CINCINNATI (AP) — Zac Taylor was still pleased on Monday after Cincinnati's 33-27 victory over Tampa Bay.
Yet for as well as the Bengals played in the opener, the eighth-year coach pointed out there was still plenty of room for improvement.
"The objective isn't to be your best team Week 1, it's to be your best team at the end of the season. So I just want to see that process continue to improve for us as we get ready for Houston," he said.
Taylor and the Bengals are also aware that fast starts aren't always an indicator of success, and that things can come undone very quickly. Cincinnati won its first two games last season, but then dropped eight of nine when Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in Week 2.
The defense, which made four huge additions during the offseason, forced four turnovers, generated a 38.9% pressure rate and sacked the Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield four times despite having a blitz rate of 11.1%, tied for second lowest in Week 1.

#bengals #team

Week 1 was a great reminder of why we all love fantasy football.
At quarterback, Bryce Young scored more points than Drake Maye, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray and Sam Darnold combined. At running back, two Bears finished inside the top-10 while Christian McCaffrey was out-carried by a rookie. The current WR1, Jalen ****** er, had more fantasy points than Puka Nacua, DeVonta Smith, Drake London, George Pickens and Ja'Marr Chase combined. Finally, the currently list of TE1s includes Mike Gesicki, Pat Freiermuth, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, Cole Kmet and Kenyon Sadiq. Fun.
Thankfully, we can already start looking ahead to Week 2.
Here's an early look at Week 2 fantasy football rankings. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception) and full PPR to see where players rank in your league's format. Scroll to the bottom to view the complete rankings.
Our team at USA TODAY Sports has you covered with plenty of content to help with your Week 2 waiver wire and roster decisions. Looking for up-to-date player news? We've got it. Wondering who the best waiver-wire claims are? We have that covered, so you can make your pickups. Need to know what players you can drop? We have that as well. We also have a list of the eight best buy low/sell high candidates and our biggest winners and losers from Week 1.

#drake #looking #Football #list

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw the best and worst of Baker Mayfield in their first season-opening loss since 2020.
Tom Brady led them to a Super Bowl ***** le that season so 0-1 isn't an insurmountable deficit.
Plus, every team in the NFC South lost on Sunday.
Mayfield lost three fumbles that led to 17 points, including one that was returned for a score in Tampa Bay's 33-27 loss to Cincinnati. He also held the ball took long at times, taking four sacks. But Mayfield had an efficient game when he wasn't giving the ball away. He completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards and ran for 30 yards, including a touchdown.
If Mayfield protected the ball, the outcome would've been different.

#yards #buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed enough in their 33-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals to feel like they could have won. Instead, four lost fumbles, shaky pass protection, and defensive issues underneath turned a competitive performance into a 0-1 start.
Tampa Bay finished with 282 total yards, converted five of 10 third downs, and never punted. The Bucs also fought back from a 21-3 deficit and had the game within six points late, but the turnovers kept Cincinnati in control.
Here are the Buccaneers' Week 1 grades by position.
Baker Mayfield's game was almost a perfect reflection of Tampa Bay's afternoon. He completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards without an interception, added 30 rushing yards, and scored on a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The number one problem for Mayfield was ball security. Mayfield fumbled three times and lost all three of them. One was returned 27 yards for a touchdown, another went through the end zone for a touchback near the goal line, and the third came on a fourth-quarter strip-sack while Tampa Bay was trying to complete its comeback.There is some living and dying by the sword with Mayfield. Part of what makes him unique is his willingness to fight through contact, extend plays, and create something when a play looks dead. When it works, everyone loves it. When it ends with the football on the ground, it looks reckless. Against Cincinnati, he pushed that line much too far.

#yards #lost #game

Baker Mayfield gets dangerous weapon back ahead of Bengals clash originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka appears ready to go for Week 1 after a toe injury created some uncertainty around his status during the preseason.
Egbuka returned to full practice this week and is expected to play when Tampa Bay takes on the Cincinnati Bengals, giving quarterback Baker Mayfield one of his most dangerous weapons for a matchup that has the potential to become a high-scoring affair.
The second-year receiver enters the season with plenty of expectations after showing flashes of becoming a legitimate No. 1 option early in his rookie campaign.
Egbuka demonstrated his ability to create separation, make plays after the catch and stretch defenses before injuries became a factor. His own health issues, combined with injuries affecting Mayfield, prevented Tampa Bay from consistently taking advantage of the chemistry the two displayed earlier in the season.

