Jason Licht Seems To Indicate No. 2 QB Decision Close To Finalized Prior To Backup Bowl
August 23rd, 2025
Backup QB chatter.
Kyle Trask looked sharp Saturday night in the Backup Bowl against the Bills at The Licht House.
Was it enough to secure his position as Baker Mayfield’s backup? Given Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s words, Trask’s hold on the No. 2 quarterback position is not secure.
Speaking on the WFLA-TV Channel 8 broadcast of the Bills-Bucs game, the final worthless preseason game of the summer, Bucs icon and WFLA analyst Rondé Barber asked Licht what it will take for either Teddy Bridgewater or Trask to separate and take command as the team’s No. 2 quarterback.
Licht seemed to suggest the body of work the two quarterbacks have had in practices will lean heavily in the decision.
“You know a lot of that work has been done already,” Licht said. “We wanted this [outing] as another game for Kyle to show what he can do a little bit.
“The majority what we’ve seen in practice is what we’re going to lean on but, you know, we still have some conversations we have to make.”
If the decision is weighted on summer practices, that’s not good for Trask. He hasn’t had a good camp. In fact, that’s exactly why the Bucs went out and signed Bridgewater right before the first worthless preseason game against Tennessee.
Trask looked sharp in practice on Thursday and in Saturday’s game. Unfortunately, Trask has a history of having a couple of good outings (practices or games) and then taking two steps back.
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht on WFLA-TV would not commit to keeping 3 QBs on the roster. “We still have a lot of decisions to make here.”
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 24, 2025
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:34 pm
Going to be Teddy and Trask will be on practice squad
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:40 pm
Not sure Trask even makes the PS, but yeah, Teddy will be the backup. Maybe Coen picks up Trask.
August 23rd, 2025 at 9:44 pm
Liam has his boy Wilford, and Canales doesn’t need him. I think Trask stays on the PS. Doubt anyone picks him up on their active roster. Cleveland maybe
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:02 pm
Vegas fans are worried about their QB2. Spytek and Brady will claim Trask, and we’ll be stuck with Teddy. If Baker gets hurt, no playoffs. If we’re lucky, it will get Bowels fired.
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:04 pm
Let’s see… First, they decided to sit, rest, and protect Teddy (while not wanting to expose him by having him play alongside of 3rd & 4th teamers). Thennnn, when Bowles was asked about his thoughts on Trask’s first-half play, HE SAYS (and I quote)… “Tez Had A LOT To Do With That.” Bowles is a DESPICABLE human. Just SORRY AF. It really doesn’t get any ‘lower’ than that, and then throw-in last week and several other comments and coaching decisions over the past few years. It’s Disgraceful. What a vindictive, petty little man. 💯
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:06 pm
Trask needs a fresh start. Bucs would be doing him a favor. He has no future here.
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:13 pm
I have NEVER heard or seen a Head Coach speak ‘publicly’ on TV before, in that way, about HIS QB. Did he say last week that, “Teddy was okay, but he was just ‘bailed-out’ by two great catches by Bucky & EE tho” – Orrrr, EVER about Baker? Yeah, I don’t think so. It’s just pathetic. Intentional. And, obvious. Pretty damn low and disgusting. Your HEAD COACH.
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:21 pm
Only plan Bucs need is Keep Baker Healthy
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:26 pm
“Addb” – Why do you say “Cleveland?” You do know that they already have 4-QB’s on their roster currently, and still don’t even know what they’re going to do with THEM, yet… What would ever make you ‘think’ HE has an open spot THERE!? They’re trying their best to move Pickett for ‘something’ right now, ANYTHING. Do you think that they’re going to waive Sanders NOW, right after just wasting a draft-pick on him… And, even if they do, THEN WHAT!? Why would they ever want Trask, to begin with!?
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:27 pm
yep spytek and brady will steal trasky if he’s left dangling out there
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:29 pm
Teddy Bridgewater played with the 1st team offense against the Steelers backups. But, in my opinion, he still struggled. I think the QB that the Bucs name the backup, will be the loser. The winner of this slideshow will move on from the Bucs to better opportunities .
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:31 pm
i think we carry all 3…
i think the juggling games will be played more at other positions………….or teddy starts out on PS…
unless teddy has been promised the #2 and the illness tonight was trumped up, and they just weren’t going to play him in any way tonight being he’s the true #2
who tf knows……lol
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:32 pm
They spent a 2nd round draft pick on this guy when we had Tom Brady.
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:33 pm
adam from ny Says:
yep spytek and brady will steal trask if he’s left dangling out there
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Think again. Spytek has a good QB2 in Aidan O’Connell. He’s got experience and he’s better than Trask.
