As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to host the Buffalo Bills in the preseason finale, the expectation was that Kyle Trask and Teddy Bridgewater would both take significant snaps as they made their final case for the backup quarterback job behind Baker Mayfield.
None of the Buccaneers’ starters will be playing tonight according to head coach Todd Bowles, so the focus of the game is on players fighting for roster spots ahead of final cuts. The quarterback competition was perhaps the most intriguing storyline.
In surprising news just ahead of kickoff, Bridgewater, according to Buccaneers team reporter Scott Smith, will be sitting out due to an illness, missing out on a major opportunity to gain ground in the backup quarterback competition.
After just joining the team a few weeks ago, and with only one game for Tampa Bay under his belt where he completed 6-of-11 passes, missing tonight’s game could make an uphill battle even steeper for Bridgewater.
Buccaneers QB shakeup puts Kyle Trask in the spotlight for QB2 role
With Bridgewater not playing tonight, and Mayfield also sitting out along with the rest of the starters, the reps will be split between Trask and Connor Bazelak.
Significantly more reps for Trask means a golden opportunity to take the backup spot and run with it.
Still, Trask has to capitalize on the opportunity and make up for a poor showing last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If he can repeat his performance from the preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, where he went 12-for-16 for 129 yards, he’ll be in a great position when roster cuts take place over the next few days, ahead of the deadline on Tuesday.
Trask already had an advantage going into his fifth season with the Buccaneers, but his lack of experience was a concern if disaster struck at the quarterback position.
Bridgewater has appeared in 79 NFL games, including 65 starts. Trask has never started a game and has attempted just 11 passes in regular-season action.
Bridgewater’s experience was a welcome addition to the quarterback room, but missing such an important game and reps just weeks after joining the team might not bode well in the heated competition for the backup job.
With a strong performance tonight, Trask will almost certainly earn the backup job entering the season.