The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released quarterback Kyle Trask after he lost the competition for the backup role to veteran Teddy Bridgewater. Trask, a 2021 second-round pick out of Florida, spent four seasons with the team but never gained traction in the starting conversation. He appeared in just one regular-season game, attempting 11 passes in total, and had been viewed more as a developmental project than an immediate contributor.
This offseason, the Buccaneers brought in Bridgewater on a one-year deal, hoping to add experience and insurance behind starter Baker Mayfield. Despite having stepped away from football to coach at the high school level, Bridgewater quickly reestablished himself in Tampa Bay’s offense. In preseason action, he completed 6 of 11 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns, showing his composure and command of the game and effortless touch on the football.
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Trask, meanwhile, had a decent showing early in preseason, including a solid outing against Tennessee, but failed to demonstrate the consistency or readiness the coaching staff needed.
With the Bucs eyeing a playoff push and little room for doubt at the quarterback position, the team chose to move forward with the more seasoned Bridgewater. Rather than keeping Trask as a third option or placing him on the injured list due to a shoulder issue, the Bucs opted for a clean break. He is expected to reach a settlement and officially be released in the coming days.
The decision signals Tampa Bay’s focus on veteran leadership and game-ready depth with experience, and it brings Trask’s time with the franchise to a disappointing end.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs move on from Heisman finalist backup quarterback during cutdown