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:33 pm
Hopefully this is a non argument all year. If the back up never plays, I like Teddy for his experience in the room
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:36 pm
The Buc’s are going with NFL experience! TB didn’t play today. Was this a tell? Perhaps they wanted to keep him healthy for the season. Perhaps he had a cold. What NFL team won’t play a player with a cold? KT will be the practice squad guy or actually be cut. IMHO.
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:41 pm
End result seems to be that Licht has wasted a 2nd round pick and Bowles has reaffirmed himself as a coach that can’t develop a young QB. Adding insult to injury they both look greasy doing it.
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:42 pm
Trask looks pretty crappy to me, Joe. Idk what you’re watching
TB looked way better in his short stint last week than Trask ever has in 5 years here.
August 23rd, 2025 at 10:47 pm
Considering they just paid Trask a guaranteed million ish contract… I can’t imaging them cutting him and blowing that off for Bridgewater? Teddy has been retired and coaching high school for 2 years ? I suppose I have seen crazier *isht as a Bucs fan but I thought we would been over that.
August 23rd, 2025 at 11:15 pm
I’m pretty sure Baker had A LOT of “yac-yards” last season… Probably, lead THE LEAGUE. Now, did head coach Todd Bowles EVEN ONCE last season, ever say… “Ehhh, Bake Was Just Okay Ya Know, Almost ALL Of It Was Due To Our Wide-Receivers ‘Bailing Him Out’ With All Of Those YAC Yards They Were Picking Up Today.” LoL. I mean, GTFO Lmao. It’s Despicable.
August 23rd, 2025 at 11:46 pm
Translation: we wanted to give Kyle one last chance to put out some good tape for other teams…
What a waste of a 2nd round pick. Was he just never able to get it going in practice, or did Arians retiring change the teams’s long term plans for Trask?
August 24th, 2025 at 12:04 am
Bridgewater to the practice squad….
Teddy just got here and doesn’t know this offense well enough yet to be considered for the #2 spot. If something happened to Mayfield in the 1st Quarter of game 1 – Grizz would only have about 1/3 of his playbook available with Teddy under center – if that…
August 24th, 2025 at 12:08 am
THANK YOU, KYLE!
The writing was on the wall when Bowles gave “his guy” the snaps with the starting O-Line. It’s a shame Trask never got a chance to play with the starters his entire time as a Buccaneer. So many opportunities in garbage time but Bowles refused to let him play.
Best of luck on your next team, Kyle.
August 24th, 2025 at 4:35 am
Kyle did well. It’s probably Teddy as Baker’s backup though. Teddy may have been ill and/or allowed Trask to be highlighted.
Kyle sort of reminds me of Fitzpatrick, and could be on another team soon, and then another. Good guy, potential, and plays hot or cold at times.
Unbelieveable – I agree with your scenarios, could be.
August 24th, 2025 at 4:38 am
Prepare for Bowles 1st Magnitude Blunder.
August 24th, 2025 at 5:02 am
HC – No blunders. Jason and Todd will make something work.
If Trask is gone, I am on the fence with only two QBs though. Thinking we need three. Unless Jason and Todd have someone in mind to come in if Kyle is picked up by another team.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:12 am
It was Bridgewater soon as he was signed. Trade Trask to a team that let’s him play.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Another TB is number 2. Trask was playing for other teams last night. It is a football decision, as Trask is a don’t lose a game for us QB, while Teddy has the skill set to win games if needed. Gotta keep winning in spite of our horrible HC…
August 24th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
I hear all the comments, and they make sense. But my gut instinct says: “WHY did they keep Trask all these years?”
I say flip a coin and the winner gets to be the backup…unless they keep 3 QB’s.
Is Tez gonna make the roster over Trey Palmer? Pretty sure, yes. But I don’t get a good read on the QB2 situation right now – it could go either way.
Besides, WHAT qb who never gets much snaps is consistent? And, Joes, remember there are a LOT of practices the media doesn’t get to see over the time Trask has been here.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
The QB2 decision was already made weeks ago. Bowles has gone out of his way to make TB good by playing him with the first team and letting Trask play with the 3rd string. If Kam Johnson hadnt dropped 3 Trask passes, including the endzone, Trask would have stats would have been like 18/20 250 yards and 2TDs in the first half.
In the end this is good news for Trask as other teams have been watching and he wont clear waivers and will land with another team where he can finally get some playing time. Its bad news for Bucs because they will get an unmotivatec TB for a season who has clearly stated his priority is coaching high school football. Instead of an solid backup with upside to be a starter, Bucs will now get journeyman 1 year backups which means if Baker goes down the season is over. Bad decision by Licht/ Bowles.
August 25th, 2025 at 11:12 am
If Trask goes to waiver titans will grab him they need a backup QB since their backup is their third string since their QB2 under went shoulder surgery and the titans are #1 on the waiver wire as well
August 25th, 2025 at 11:32 am
Nvm Trask has been with us more than 3 years. WOW time flies!!!!