Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to make his debut in a Buccaneers uniform this Saturday night when Tampa Bay hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers in Preseason Week 2.
After signing with the Bucs earlier this month, Bridgewater has been ramping up his work in practice and is now set to take his first live snaps in pewter and red. With Baker Mayfield not playing, Saturday’s matchup offers a perfect opportunity for Bridgewater to get on the field and begin building chemistry with the offense.
Advertisement
“We’re excited to get Teddy some game action,” head coach Todd Bowles said after Thursday’s joint practice. “He’s picking things up quickly, and this is a good step forward in our evaluation process.”
Bridgewater, 32, brings a wealth of experience to Tampa Bay’s quarterback room, having started 65 games over his 10-year NFL career. Known for his poise, leadership, and accuracy in the short-to-intermediate passing game, Bridgewater provides the Buccaneers with a steady veteran presence behind Mayfield. He joins a group that includes Kyle Trask, who is also expected to play Saturday. Trask likely will get the start, but Bridgewater is expected to see a significant portion of the snaps in the first half or early third quarter, depending on how the game unfolds.
With several young receivers vying for playing time, including rookies Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan, Bridgewater’s performance could go a long way in helping determine depth chart movement not just at quarterback, but across the offense. For Bridgewater, it’s also a personal milestone.
After spending 2024 unsigned and away from the game, this weekend marks his first live action since Week 18 of the 2023 season.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Todd Bowles confirms when we will see Teddy Bridgewater take the field