TAMPA, Fla. – The phrase “next man up” is used throughout the NFL when teams talk about dealing with injuries and the role of backup players. Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard was most recently called up from the practice squad to fill a spot vacated by the injured Kameron Johnson. Shepard caught three passes for 51 yards, including two key grabs for first downs.

The 31-year-old could have been calling it a career after multiple injuries hampered his performance in his final three seasons with the New York Giants. But he decided to give it another try when the Bucs offered him a one-year deal this offseason.

“All last year I was told it was a 'next man up mentality, next man up mentality.' It never got to that point and I was really frustrated about it,” Shepard explained after practice. “So I felt like that conditioned me to the position that I was coming here. I'm just trying to stay patient, man. I just trust in God's plan. Whenever I got my chance, I wanted to maximize it.”

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield was Shepard's college teammate at Oklahoma. He couldn't be happier that his friend was able to make the most of their full-circle moment.

“It was really fun to see that he was really happy for him, being in New York for a while, getting injured, having a fresh start here at a different age for him and still making plays,” Mayfield smiled. “Just the playmaking ability he had – strong through the catch. He’s a little energizer bunny on the sidelines, so I think the guys enjoyed it.”

Defensive lineman Vita Vea returned from a knee injury and promptly recorded a sack and two tackles for loss. He and the rest of his teammates are prepared for a quick turnaround tonight when they face the Atlanta Falcons on the road on Thursday Night Football. Vea knows it's still early in the season, but he also knows that every game against a division opponent is important.

“It's definitely a big game this week, especially with the Falcons and because they're a strong team this year,” Vea said in the locker room. “You know how hard we have struggled with them in the past. So this week it’s definitely going to be a big challenge for us to get over that hurdle and get that win.”

Tampa Bay (3-1) and Atlanta (2-2) begin Thursday night at 8:15 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium