Buccaneers Starters Will Play Next Saturday In Pittsburgh
August 9th, 2025
Haason Reddick
Next Saturday is when all or most Buccaneers starters will play as a unit against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
That was strongly implied during tonight’s WFLA-TV broadcast of the Titans-Bucs game, and JoeBucsFan.com was able to confirm after the game that Todd Bowles’ plan is to play the starters in Week 2 of the preseason — and not much if at all in preseason finale (Week 3) versus Buffalo in Tampa.
The Bucs face the Bills during the regular season and Bowles, like many head coaches, would prefer not to have his starters up against a future 2025 opponent in August.
August 9th, 2025 at 11:32 pm
I’d also like to see more of Majors at center. He might be the answer to backing up Barton. Our running game really took off when he got in there. And there weren’t any wild snaps like they were with Klein.
August 9th, 2025 at 11:32 pm
Couldn’t get the game.. did ANY starting OL play?
August 9th, 2025 at 11:53 pm
Irishmist, he’s a keeper! And Licht knows his O-linemen. Majors is gonna have a long career in this league.
August 10th, 2025 at 12:22 am
Whatever. Don’t play the starters, they’ll get injured stepping wrong in the sidewalk and tweak groins, hammies and ankles. Do play the starters, they’ll be concussed and groined and hammied.
Maybe a pro caliber training / strength / conditioning / medical staff might help reduce groins, hammies. Something tells me that Bucs spend on that category is probably 32nd out of 32.
August 10th, 2025 at 1:09 am
Why play starters? Playing a few plays isn’t going to make them any more prepared for game 1, but does increase their risk of being hurt. Preseason is for players fighting for backup spots. No need to put in starters!
August 10th, 2025 at 5:07 am
It’s good to see some starters in here and there, and watch how the rookies are with them. Good for the coaches and fans. On the other hand, the injuries scare me too. White with a groin, Ryan Miller with a concussion. Announcers mentioned about the smelling salts combined with possible concussion symptoms. Brought me back to Joe’s past articles. Just want to keep our guys healthy.
August 10th, 2025 at 7:17 am
Let Trask go with the starters and see what he can do but I know you don’t want to put pressure on Baker Mayfield and start a quarterback controversy because it will show you can win the same amount of games or more games with Trask . And Trask don’t have a fan base as biggest Baker Mayfield.
August 10th, 2025 at 7:30 am
Save the starters. Bowles actually looked like he was enjoying himself.
August 10th, 2025 at 7:47 am
Still don’t want to ME13 though
August 10th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Good because after months of anticipation the game was unwatchable for me, I realize coaches “try” to watch the film on individual players but even for them it’s challenging. I watched until about mid second quarter.
BTW Rachad White was injured on the play BEFORE he may have really done serious damage on the play he took himself off the field in serious pain.
August 10th, 2025 at 7:54 am
Oneilbuc
They should start Trask. I want to see what he can do with the starting line and with Evans and Bucky. Baker fans know Trask isn’t the scrub they want him to be. I think a QB controversy is what’s needed to light some fire in all of them. Even Bill Walsh brought in Young after Montana won rings just to let him know he shouldn’t get comfortable.
August 10th, 2025 at 8:06 am
Bee. I agree that’s why players today for the most part never reach their full potential. Practice use to be where win or lose your staring job but now days it doesn’t mean nothing. When you give people staring jobs without competition most of them don’t practice as hard and so they don’t get better. I believe Baker Mayfield could have been better than what he is but he’s been gifted the starting job every where he’s been except in college and because of that he became a hesiman trophy winner. Competition brings out the best in players regardless of the position.
August 10th, 2025 at 9:09 am
Good. I’ll be listening for Trask playing with the first stringers. Joe, what’s the latest on CG14? Glad they’re letting him finish healing. Big Mike (ME13) can sit, too. I’ll be listening for SVD on D.
August 10th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Practice is as important as is the starters playing in these games. Players can get hurt in practice every bit as much as in a game, it’s always 100% when you look in the rear view mirror. Baker should play a little and have Trask play with the starters for 1 important reason: If Baker gets hurt the QB changes and you have to prepare for that. Now I wouldn’t play the starters long at all because of the injury risk but they need to play. That is what sharpens you not the endless practice, that’s why the preseason.
August 10th, 2025 at 9:31 am
It looked like the Titans played their ones for two series on both sides of the ball against our twos. The twos held their own with the exception of covering Ridley. The Ward-Ridley connection will be strong this season, so the Bucs did OK.
I really like Garrett Greene. He made some spectacular catches in the practices I went to, and he looked good last night. A sleeper to make the team?
August 10th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Glad we can pay full price for preseason home games, and even better starters will play the one and only road game of the exhibition drive.
August 10th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Probably 1-3 series.
I would like to see Trask stat with starting people around him. Not like we’ll see it during the regular season.
August 10th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
So the Bucs get 2 preseason home games… and how to reward the fans for paying full price to watch worthless games – well you reward them by playing your starters on the road.
At some point these guys need to remember they’re in the entertainment business. That’s what sports is, it’s entertainment, and kicking sand in the eyes of you paying customers is not a good move.
August 10th, 2025 at 5:32 pm
Jmarkbuc Says:
August 9th, 2025 at 11:32 pm
Couldn’t get the game.. did ANY starting OL play?
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All backups, no starters at all. Heck was in at LT and played the first few series I believe.
The Titans played their starters for the first series, then might have pulled some on the 2nd series, I’m not sure. The first few snaps the Bucs offensive line was a mess and I was worried they were going to get Trask killed, but they quickly settled down and looked really solid, even against the Titans starters. The Bucs controlled the clock, so the o-line got a lot of snaps.
August 11th, 2025 at 1:14 am
I wonder if that will be a series, a quarter, a half? Surely no more than a half.
Would love to see Trask in with the ones.
Go Bucs!