Baker Mayfield Won’t Play Against Steelers
August 15th, 2025
No need to play.
If any Bucs fan traveled to Pittsburgh to see Baker Mayfield play in the Bucs’ second worthless preseason game, the following will come as bad news.
Todd Bowles has decided Mayfield doesn’t need the work against the Steelers, so why risk it, as noted by CBS Sports. Therefore, Mayfield will get the night off.
Per CBS, Bowles was impressed enough with Mayfield against the Steelers in the teams’ joint practice yesterday. It was a practice in which the Bucs passing game dominated with Mike Evans going crazy and Emeka Egbuka looking like a seasoned veteran. Jalen McMillan and Sterling Shepard didn’t exactly look like bums, either.
August 15th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
Smart move on Todd’s part. It will be interesting though to see if he let’s Baker get 1 or 2 series in during next Saturday’s game against the Bills … at night.
August 15th, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Good idea.
August 15th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
Good, now lets bench Evans as well and Kancy and Vea.
August 15th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
What’s the purpose of playing Baker?
It’s nott like he’s fighting for his job
Doesn’t matter how the other QBs perform
Mayfield has the Starting job in his hip pocket
There’s no competition
Quit fooling the masses, keep it real
August 15th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
Baker, along with other key starters don’t need to be put in harms way for a meaningless preseason game. These games are meaningful for finding the right 53 to fill out the roster. Not for the players we know what they can do.
August 15th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
Look out, here we come, 22 days. š“āā ļø
August 15th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
Good decision by Todd. Let’s see how Teddy does.
August 15th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
The preseason trend is accelerating year by yearā¦
I only watch half way thru the second quarter last week.
Itās become a film room story for coaches evaluating players in individual situations š„±š„±š„±š„±š„±
I caught a 12 minute highlight on NFL YouTube the next day and that was perfect for my preseason football fix.
August 15th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Better to let the other QB’s get some reps .
August 15th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
firethecannons, already announced Evans and David not playing. I think Baker has been ready for our opening game since that ball clanked off the goalpost earlier this year. I donāt know if thereās much Atlanta is gonna be able to do to prevent whatās fixin to befall them in 22 short days!
August 15th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Bake and Mike did their thing – Mike beat Ramsey for the TD. Rest them and let them start on Atlanta tape.
August 15th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
First time, I have seen Shepards name mentioned positively since week 14 last year. The guy disappeared as the season continued and in the playoff games.
47 yards and no TDs in his last 169 snaps for the Bucs. That is pretty putrid.
August 15th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
Good. Hope he doesn’t injure his hamstring getting off the bus in the parking lot.
August 15th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
Someone needs to tell these coaches they’re in the entertainment business, and fans are paying to watch games, and TV networks are paying to broadcast games – even preseason. I’m shocked the NFL hasn’t outlawed these practices already, but with more and more of this nonsense happening, it’s only a matter of time.
August 15th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
geno711, thatās not fair and I think you know better. Shep might not be the first choice on the play, but heās a good football player. He decoys, he blocks, he is a good guy to have in that receiver room. And he make plays when he gets the chance. People still mad about last year a silly penalty or 2. He plays with emotion! Heās earned every dollar heās been paid by this team and heās grateful for it. And when heās on this Bucs25 roster itāll be because he earned it.
August 15th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
No one is āfooledā about there being any kind of a QB competition in Tampa Bay. Itās not even a questionā¦ Hasnāt been in ātwo-YEARSā now. There is no one ātrying toā fool ANYONE, that I can see here. Baker playing or not playing has absolutely nothing to do with there being some kind of QB competition, because there never was one to begin with. At least not at any point in time within the past two-years! I mean, that has been loooong settledā¦ Itās OVER With. And, I believe that everyone in Tampa Bayās FO has been very clear about that fact, while trying to fool no one. So, I donāt get that comment at all, LakelandBuc!?:/
August 15th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
It looks like there is definitely āoneā QB-competition going on though, and weāll be seeing it TONIGHTā¦ Trask vs Teddy! I would expect Trask to easily win that one out. If not then it should probably tell you all you need to know about Trasks future NFL prospects. I just really canāt see Teddy coming in and doing a whole helluva lot, especially right off the bat like that. Unless, he has had time to heal up like he never has before, and just happens to get HOT, while picking up the offense right away, I donāt. And, I believe āthe oddsā of that ever happening, are just astronomically nonexistent. Iām rooting for him tho! Anything that improves the teams chances this season, Iām all in šÆ.
August 15th, 2025 at 3:31 pm
You can go to a Florida High School playoff football game for $20 or less and itās usually more entertaining than an NFL preseason game
August 15th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
MelvinJunior,
So what’s the purpose of saying “Baker isn’t playing””
Everyone and their mother know he isn’t playing
These are just mind games, played on the gullible fan base
They need to be talking about the real issues
How have Charlie Heck been doing in practice
When will Anthony Walker be available to play
Is Winfield “Hamstring” injury, mild or what
What’s the latest on Godwin injury
Is Tristan Wirfs making progress
How has the Edge Rushers perform so far in camp
.
And there’s aot more questions that need to be addressed
August 15th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
They need something to talk about
But quit talking about the obvious talk about the unknown
Let us know what it really going on with these players
August 15th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
Highly doubt they let him play versus Bills. What is stopping the Bills from telling some camp meat to rock him in if they get a chance cause why not take him out for the season? Unless that is the catalyst to Trask going beast mode 50 tuddies 0 INT’s 6,000 yards or whatever his fans think.
August 15th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
I don’t want to hear no excuses when the season starts about him being rusty. This is why we don’t get the full potential from most of these players in sports today. They get gifted staring jobs regardless of position and most of them don’t practice hard or even work hard to be come great players. This is why training camp don’t mean nothing anymore like it used to. And then when the season starts we got to hear how rusty they are and hear all these excuses on why they throw picks or miss tackles or get blown off the line and why they drop passes. No more excuses for any of these players!!
August 15th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
K Trask seems like a good dude. But darn he is slow. 5.1 in the 40. His grandfather played on the line and was pretty good. Maybe Kyle should beef up and do like his granddad. Or a tight end maybe. 5.1 is more like a lineman anyway and not so much a quarterback. He might even help the team more.
August 15th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
The problem l have with this
Todd Bowles says ‘ after watching the tape of today’s joint practice ”
We have decided to sit Baker Mayfield for Saturday game
He went on to say, how they was pleased with Mayfield performance
And they didn’t need to see anymore from him
So I’m guessing him and Grizzard made the decision
Well, l take it, they have seen enough from one joint practice
But, they wasn’t sure about the rest of the off-season workouts
I’m sure they had concerns about his INTS in camp
But they played it off
It’s nothing but mind games, played on the fan base
August 15th, 2025 at 4:27 pm
Sit anyone and everyone that matters ,,,, biggest part of preseason is coming out healthy ,,, Bake , Big Mike,, Bucky, Luke , Graham, Vita , Kancy , AW, LD , kicker and punter , Reddick, Yaya, Dean, sit them all,,, the only game that matters is Atlanta
August 15th, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Starters played very little last year. They came out the gates and played Washington well. Not playing in the preseason is never going to be a reason why the Bucs aren’t playing good. Injuries, assignment mistakes, turnovers, mental errors and penalties are usually what do the Bucs in. I’m hoping we’re better in all of those categories.
Preseason is for separating the waved from the practice squad from the third string… In a couple cases, figuring out who’s really going to start and who’s second string.
August 15th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
KABucs Says:
August 15th, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Starters played very little last year. They came out the gates and played Washington well.
============
Yeah, but they actually did play.
Also, again, I challenge people to show me the stats that show injuries have decreased since teams started reducing practices and not playing starters in preseason. I’m not saying I’m right since I don’t know the numbers, but it certainly feels like we get a lot more injuries now than what you’d get 10-20 years ago when players practiced and played a lot more. Not to mention the fact that every ex-player I’ve heard talk about how the new pansy rules says the lack of hitting and playing in preseason is what is leading to more injuries, that you need reps, you can’t just go from 0 to 100 without guys getting hurt.
August 15th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
If we see Teddy starts next week, Trask is heading to the practice squad.
August 15th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Kenton let me be clear.
I am a pretty good Baker fan but not a Sterling Shepard fan. I have no allegiance to OU players. Well maybe the Selmon’s.
Shepard is a 5′ 10 receiver that is over 30 years old that has not been productive in years.
The Bucs are in no need of a 6th receiver that is good in the room and old.
We have by all reports both quality young and old players that are talented and also good guys in the locker room.
He is my number 1 cut from the receiver room this year. Not that he is the 10th or 12th best — just that it makes more sense to keep other guys that will be willing to run down field on punts and other special team plays.
Shepard has played a total of 20 special teams snaps in his whole career. That does not show enough versatility IMO.
Shepard has rushed the ball a total of 25 times in his career. Again, not a lot of versatility.
Just my opinion though. It is fair. Just not what you want. BTW. I never remembered him as a good blocker or a total waste of a blocker. So, I am not knocking on his blocking — just not ready to jump on the good blocking bandwagon.
I will not be complaining if he makes the team. The coaches see these guys every day — I will trust their judgement on our 5th, 6th and 7th guys.
August 15th, 2025 at 5:44 pm
Any #1 QB competition talk is plain dumb. Glad Baker is sitting and agree we should sit the majority of starters. How pissed would you be if any starter gets hurt? Even something minor. They get more work in joint practices.
Healthy for a Falclown beat down the key. We are ready to roll now. Lock and load.
August 15th, 2025 at 6:19 pm
It’s wise to rest guys you are confident are ready to go, but I also like the aspect of if you work hard in practice you may get the night off.. although younger guys prob want to play anyways. More for vets it seems
August 15th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
geno711, he caught 33 or 34 passes last year for about 350 yards and had a couple of nice runs. 4th in catches in our WR room. Injuries happen heās right there. No complaints if heās on the practice squad. He blocks his butt off. Iām not saying you havenāt got an argument. Iām saying we could do worse than keeping him. It doesnāt have anything to do with where he played college football.
August 15th, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Tough part about preseason is I’ve got to keep my phone on to look up all the unfamiliar numbers.
August 15th, 2025 at 6:32 pm
I think this is a good move, they need to get Trask as many snaps as possible. Then we also have Bridgewater who needs to get familiar with the offense too.
August 15th, 2025 at 6:49 pm
Kenton. Thanks for the discourse.
Maybe it was an anomaly, but Shepard got lots of snaps at the end of the year and in the Washington playoff game and did very little — that in a nutshell concerns me for end of the year this year when we want guys playing their best in a playoff game.
Every year there is some churning of an NFL roster. So, his total number of catches last year will not be the deciding factor on whether he stays or not this year.
Evans, Godwin, McMillan, EE at the end of the year and the guy who is working his butt off on special teams are the 5 WRs that should dress during our playoff game. Hopefully to me that will not be Shepard.
Again, if the Bucs choose him, it’s because they like his long-term ability to have played WR in the league. But looking at the Bucs “official” depth chart, in a way you look at it, he is not in the top 6 — right now.
August 15th, 2025 at 7:08 pm
There was never any QB competition with Mayfield
But, after Mayfield hand contusion, and the INTs that follow. They wasn’t sure about his injury, so they gave him time off. In a panic, they brought in Teddy. Bridgewater, didn’t even worked him out. They signed him, soon as he passed his physical. They didn’t want to go into the season with Trask as the backup, especially with Mayfield hand injury. But after seeing Mayfield performance against the Steelers yesterday in joint practice. They feel like his hand is not a problem any longer. So Bowles come out and say, he won’t play. They are not telling the complete story.
But it’s good Teddy Bridgewater is audition for a better opportunity next season with a different team.
I’m just reading between the lines
Adding two and two
August 15th, 2025 at 7:21 pm
Watching the Titans-Falcons game, and I thought this last week, and even more so this week, Cam Ward reminds me a lot of Winston. Just the play style, the stance, the way he moves – which is all a good thing. I like gunslingers.
August 15th, 2025 at 7:27 pm
Bridgewater was signed because Bazelak is not a legit NFL prospect, shouldn’t even make the practice squad, and I guess they soured on Pratt – so you need a 3rd option. I assume Teddy will be on the practice squad as one of the veteran positions. I don’t think he’s in there to challenge Trask, although it’s possible the coaches wanted to light a fire under Trask since it sounds like he’s not generally very good in practice (but does well in games).
August 15th, 2025 at 7:29 pm
LOL! Falcons backup QB just threw a terrible pick six. Love to see it.
August 15th, 2025 at 7:34 pm
Would have liked to see Baker play a series or 2 but oh well.
Looking forward to watching the defense and our receivers do work. 1st look at Tez will be interesting.
August 15th, 2025 at 7:42 pm
BTW, I had AI do some deep research on if the non-sense bullcrap about not praticing as much and not playing starters in preseason actually reduces injuries…
Here’s what it says…
After the 2011 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), two-a-days and padded practices were sharply reduced. This was the leagueās big āplayer safetyā change.
Researchers studied injury data before (2007ā2010) and after (2011ā2016). Findings: no significant reduction in injuries overall. The rising trend of hamstring injuries flattened, but otherwise the rates stayed the samećPMC study, 2019ć.
After 2011:
Multiple follow-up studies (covering the rest of the 2010s) found the same: injuries did not go down with less practice.
When the preseason itself was eliminated fpr the 2020 season, injuries in Weeks 1ā4 of the season went up sharply compared to prior years, especially soft-tissue injuries (hamstring, groin, Achilles)ćpeer-reviewed 2021/2022 studiesć.
Direct answer: Since 2011, the data show that practicing less and sitting starters has not reduced injuries. If anything, when preseason reps are cut hard (like 2020), injury counts go higher.
August 15th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
Rod Munch. I believe you are ready for some Football!
August 15th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
This Falcons backup QB is terrible, has I think three INTs, one for a pick six, but two called back on penalties that had nothing to do with the play. Hilariously bad, in particularly considering how the Bucs tore up the Titans last week.
August 15th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
August 15th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
Rod Munch. I believe you are ready for some Football!
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I can’t believe they only have one game at 7p, yet they have a bunch of 1p Saturday games. That’s terrible. Preseason games should be at night, with lots of weather delays.
August 16th, 2025 at 2:46 am
So we get to see Trask with the ones? Hope he gets more than just a series or two. First quarter sounds good.
Go Bucs!
August 16th, 2025 at 9:09 am
Usfbucs Says:
August 15th, 2025 at 6:32 pm
I think this is a good move, they need to get Trask as many snaps as possible. Then we also have Bridgewater who needs to get familiar with the offense too.
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Beat me to it, Usf.
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Rod Munch Says:
August 15th, 2025 at 7:42 pm
—————————
Direct answer: Since 2011, the data show that practicing less and sitting starters has not reduced injuries. If anything, when preseason reps are cut hard (like 2020), injury counts go higher.
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So, worthless preseason games, huh, Joe? Even dimwit AI gets it.
August 16th, 2025 at 9:59 am
Logic tells me there would be something to gain by going hard in 2 of these 3 preseason games, even with 2nd and 3rd string bodies. Especially after the 2011 bargaining agreement. There’s so little “going hard” in practice that it just seems inevitable that you need the first quarter of the season to iron-out in-action game play. In professional sports, especially when really EVERY damn game counts in the NFL, you’d think you would want to be ahead of the curve. I mean how much could we possibly give away offensively for 1 game? I realize the other team is tinkering as well, and they’re not going to give us too much either, I’d tell Grizzard to implement a full game plan and go hard for a full game. He doesn’t need to scheme against the defense, just run his offense. Light the other team up if it comes down to it. I’ve worked in so many environments where you can learn so much by having those “hard practices” where when it counts, you’re ready.
Getting injuries, not getting injuries, sometimes is about luck and/or bad luck. And then sometimes, they are going to happen no matter what, Achilles is a great example of that.
August 16th, 2025 at 10:30 am
@Kenton & Geno
Your conversation about Shepherd just shows again why you two are among my favorite posters. No hyperbole, no name calling or insults, just honest opinions backed by some facts.
You both did such a great job I’m not even sure which of you I agree with. I’d say I agree and disagree with you both. But that’s what makes sports fun and interesting eh?
August 16th, 2025 at 10:57 am
That’s why I believe the players from the 80s and 90s were better than today’s NFL players. Back then they got the full potential out of players and they practice hard every practice. They played a the whole first half in the third preseason game and football was was way more physically than today. And that’s why they stay hurt now days with none contact injures.
August 16th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Good. The one guy we canāt risk.
Let him cheerlead til week One
August 16th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
Great decision.
Mike Evans should get no more than a series.