Baker Mayfield to play in Buccaneers' second preseason game
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield will see his first preseason action of 2026 this Saturday against the Chiefs, coach Todd Bowles said.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will play in the team's second preseason game, head coach Todd Bowles confirmed Monday.
The matchup comes Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium, and it will mark Mayfield's first exhibition action of the 2026 season. He sat out Tampa Bay's preseason opener against the Jets, a departure from a year ago when he also did not see preseason reps.
Bowles said Mayfield will be among the healthy starters who take the field, giving the Bucs a chance to calibrate the offense against live pressure before the games count. ESPN's Jenna Laine noted the plan is a change from last season, when Mayfield was held out of the preseason entirely.
For Tampa Bay, a short preseason cameo for Mayfield is about timing and rhythm more than evaluation — the franchise quarterback is established, and the focus is shaking off the rust and tightening the operation alongside the rest of the first-team unit.