Who Won Quarterback Battle In First Buccaneers Preseason Game?

Both Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask got the opportunity to show their abilities in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first preseason game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off for the first time of the season in a preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They ended up losing 27-17, but getting a further understanding of the team was an important part of the game.

As stated earlier in training camp by head coach Todd Bowles, Baker Mayfield started at quarterback in the Buccaneers' first preseason game. 

Mayfield was sharp early, though the team started off heavy in the run-game. Through four series, Mayfield completed eight of his nine pass attempts for 63 passing yards and a touchdown.

BAKER’S FIRST BUCS TD 🔥 #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/xNnjQZm38m

— BucsGameday (@BucsGameday) August 11, 2023

"He did a good job controlling the game," Bowles said at halftime. 

VIDEO: Baker Mayfield Throws First Touchdown For Buccaneers

This much was important for Mayfield. He was able to roll out of the pocket and find an open receiver, something the team was handicapped of during Tom Brady's tenure with the team. 

Overall, Mayfield avoided turning the ball over and even made an impressive throw for a touchdown. While nothing flashy happened, simply playing controlling football is what the team needs. 

After his four series played, Kyle Trask, third-year pro from Florida, took over at the quarterback position.

Trask's first completed throw was an impressive 23-yard gain to David Moore. However, the drive ended with an interception thrown by Trask intended for Moore. Interceptions were a turnover in training camp, in large part by Mayfield but Trask joined the parade later in the camp. However, it's still not a great look for Trask.

Early on, the more experienced quarterback in Mayfield looked better and more grounded between the two players. As Bowles mentioned at halftime, they were watching for the quarterbacks to control the game, and Mayfield took the early edge in that aspect.

Trask finished with 99 passing yards while completing six of his ten passes. As mentioned, he threw an interception and also took three sacks. John Wolford replaced him.

The Buccaneers' quarterbacks were dealing to a young wide receiver corps while big names like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were inactive. 

Two of the most targeted receivers on the night, Trey Palmer and Kaylon Geiger are both young. Palmer is a 22-year-old rookie, and Geiger is 25 years old.

The wide receiver is proving to have depth behind their top two stars, and the rotation has the ability to be fluid with the group of young guys the team has. 

Palmer finished the game with 33 receiving yards on four catches and was targeted four times. Geiger had 50 receiving yards himself on four catches in five targets. 

---

READ MORE: Buccaneers’ Offensive Starters Get Honest Regarding Quarterback Battle

Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the offseason.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook