According to head coach Todd Bowles, Baker Mayfield does not need game reps to be ready for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ regular-season opener.
Bowles opened the curtain slightly to detail his thinking in whether Baker Mayfield will play in the preseason as well as the backup QB competition between Kyle Trask and Teddy Bridgewater.
Mayfield has not yet played in the preseason, and Bowles addressed the need to get controlled reps for his franchise quarterback.
Meanwhile, on the backup QB front, even though there are legitimate doubts whether Bridgewater even wants to be in the NFL amid his suspension from coaching in Florida, he earned high praise after balling out in Tampa Bay’s 17-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium.
What Did Todd Bowles Say About Baker Mayfield?
Bowles said he isn’t worried about Mayfield playing in preseason games, but he feels the veteran quarterback can get more work in more situations in joint practices — which the Bucs participated in this week in Western Pennsylvania.
“I’m not worried about the risk of it at all,” Bowles said Saturday. “We really wanted to see [Mayfield] get a two-minute drive, and we got that in on Thursday.”
Trask had the chance to lead a two-minute drill in the second quarter Saturday and moved the ball 12 yards before the Bucs had to punt. But Bowles said Mayfield would have been long out of the game by the time that situation arose.
“He would not have in the game in those situations [Saturday] anyway,” Mayfield said, referencing Mayfield. “So he got a ton of time in practice, and you do a lot more schematically in practice. He got a lot of different looks from those guys, and he played a whole bunch in practice and did a heck of a job.”
When asked about the potential for Mayfield to play in Tampa Bay’s preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Bowles deflected but said it was unlikely.
“I don’t usually play starters for all three [preseason] games,” Bowles said. “He does not need to play to be ready for the season.”
What Did Todd Bowles Say About The Buccaneers Backup QB Battle?
Bridgewater played the entire first quarter and guided Tampa Bay on a pair of touchdown drives. He went 6 for 11 for 85 yards and two passing TDs, a short catch and run to running back Bucky Irving and a five-yarder to 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.
His play earned praise from Bowles, especially since he just signed with the Bucs earlier this month.
“He made two great throws for those touchdowns,” Bowles said. “He moved in the pocket well; he got out of trouble; he kept us out of trouble. Being here just two weeks said a lot about him and how he operates and what he does.”
Bowles confirmed Trask, Bridgewater and undrafted free agent Connor Bazelak would play against Buffalo then he and the organization would decide which players would end up on the roster for Tampa Bay’s season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 7.
“Going forward, we’ll see,” Bowles said.
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