the middle of their offensive line, with Evan Smith working as the starting center during Sunday's practice and returning starter Joe Hawley working with the second unit.
"We're alternating Evan and Joe every couple of days, so as we said, there's competition there," coach Dirk Koetter said. "We want competition like that at every position if we can get it."
Smith, 30, opened last season as the starting center but injured his ankle in Week 2. Hawley, 27, started the rest of the season, even after Smith had returned healthy.