#tampa

Tucker Kraft remains one of the Green Bay Packers' biggest unresolved situations heading into Week 1. Green Bay has yet to reach an agreement on a contract extension with the young tight end, while the team also awaits a timetable for Josh Jacobs' potential NFL discipline amid his legal issues.
Adam Schefter weighed in on Kraft's contract talks with Green Bay, urging the tight end to think twice before walking away from guaranteed money that could be available to him.
"He's coming off a torn ACL and the Packers have a relatively strong offer out there. I think it's hard coming off an ACL to turn down real money," the NFL ****** yst commented during his appearance on The Pat McAfee show.
Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) reacts after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Christian Gonzalez and Baker Mayfield showed that players can hold their ground during contract talks without letting negotiations drag into the regular season. Schefter cited both cases as examples for Kraft, who is still trying to secure his next deal with Green Bay.

#philadelphia

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2026 season with plenty of uncertainty, and our staff predictions reflect it.
Tampa Bay finished 8-9 in 2025 after a 6-2 start, losing seven of its final nine games and missing out on the NFC South ******* le through a tiebreaker. The Bucs scored 380 points but allowed 411, finished 3-3 inside the division and went just 1-4 over their final five games.
There is reason for optimism, particularly after Baker Mayfield signed an extension that gives Tampa Bay stability at quarterback. Mayfield has become the unquestioned leader of the offense and gives the Bucs a proven veteran to build around. But much of that optimism could disappear quickly if the defensive backfield struggles. Questions in the secondary remain one of the team's biggest concerns, and against a schedule featuring several dangerous passing attacks, breakdowns on the back end could turn winnable games into losses.
That makes the range of predictions from our staff interesting. Evan has the Bucs finishing 8-9, an exact repeat of last season. Mike sees a slight improvement at 9-8, while Will is the most optimistic of the group at 10-7. I'm on the other end, predicting a 7-10 finish.
Collectively, that puts our average prediction at exactly 8.5 wins and 8.5 losses — essentially a .500 football team.

#bucs #staff

Jalon Daniels entered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offseason program as an undrafted rookie simply trying to earn a place in the organization. A few months later, he will open the regular season one play away from being Tampa Bay's starting quarterback, and that unlikely rise has certainly caught the attention of general manager Jason Licht.
Speaking with NFL Network's Sara Walsh, Licht summed up Daniels' path to becoming Baker Mayfield's backup with some significant praise. "There's no blueprint for an undrafted rookie becoming your number 2 quarterback," Licht told Walsh. "Jalon basically wrote his own." That statement carries even more weight given how rare Daniels' situation is. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last undrafted rookie quarterback to be active for Week 1 was Trevone Boykin with the Seattle Seahawks in 2016. Daniels didn't simply survive roster cuts, either. He beat out veteran Jake Browning for the job and convinced Tampa Bay it could enter the season with only two quarterbacks on its initial 53-man roster.
Licht has made it clear that Daniels' draft status won't prevent him from winning the job. "The number-one thing is, he earned it," Licht said. "It wasn't just given to him."Daniels steadily climbed throughout the summer, but his preseason performance helped solidify his case. He completed 27 of 44 passes for 239 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions while adding 37 yards and another touchdown on the ground. More importantly, Tampa Bay saw poise and command from a quarterback who was supposed to be a developmental project. The Bucs apparently began viewing Daniels differently after their first preseason game against the Jets. Licht said conversations shifted from Daniels needing to prove he could be the backup to essentially needing to prove that he couldn't. He never gave them a reason to change course. There is still considerable risk involved. Daniels has never taken a regular-season NFL snap, and Tampa Bay is trying to contend for another NFC South ****** le. If Mayfield misses time, the Bucs would be handing their offense to an undrafted rookie. Yet Licht doesn't appear interested in keeping a veteran around simply for the comfort of experience. He said Tampa Bay would rather have a talented, prepared, inexperienced quarterback than choose experience just for the sake of it. The Bucs aren't treating him like an undrafted rookie they hope to develop eventually. They've trusted him with one of the most important backup jobs on the roster because they believe he earned it.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Jason Licht's praise shows just how much Jalon Daniels impressed

