Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles hints at possible quarterback move after Baker Mayfield injury

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach Todd Bowles confirmed after Friday’s training camp practice that the team is interested in bringing in another quarterback after Baker Mayfield suffered an injury on Thursday.
The Bucs are high on former Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt, who they'd planned to draft last year if the Green Bay Packers hadn't done it first. However, he's been sidelined with a lower back injury, and now, starting quarterback Mayfield is day to day with a hand contusion. That's left quarterbacks Kyle Trask and Connor Bazelak to take the brunt of reps on Friday, and if Mayfield is more than a day out, the Bucs may need to bring in a veteran camp arm to disperse some reps and help prepare the second and third team.
It seems as if that's exactly what the Buccaneers plan on doing, too. Bowles held media after Friday's practice, and when asked, he confirmed that the team is looking into bringing another quarterback into the fold.
"Yeah," Bowles said. "We're looking at that."
Seems like the Bucs are looking to get another quarterback in sooner than later, per Todd Bowles.
— River Wells (@riverhwells) August 1, 2025
“Yeah. We’re working on that.”
There aren't a ton of options out there if the Bucs want a veteran. Carson Wentz, Tyler Huntley, Teddy Bridgewater and C.J. Beathard are probably the four biggest names, with Bridgewater being the closest option — he's already in the state and currently under fire for providing impermissible benefits to his high school football team in Miami Northwestern Senior High. Jeff Driskel, and Logan Woodside are other available quick options.
Whatever the case, the Bucs may want to act soon. Although Mayfield will be back in no time, the team will want to maximize their reps where they can.
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River Wells is a sports journalist from St. Petersburg, Florida, who has covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2023. He graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Florida in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter @riverhwells.
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