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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from Tampa Bay's Preseason Opener against the Titans
The Buccaneers kicked off their 2025 preseason with a resounding 29–7 victory over the Tennessee Titans. While preseason games don't count in the standings, they do matter for players battling for roster spots and coaches evaluating execution. Here's a breakdown of the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Bucs' preseason opener. The Good Kyle Trask's Command of the Offense Trask played one of his most confident games in a Buccaneers uniform. He went through his progressions quickly, avoided unnecessary risks, and directed the offense with maturity. He looked like a clear and capable QB2 behind Baker Mayfield. Sean Tucker's Explosiveness Tucker seized his opportunity and ran with purpose. He showed excellent vision, burst through the line, and finished runs with power. His touchdown run was a highlight, and he made a strong case for a role in the regular season rotation. Shilo Sanders and the Young Secondary Sanders delivered a high-energy debut. He flew to the ball, made sure tackles, and held his own in coverage. He wasn't alone; JJ Roberts made plays all night, showing quick reaction time and a knack for disrupting passes. Offensive Line Consistency Whether it was protecting Trask or paving the way for the run game, the offensive line delivered. They played smart, physical football with no breakdowns or major penalties. It was a cohesive and disciplined game. The Bad Chris Braswell's Quiet Debut Braswell didn't generate much pressure and was mostly a non-factor off the edge. As a player hoping to crack the rotation, he'll need a more aggressive and productive showing next time out. Jacob Harris Fading into the Background No standout moments. Harris is known for his athleticism and hybrid skill set, but none of that showed up against the Titans. His quiet night on top of both a penalty and costly fumble in the redzone could be costly for his chances to crack a deep wide receiver corps. Special Teams Return Game While ball security was solid, no one emerged as a standout return threat. There were no explosive returns or field-flipping moments, an area that still looks unsettled as the team heads deeper into preseason. Tez Johnson looks to fill that role when he returns from injury. The Ugly Rachaad White's Early Exit White exited early with what appeared to be a lower-body injury. Although there's no official update yet, any missed time is a concern, especially with Sean Tucker looking ready for a bigger role. The Bucs may have to monitor their top reserve backs' availability closely over the coming weeks. Red Zone Execution (Early) The Bucs had multiple first-half trips into the red zone that stalled out, resulting in field goals. While it didn't hurt them in a preseason game, this is the kind of detail coaches want cleaned up before Week 1. This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from Tampa Bay's Preseason Opener
CBS News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Teddy Bridgewater returns to NFL with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Teddy Bridgewater is returning to the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he agreed to a one-year deal on Tuesday. The Buccaneers are the eighth team in 12 seasons for the 32-year-old Bridgewater. Bridgewater coached his former high school in Miami to a Class 3A state championship last fall and then returned to the NFL in late December to serve as a backup to Jared Goff for the playoff-bound Lions. He will provide insurance for the four-time defending NFC South champions behind Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers also have veteran Kyle Trask, who has thrown 11 passes in four seasons since he was a second-round pick in 2021. Mayfield returned to practice Tuesday after missing a couple of days because of a hand contusion. Bridgewater said last month that he was suspended from coaching Miami Northwestern High School because he provided players with financial benefits that he says he reported to the school. "I'm not going anywhere," Bridgewater said on social media post. "And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem." Bridgewater, a first-round pick by Minnesota in 2014, is 33-32 as a starter and made the Pro Bowl after his second season when he led the Vikings to an 11-5 record. He also spent time with the Jets, Saints, Panthers, Broncos and Dolphins. Bridgewater has completed 66.4% of his passes for 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns, 47 interceptions and a 90.5 passer rating. Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was an assistant coach in Miami in 2022 when Bridgewater backed up Tua Tagovailoa. Buccaneers defensive line coach Charlie Strong was Bridgewater's head coach at Louisville. Tampa Bay's quarterback room also includes Michael Pratt and Connor Bazelak. Pratt, a seventh-round pick out of Tulane by Green Bay in 2024 who signed to the Buccaneers' practice squad last August, has been sidelined by a back injury. Bazelak signed as an undrafted free agent out of Bowling Green where he spent the final two of his six college seasons.