#daniels #bucs #jalon #simply

Skip Bayless took issue with one of the most notable omissions from ESPN's Top 100 player rankings ahead of the 2026 NFL season. The longtime sports commentator made his feelings clear after Baker Mayfield was left outside the list despite another productive season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mayfield's absence stood out because he has continued to rebuild his reputation since arriving in Tampa Bay. After reviving his career with the Buccaneers, the veteran quarterback has established himself as one of the league's more reliable offensive leaders and has helped keep the franchise competitive.
Feb 1, 2026; Tampa Bay, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield walks on the field prior to the 2026 Stadium Series ice hockey game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Top 100 rankings are shaped by evaluations from league executives, coaches and scouts, making every major omission a subject of debate. Bayless viewed Mayfield's exclusion as particularly difficult to justify given the quarterback's recent production and his ability to succeed in an increasingly competitive NFC.
Mayfield has spent much of his career responding to skepticism, beginning with questions about his size and continuing through his departure from the Cleveland Browns. His path eventually included stops with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams before he found stability and a long-term opportunity in Tampa Bay.

#buccaneers

Baker Mayfield faces a $50M crossroads amid uncertain Buccaneers future originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have refused to pay Baker Mayfield a big new contract extension, as they enter the 2026 NFL season with some long-term question marks at the position.
But, for at least 2026, Mayfield is the starting quarterback. He'll be the starter in 2026 and have a real chance to prove himself one more time. A lot is on the line for Mayfield in 2026.
As ESPN's Bill Barnwell highlighted, there is a $50 million-plus crossroads that Mayfield is facing this season. Depending on how he plays in 2026, Mayfield could potentially wind up playing elsewhere next year.
"There will be organizations angling for Arch Manning, Dante Moore and other options at the top of next year's draft, but if a team such as the Steelers isn't drafting high enough to land one of the top prospects, will it be willing to pay north of $50 million per season to lock in Mayfield?" Barnwell writes. "His 2026 production might determine whether that's a realistic path."

#buccaneers #barnwell

From my own Bears-centric view of things, the Chicago Bears under Ryan Poles seem to have had a pretty rare set of conditions to help usher along a rebuild. In his first five years on the job, Poles had four selections in the top third of the first round (i.e. Top 11 picks) including the #1 overall pick. He also made nine eight selections in the Top 50, and seventeen selections in the Top 100. How many GMs have enjoyed that much opportunity?
Well, it depends. Obviously, the selections needed to be available under the same general manager. This excludes teams like Cleveland, which had back-to-back #1 selections in 2017 (Garrett) and 2018 (Mayfield) and seven top-ten picks in just nine years–but that was under six different managers. It also excludes Nick Cesario of Houston Texans, who would put up a good show but who only has three picks in the top eleven, even if all those were made within the top three. Likewise, if the sticking point is four elite selections, Trent Baalke doesn't count either. He made back-to-back selections with the #1 overall pick (Lawrence and Walker), and despite having more pricey premium picks on a per-year basis than Poles (averaging 2,581 points on the Jimmy Johnson chart just in his four years, or the equivalent of having the #4 spot in the draft for four straight years), he didn't qualify because his tenure was too short.
Also not included, even though he would technically qualify, is Les Snead. He did in fact have four elite picks (and the #13 selection he used on Aaron Donald) in a 4-year stretch, but I intend on doing a larger piece later in the season looking at exactly how the Rams have defied convention on so many different fronts. For now, though, here are the other nine in ascending order of Top 11 draft picks made, with ties broken by average value of top picks made.
Licht needed seven years to reach the playoffs, but when he got his team there, they won it all. His first six years averaged 2,358 points of premium draft selections per year and a .34 win rate, meaning he had more to work with but worse results than Poles has had to date. Of course, that championship the next year covers a lot.
Key Selections: 4/18/31, meaning that he had 4 picks in the top eleven, 18 picks in the top fifty, and 31 in the first three rounds* with 19,457 in premium picks (1,621 per year) over his 12-year career.

