Veteran QB Bridgewater Outshines Trask in Bucs' Preseason Win Over Steelers

On August 16, 2025, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14 in a preseason matchup. However, the real story of the game was the performance of veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who made a strong case for the team's backup QB position.

Bridgewater, who was recently acquired by the Buccaneers, saw his first action of the preseason and made the most of it. He engineered back-to-back touchdown drives in the first quarter, pushing the Buccaneers to a 14-0 lead. Bridgewater finished the game 6/11 for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns, showcasing his touch and comfort with the offense.

In contrast, Kyle Trask, who was expected to compete for the QB2 role, struggled, going 3/10 for 19 yards. Trask was playing with the third-string offense, but his performance was a stark contrast to Bridgewater's impressive outing.

With Bridgewater's years of NFL experience and his effective performance in the preseason game, it will be difficult for the Buccaneers' coaching staff to ignore him as the team's backup quarterback behind starter Baker Mayfield. Trask will need to show something big in the final preseason game against the Buffalo Bills to keep his chances alive.