USA Today
01-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bucs training camp notebook, Day 8: Offensive and defensive line battle
The Bucs roster has reported to Tampa Bay, and as a result, they have started their journey into the 2025 season. It starts at home in Tampa Bay, but they hope it ends on the road in Santa Clara, where they have a chance to raise the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in five years. The worst part of football, especially during training camp, is waiting for injury updates as they occur or as players attempt to return from injuries sustained the previous season. In the case of the Bucs, they had to battle the injury bug more than they did any divisional opponent. It will make monitoring injuries throughout camp a big part of our coverage here on Bucs Wire over the next couple of weeks. After day seven, the veterans stole the show in a variety of ways at Bucs training camp. Defensive and offensive lines go at it Early on in Friday's practice, the Bucs' defensive front was getting all sorts of penetration and pressure on the Bucs' backfield. The offensive line struggled some with what Todd Bowles was throwing at them, and despite it, Josh Grizzard's unit found a way to get some of their own. While Haason Reddick, Vita Vea, and others were generating pressure, it was Cody Mauch and Graham Barton who were adapting and adjusting to their game. The offensive line is going to be tested time and again in 2025, especially while Tristan Wirfs is recovering from his knee injury. Seeing them give each other licks early on is suitable for both of them, but especially the offense. Remove the bad reps now so that when the regular season starts, they are ready for their demanding schedule from the beginning. Kyle Trask shines without Baker Mayfield Baker Mayfield missed practice on Friday with a hand injury that isn't expected to be significant. In his place, Kyle Trask got some much-needed first-team reps as only he and rookie Connor Bazelak were healthy passers on Friday. Trask made several good throws according to reports from those who watched practice, including one out of the gate to Mike Evans. From there, Trask made some mistakes, but he played with a confidence down the stretch that folks have not seen from him since his final year with the Florida Gators. Mayfield is expected back soon, so the reps will be gone for Trask, but this could be something where if he starts in a pinch, it helps him down the road. Benjamin Morrison's hip looks healed and then some Benjamin Morrison fell to the second round of the NFL Draft after a hip injury ended his final year at Notre Dame early. Whenever a cornerback has a hip injury, it raises questions, and as a result, he went from being a top ten pick to a value for the Bucs. Through nearly ten days of training camp, Morrison is looking like the steal of the draft. He has been giving fits to veterans like Mike Evans and keeping rookies like Emeka Egbuka in check in coverage as well. While the team struggles to figure out their identity, Morrison is doing his best to show he is worthy of being a starting outside corner for years to come within this defense.