#picks #four #first #nine

The New Mexico Activities ***** ociation has leveled a first strike against the Mayfield High School football team following an ugly on-field incident last week.
During a second-quarter skirmish that initially involved a couple of players from both the Trojans and Organ Mountain on Friday night at the Field of Dreams, approximately two dozen Mayfield players rushed off the sideline and onto the field to join the fray.
Following a multi-day investigation, the NMAA on Wednesday announced that Mayfield, under the organization's still relatively new "2 Strikes" sportsmanship initiative, would be issued a first strike.
If Mayfield's football team is involved in any other serious on-field issue the rest of the season and the NMAA deems it "strike" worthy, a second strike would mean the Trojans would have whatever remains of their season cancelled.
Organ Mountain did not receive a strike.

#mayfield #organ #Football

The Las Vegas Raiders aren't quite ready to give Fernando Mendoza the key to their franchise. However, the number one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is expected to get to that point this season.
NFL teams have very different philosophies when it comes to starting rookie quarterbacks. Many franchises hand over the reigns to their highly-coveted players immediately, including Drake Maye and Caleb Williams.
Meanwhile, the Raiders do have precedent when it comes to taking things slow with their new QB. Klint Kubiak recently announced that Kirk Cousins will start Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins.
That puts Mendoza in the same category as Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Baker Mayfield when he was drafted first overall. The Cleveland Browns opted to keep Mayfield on the sidelines for the first week in 2018.
MORE: Raiders name starting quarterback for Week 1

#starting #first

The Buccaneers accomplished one of their biggest goals of the preseason by getting to Week 1 without exposing most of their key players to unnecessary snaps. Whether they got enough work to be ready for the regular season is a different question. Todd Bowles took a cautious approach throughout August, sitting most of his starters against the Jets before giving them limited work against Kansas City. They were back on the sideline for the preseason finale against Jacksonville.
For Baker Mayfield, that meant just two drives and four pass attempts during the entire preseason. Mayfield completed two of four passes for 10 yards against Kansas City, with Tampa Bay gaining just nine net yards and one first down during his two possessions. Bucky Irving notched 14 yards on three carries, but the first team offense never found much of a rhythm and failed to score before Mayfield's night ended. The limited production was easy to explain. Tristan Wirfs wasn't playing, Tampa Bay was without nearly all of their starting receivers, and the offense wasn't going to show much of Zac Robinson's scheme in a preseason game. Still, it was the only opportunity to see Mayfield and most of the starting offense against another team before the games begin to count.
With a strictly backup approach, Tampa Bay closed August with an ugly 19-0 loss to Jacksonville. The Bucs managed only 120 total yards, six first downs and 1.9 yards per play. They went 2-for-12 on third down and punted 10 times. Bowles acknowledged afterward that the offense simply wasn't good enough. Mayfield hasn't played meaningful football since last season, and this was his first preseason action in two years. The Bucs are also adjusting to Robinson's offense, which makes the lack of live repetitions together more noticeable. Some also argue Bowles made the right decision. Tampa Bay has dealt with enough injuries over the past year to understand the importance of entering the season healthy. Training camp and joint practices provide competitive work without subjecting starters to "practice" games. If Tampa Bay's offense looks sharp immediately, **** ody will care that Mayfield threw four passes in August. But if the Bucs open the season with stalled drives, their limited preseason work will stir quite the conversation about Bowles' preparation after a disastrous end to last season.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Could Buccaneers' decision to sit starters come back to haunt them?

