Buccaneers’ QB battle gets murkier amid Baker Mayfield’s interception problem

The quarterback battle in Tampa Bay continues. 

Whereas Baker Mayfield was introduced in because the presumptive starter following Tom Brady’s February retirement, former second-round decide Kyle Trask has saved himself within the combine and given the Buccaneers’ teaching workers loads to consider. 

Mayfield, although, will get the primary probability to additional show himself.

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles stated Wednesday that Mayfield will begin Friday’s preseason opener in opposition to the Steelers and Trask will begin subsequent week in opposition to the Jets. 

Bowles is not going to identify an official beginning quarterback till no less than Week 3 of the preseason, according to ProFootballTalk.

That gives each Mayfield and Trask time and recreation outcomes to create separation of their competitors.

The 2 have been listed as co-starters on the crew’s first official depth chart that was launched on Tuesday.

Mayfield, 28, signed a one-year $8.5 million contract with the Bucs in March, however hasn’t given the crew a large enough cause to lock him into the beginning place but.

“Competitors-wise, we’re attempting to make the QB room pretty much as good as doable,” Mayfield said last month.

“I’ve at all times stated, ‘The franchise will go because the QB room does’ — how they jell, how they get all people, how they convey, get all people on the identical web page, how they lead.”

The previous No. 1 decide within the 2018 NFL Draft began his first camp with the Bucs on a bitter observe, throwing seven interceptions in 9 practices, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman.

He’s competing for the beginning job with Trask, who was chosen within the second-round of the 2021 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay however sat behind Brady for the final two seasons.

Mayfield and Trask reportedly mixed for 5 interceptions Tuesday. 

The 2 have been splitting time working with the first-team offense, alternating each different day.

Mayfield remains to be attempting to make good on the promise he flashed in his early seasons with the Browns after being taken with the primary decide off the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Oklahoma product was in the end pushed out of Cleveland in July 2022 with the acquisition of Deshaun Watson.

Mayfield had declined in manufacturing since main the membership to its first playoff victory in 26 years in 2020.

Mayfield spent lower than one season with the Panthers earlier than being benched then requesting a commerce and touchdown with the Rams –– his last cease earlier than Tampa Bay.