Reuters
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Report: Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (hand) to miss practice
August 1 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will sit out practice on Friday while dealing with a contusion on his throwing hand, multiple media outlets reported. Mayfield is considered day-to-day by the team. Per the Tampa Bay Times, Mayfield sustained the injury during practice on Thursday after hitting his right hand on a shoulder pad during his follow through. Kyle Trask and Connor Bazelak will handle the quarterbacking duties in place of Mayfield, who has yet to miss a game during his two Pro Bowl seasons with the Buccaneers. Mayfield, 30, set career-high totals in passing yards (4,500) and touchdowns (41) in 17 games last season. He also completed a personal-best 71.4 percent of his passes. He has thrown for 24,832 yards, 171 TDs and 90 interceptions in 106 regular-season games (103 starts) for the Cleveland Browns (2018-21), Carolina Panthers (2022), Los Angeles Rams (2022) and Buccaneers. The Browns made him the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. --Field Level Media
USA Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Looking back: Grading the Bucs 2021 NFL Draft class years later
Looking back: Grading the Bucs 2021 NFL Draft class years later Coming off their Super Bowl LV win, the Buccaneers' entered the 2021 NFL Draft with few immediate needs, but also few resources as last pick in almost every round. General manager Jason Licht and the Bucs front office opted to augment the roster with their championship roster and make risky bets at positions of need. After four years, only one player from the 2021 class remains on Tampa Bay's roster. The Bucs derived little value from the premium picks and only got temporary contributions from the players who did see the field. Suffice it to say, the Bucs' 2021 draft class is not likely to be remembered fondly. Here are the final grades from the Bucs' 2021 draft: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka The Bucs went for high upside at a position of need with their first pick, but outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka simply did not work out. In four seasons with Tampa Bay, he never developed into much of a pass rusher, recording just 15 total sacks, 21 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles. The best thing Tryon-Shoyinka had going for him was his durability, missing just two games since entering the NFL. While there were not any better options at the position, this was an instance of the Bucs reaching for a need in a weak class at edge rusher and paying the price. Grade: C- Kyle Trask Taking swings on quarterbacks can be an underappreciated undertaking in the draft, but the Bucs appear to have swung too early on the wrong quarterback. Sure, Kyle Trask is the first quarterback the Bucs have ever drafted to receive a second contract, but he also could not beat out Baker Mayfield for the starting job in 2023 and has just 11 NFL dropbacks on his resume after four seasons. At a point when the Bucs could have bolstered their defensive line with the likes of Alim McNeil, Milton Williams or Osa Odighizuwa, they instead used their second-round pick on a career backup quarterback. Grade: D+ Robert Hainsey The Bucs' third-round pick was arguably the best of the class. After Ryan Jensen suffered an ultimately career-ending knee injury during training camp in 2022, Hainsey stepped in and started at center in every regular season game through the 2023 season. While the Bucs eventually upgraded the position in 2024 by drafting Graham Barton, Hainsey proved to be a valuable player likely to have a long NFL career. Grade: B- Jaelon Darden In the fourth round, Tampa Bay took a chance drafting undersized North Texas WR Jaelon Darden. Darden has yet to emerge as a receiver in the NFL, but he has shown value as a returner, taking 50 punts for a 9.4-yard average in two seasons with Tampa Bay. However, the Bucs cut Darden in December 2022, and he has been a returner for Cleveland and Seattle since. Grade: C- K.J. Britt When the Bucs took Auburn's K.J. Britt in the fifth round, they figured they were drafting a special teamer and linebacker depth. Devin White's regression over the next three years culminated in Britt filling in for White down the stretch in 2023 and entering 2024 as the presumed starter next to Lavonte David. However, Britt could not overcome his lack of athleticism and proved that he is best utilized in a reserve role. Grade: C+ Chris Wilcox The Bucs drafted cornerback Chris Wilcox with their first seventh-round pick. He was waived after the preseason and has bounced around practice squads across the NFL. Wilcox has yet to play a snap in a regular-season game and was out of the NFL in 2024. Grade: D+ Grant Stuard With their second seventh-round pick, the Bucs took 2021's Mr. Irrelevant, Houston LB Grant Stuard. While he only lasted one year with Tampa Bay, mostly playing special teams, Stuard is making a career out of his special-teams ability. He led the Indianapolis Colts in special teams snaps since the Bucs traded him for a 2023 sixth-round pick. The return value for the trade alone made Stuard one of the Bucs' better picks in 2021. Grade: B Overall As the reigning Super Bowl XL champions, the Bucs had fewer resources than most teams in the 2021 draft and failed to capitalize on what little value they had. Taking the swing on Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was understandable, but the Trask pick in the second round remains a major blemish. Targeting special teams contributors over more conventional depth proved to be a wasted opportunity to carry the roster past the Tom Brady era. The 2021 class will be remembered as one of Jason Licht's worst as Bucs general manager, second only to the disastrous 2016 draft class. Grade: D