#mayfield #season #yards

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their initial 53-man roster in place.
After trimming the roster throughout the week, Tampa Bay finalized its first regular-season group ahead of Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bucs kept two quarterbacks, six wide receivers and 10 offensive linemen on offense, while the defense features a young group that includes first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr., Josiah Trotter and Benjamin Morrison.
Here is the Buccaneers' initial 53-man roster, broken down by position:
Jalon Daniels
Baker Mayfield

#roster #initial #first

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are continuing to trim their roster ahead of Sunday's deadline to reach the NFL-mandated 53 players.
According to FOX Sports' Greg Auman, Tampa Bay has now made 20 cuts. The group includes quarterbacks Jake Browning and Connor Bazelak, running back Barika Kpeenu, wide receivers Dean Patterson, Eric Rivers and Jha'Quan Jackson, tight ends Devin Culp and Kenny Fletcher, guards Elijah Klein and Nash Hutmacher, and tackle Marshall Foerner.
Defensively, the Bucs have moved on from defensive linemen Jayson Jones, Josiah Green and Travis Shaw, outside linebacker Yasir Holmes, inside linebackers Nick Jackson and John Bullock, and safety Rashad Wisdom.
Tampa Bay also waived kicker B.T. Potter and long snapper Scott Daly.
The most notable move is Browning, whose departure cleared the way for undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels to serve as Baker Mayfield's backup quarterback. More moves are expected before the 6 p.m. ET deadline as the Buccaneers finalize their initial 53-man roster for the regular season.

#roster

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear prepared for an undrafted free agent to back up QB Baker Mayfield.
The Bucs have released backup Jake Browning, who was signed early in free agency this offseason to be Mayfield's backup. That means undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels, who has impressed all summer, is currently the QB2 behind Mayfield.
The 6-foot, 208-pound Daniels, who played six years in college at Kansas, completed 27-of-44 passes for 239 yards and a TD pass, also rushing 14 times for 37 yards and one more score in three preseason games this summer. He was especially sharp in the first two exhibitions, helping spark second-half comebacks against the Jets and Chiefs.
Daniels might have initially been viewed as a longer-term project, but he started impressing the coaches as early as OTAs and minicamps, and he earned praise from the Bucs coaches for his off-schedule playmaking and quick recognition skills, which earned him QB2 reps in camp. Even with a shakier effort in the third preseason game, losing a fumble and completing 8-of-15 passes for 57 yards, the Bucs have been impressed with the rookie.
The Bucs still could look to add a veteran quarterback, with several expected to be released on cutdown day. But for now, Daniels is the next man up. Tampa Bay opens the season at the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.

#tampa #mayfield #agent

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered their preseason finale with several roster spots and position battles still to sort out. Their 19-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars may have provided some answers, although not necessarily the ones Tampa Bay wanted. The Buccaneers finished with only 120 total yards, went 2 of 12 on third down and failed to score. Still, there were a few positives buried inside an otherwise difficult night.
If anyone helped themselves Friday night, it was Jack Pyburn. The rookie edge rusher finished with two sacks and three tackles for loss, consistently finding his way into Jacksonville's backfield. Tampa Bay's defensive front produced most of the team's bright spots, finishing with four sacks as Anthony Nelson and Josiah Green also got to the quarterback. Pyburn's performance was especially important as final roster decisions approach. Tampa Bay has spent the offseason rebuilding its front seven, and his ability to provide energy and production off the edge gives the coaching staff something to consider as they build the final 53. Pyburn has certainly played himself into a position where the coaching staff has to find him a spot.
Jalon Daniels had arguably his biggest opportunity of the preseason after being given the start, but he wasn't able to capitalize on it. Daniels completed 8 of 15 passes for 57 yards while taking three sacks and losing a botched snap, a glaring issue over the preseason. After helping lead comeback victories in Tampa Bay's first two preseason games, Daniels struggled to generate anything consistently against Jacksonville. He wasn't helped by his receivers, either. Dean Patterson IV and Kameron Johnson dropped third-down passes early, while Garrett Greene also failed to secure a catchable ball. Daniels' previous performances showed why Tampa Bay has been intrigued by the undrafted rookie, but Friday reminded everyone he remains a developmental quarterback. If there was a legitimate opportunity to overtake Jake Browning for the backup job behind Baker Mayfield, the finale did not do anything to solidify his case.
There isn't much positive to say about an offense that finishes with 87 yards and zero points. Tampa Bay punted on six of its first seven possessions and struggled to protect its quarterbacks, sustain drives or establish the running game. The Buccaneers didn't record a single first down in the second half as Jacksonville's defensive front controlled the line of scrimmage. The offensive line remained a major issue, and receivers failed to come down with the ball. Then came the special teams breakdown that put an exclamation point on the night. Michael Wortham returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, extending Jacksonville's lead to 19-0 and turning an already frustrating night into a nightmare final score.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: The good, the bad and the ugly from Buccaneers' 19-0 loss to Jaguars

