Bucs’ Bowles Shares Preseason Plan for QB Battle Between Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles has decided who will get the start in the team’s first preseason game.

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles told reporters Wednesday that Baker Mayfield will start Friday’s preseason game against the Steelers and Kyle Trask will start next week as the quarterback battle rages on. 

Much has been made about who Tampa Bay will go with under center since both players have plenty of intrigue surrounding them. Mayfield signed with the team during the offseason with the full expectation that he’d be the franchise starter after some good years with the Browns and short stints with the Panthers and Rams.

Mayfield, a former first-round pick, has started in 69 games through his first five NFL seasons, giving him the clear advantage over Trask—or so he thought. Trask was drafted in 2020 and started his career backing up Tom Brady. He has never been an NFL starting quarterback, but apparently he’s giving Mayfield a run for his money during training camp. The former Florida Gator has only appeared in one game through his first three seasons but could very well be the team’s starting quarterback this year if he outshines Mayfield over the next month. 

The Buccaneers play the Steelers on Friday at 7 p.m. ET with Mayfield starting and then Trask will get the start on Aug. 19 against the Jets. The team’s regular season is slated to start Sept. 10 against the Vikings.