Bridgewater poised to back up Mayfield as Bucs eye Week 1
Tampa Bay is lining Teddy Bridgewater up as Baker Mayfield’s top backup heading into Week 1, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The Buccaneers are reportedly planning to move on from Kyle Trask, who is dealing with a shoulder injury and would be released with an injury designation. In that scenario, Trask would revert to injured reserve and later pursue an injury settlement with the team, which would allow him to sign elsewhere once healthy. Bridgewater last appeared in a regular-season game in 2023 with the Lions.
Value and context:
– This setup gives the Buccaneers a veteran, proven clipboard-guard in Bridgewater to support Mayfield, after a spring and summer of QB evaluation.
– Trask’s path appears to be toward IR, with a potential exit from Tampa Bay contingent on health and the injury settlement, paving the way for him to explore opportunities elsewhere.
– Bridgewater’s experience as a game manager and locker-room presence could help stabilize the quarterback room during Week 1 preparations.
Summary:
– Bridgewater is positioned as the top backup to Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay, with Kyle Trask heading toward an injury designation and potential relocation after an IR stint and settlement. Bridgewater’s last regular-season action was in 2023 with the Lions.
Positive angle:
– The Buccaneers are prioritizing depth and experienced leadership behind Mayfield, aiming for continuity and steadiness at a pivotal position as the season begins.
If you’d like, I can tailor this into a short deck-ready blurb for a homepage widget or expand with a deeper background on Bridgewater’s career and how it complements Mayfield.