#night

Quarterback Connor Bazelak fell behind rookie Jalon Daniels on the Buccaneers' depth chart this offseason and he's now off the roster altogether.
Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports that Bazelak is being waived as part of the team's moves to get to the 53-player limit by Sunday afternoon's deadline.
Daniels started the Bucs' final preseason game after making a push for the No. 2 job behind Baker Mayfield this summer. Jake Browning is the other quarterback on the roster in Tampa.
Auman reports that the Bucs are also waiving running back Barika Kpeenu, tight end Kenny Fletcher, guard Nash Hutmacher, defensive tackle Travis Shaw, and linebacker John Bullock.

#bazelak #daniels #auman #reports

In their final preseason game, the Buccaneers were blanked by the Jacksonville Jaguars 0-19, capping off what was otherwise a solid preseason for Tampa Bay. The Bucs were disappointing, especially on offense, which couldn't get anything going regardless of who was under center, and on special teams, which reverted to old bad habits. The defense largely held up its end thanks to another great night of pass rush and secondary play. A solid defensive effort went for naught thanks to the offensive implosion, which likely saw the end of Jalon Daniels' hopes to be Baker Mayfield's primary backup.
Here are the studs and duds from the Bucs' preseason finale loss to the Jaguars:
By all appearances, Jalon Daniels was auditioning for the rare third quarterback spot on the Bucs' 53-man roster. Unfortunately for him, it went almost as badly as it could have against the Jaguars. Daniels was sharp early, but his receivers were anything but. Then came the fumbled snap in the second quarter, a problem that carried over from last week's matchup against the Chiefs.
Daniels then took three sacks, three more than in any previous preseason game. He finished with just eight completions on 15 attempts and just 57 pass yards. While Daniels remains the Bucs' most dynamic quarterback from the preseason, it is unlikely he did enough to prove himself reliable enough to overtake Jake Browning as QB2.
One of Tampa Bay's few highlights was the play of its outside linebackers, who frustrated the Jaguars' offense all night. David Walker was unstoppable once again, winning a third of his pass rushes per PFF. Anthony Nelson continued his productive preseason, recording a sack and a quarterback hit. Jack Pyburn played like someone who did not plan on playing for LSU this year, leading the team with two sacks, three tackles for a loss and two quarterback hits. Tampa Bay's edge rush looks much improved from last year heading into this season.

#jaguars #quarterback #pass

The Jacksonville Jaguars get one final preseason opportunity to sharpen things up at home as they welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to EverBank Stadium.
Aug 22, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) hands off to running back Bucky Irving (7) against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first quarter during a preseason game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
When: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV Channel: NBC

#buccaneers #stadium #mayfield

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers left their first joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars knowing their effort wasn't good enough. Tuesday's practice was one of Tampa Bay's roughest sessions of the summer. The offense struggled to consistently move the ball, Jacksonville controlled stretches on both sides and, perhaps most concerning, the Buccaneers lacked the energy and physicality they had shown throughout camp.
Baker Mayfield admitted afterward that Jacksonville was the more physical team, while Josiah Trotter Jr. acknowledged that Tampa Bay's energy and body language weren't up to the standard the defense expects. Chris Godwin Jr was similarly critical, saying the Bucs have to create their own energy when playing on the road and respond better when things start going wrong. The second practice was lighter and conducted without full pads, with most of the competitive work coming during seven on seven periods before the teams separated for walkthroughs. Still, Tampa Bay played with noticeably more tempo and made the most of the opportunities it had against Jacksonville, and the defense provided the biggest response.
Trotter intercepted Trevor Lawrence in the red zone after recognizing a wheel route, and undrafted rookie Ayden Garnes followed with another interception. Benjamin Morrison and Keionte Scott also recorded pass breakups as Tampa Bay's young secondary consistently challenged Jacksonville's passing game. The offense looked sharper as well. Mayfield connected with Tez Johnson, Kenny Gainwell and Ted Hurst III for touchdowns during red zone work. Hurst continued his impressive week by beating Travis Hunter for another score after having success against him during Tuesday's practice. Todd Bowles still wasn't completely satisfied. He called the offense rusty over the two days and noted that the defense had mental mistakes that need to be corrected. But he also felt the Bucs got the mental work they needed from the trip. Tampa Bay was challenged after looking flat and getting outplayed Tuesday. Rather than carrying that performance into the final day of camp, the Bucs returned with better energy and execution.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers respond with bounce back day against Jaguars

#buccaneers

The Jacksonville Jaguars held their first joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and while there were some ups and downs overall, the defense had an incredibly strong day — so strong that Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield openly admitted that the practice was "eye-opening."
In a post-practice press conference, Mayfield said if this had been a real game, Tampa Bay would have lost, and that Jacksonville was more physical than they were.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield said Jacksonville was playing with “their hair on fire” and said had it been a game today; his team would not have been on the winning side. pic.twitter.com/GRpGpnEWTO
"It's tough," he said. "I thought, you know, they gave us some good looks. They were playing for hair on fire, I can say that. We definitely, if this was a full game, I don't think we would have come out of it on the winning side of it. So just a little eye-opening. Got to get back and watch the tape. You know, it's never as good or as bad as you think it is, but I think from my standpoint, a day out-physicaled, that's never what you want to have. So it doesn't matter who we have out there. We've got guys who are going to do their very best to keep the whole physical team going. I don't know if we did that today, so we'll take that to help."
SI.com's John Shipley was able to provide some insight; he reported that the Jaguars got at least four takeaways, including a pick-six. Mia O'Brien likewise reported that Josh Hines-Allen had a strong day, with three sacks in one period, including a strip-sack.

#practice #game #tampa

Lincolnton (N.C.) won 11 games and reached the NCHSAA 3A state semifinals last season. The Wolves plan on making another deep run this fall and they've got one of the state's top defensive prospects leading the way.
Senior four-star linebacker Jalaythan Mayfield is the leader on the Lincolnton defense. The Indiana commit was all over the place in an impressive season-opening 30-10 road win at Maiden on Friday evening.
The 6-foot-1.5, 235-pounder racked up 13 tackles, forced a fumble in the red zone and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the victory. He routinely bullied the Maiden offensive line coming off the edge, notching a sack and tackle for loss. Mayfield raced all over the field and finished plenty of plays with aggression.
1 – 0 in the books. Great win over our cross town rivals Maiden! 13 Tackles | 1 Forced Fumble | 1 Fumble Recovery | 1 Touchdown | 1 Sack | 1 TFL |TheUCReport TomLoy247 SWiltfong_ ErikRichardsUSA BrandonHuffman JeffRabjohns#AGTG #Growth #IUFB #GoHoosiers #RecruitTheL pic.twitter.com/kOjJ12sgei
Mayfield is also an offensive weapon on the ground for the Wolves. He rushed for 13 touchdowns as a junior last fall to go with a whopping 152 tackles. He averaged over 11 tackles per game in 2025 and is already off to a blistering pace as a senior.

#touchdown

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rookie Jalon Daniels led three second-half scoring drives to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rally for a 16-15 preseason victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night.
Daniels tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ko Kieft, Sean Tucker scored on a 1-yard run and B.T. Potter kicked a 46-yard field goal for the Bucs (2-0), who trailed 9-0 at halftime.
Harrison Butker kicked three field goals for Kansas City (0-2), including a 69-yarder on the final play of the first half. But what appeared to be a stellar performance soured when he missed an extra-point in the third quarter and then was wide right on a 43-yard field goal attempt that would have given the Chiefs the lead in the closing minutes.
Baker Mayfield, entering a contract year after leading the Bucs to the playoffs two of the past three seasons, started and played two series in his first preseason action since 2024. He was 2 of 4 for 10 yards before being replaced by backup Jack Browning late in the first quarter.
With three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes sitting out, Justin Fields opened at quarterback for the Chiefs, who have not said whether Mahomes will play in next week's preseason finale against Seattle. The two-time league MVP is coming back from a knee injury suffered last December and has been a full participant in training camp practices.

#chiefs #first #kansas #city

Lions linked to a pair of strange Jared Goff replacements in Eagles and Buccaneers QBs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Lions have had a lot of success with the Jared Goff and Dan Campbell pairing. But there's a chance that things continue to go wrong as they did in 2025.
So, what happens to the Lions if the 2026 season is a dud? Well, it might be an unlikely future, but ESPN's Dan Graziano linked the Lions to two very unexpected quarterbacks who could replace Goff in Detroit.
As part of Graziano's "long shot" prediction, he linked the Lions to Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champion QB Jalen Hurts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Bowl QB Baker Mayfield as possible Goff replacements.
"Frustrated by their inability to cash in on what seemed like a Super Bowl window, the Lions decide to break things up," Graziano writes. "They move on from Goff and bring in a veteran whose situation elsewhere fell apart, such as Baker Mayfield or Jalen Hurts."

#linked #Eagles

Baker Mayfield may not always receive the same level of recognition as the NFL's elite quarterbacks, but ESPN's latest quarterback trait rankings provide another reminder of just how talented the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starter has become. In Dan Orlovsky's 2026 rankings, Mayfield landed inside the top 10 in multiple categories, including sixth in arm strength, eighth in rushing ability and 10th in second reaction ability.
The arm strength ranking is particularly notable. Mayfield ranked sixth in the league, ahead of quarterbacks such as Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Dak Prescott. That ranking speaks to an element of Mayfield's game that can sometimes get overlooked because of his reputation as a fiery, competitive quarterback. His ability to make plays outside of structure also received recognition. Mayfield ranked 10th in second reaction ability, showing that his value isn't limited to what he can do from a clean pocket.
When plays break down, he has become increasingly comfortable extending plays and finding opportunities downfield. Mayfield was also eighth among quarterbacks in rushing ability, another area that has become a useful part of his game in Tampa Bay.
With Tampa Bay replacing several key pieces from last season and relying on younger players in important roles, Mayfield's ability to create plays when things don't go according to plan could be one of the team's biggest advantages. He also enters the season with plenty to prove. Mayfield is heading into an important year in Tampa Bay, and his performance could have significant implications for the Buccaneers' future at the position and for his next contract, as he is playing on the final year of his 3-year $100 million deal.
Now Mayfield will have the opportunity to turn those traits into another productive season and show that his overall standing among NFL quarterbacks deserves to be even higher, as well as his next check.

#mayfield #tampa #quarterbacks #become

The Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield are holding their breath on the shape of their team as Week 1 is less than a month away.
Head coach Todd Bowles delivered some potentially concerning news about WRs Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan and their availability for the Bucs' first real game at the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. Bowles categorized both as "day-to-day, week-to-week" and wouldn't say whether he thought they could be ready by the regular season.
Egbuka has a toe sprain he suffered in the team's joint practice with the New York Jets. Bowles said he's "not sure at this time" if the injury will keep him out for the opener.
The Bucs received some good news to one element of the offense on Monday. All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who injured his hamstring during his conditioning just prior to camp, has started practicing again.
But this is also not the way Mayfield wanted to start his season, wondering whether he'll have anything close to a full complement of receivers. Nor is it what Bowles, currently also dealing with Vita Vea's hold-in, wanted to hear entering a season in which he could be coaching for his job.

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The ******* ans have made a couple of roster moves to start the week.
Tennessee announced on Monday that the club has signed cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr.
Mayfield entered the league in 2023 as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Ravens. He has not appeared in a regular-season game, though he's also spent time with the UFL's San Antonio Brahmas.
Mayfield's father, Corey Mayfield Sr., appeared in 27 NFL games as a defensive lineman in the 90s.
As a corresponding move, the ******* ans waived linebacker Sean Brown with an injury designation.

#mayfield #Monday #Ravens #sean

The Tennessee ******* ans will take the field for another open training camp practice on Monday and will greet some new faces.
One day after adding tight end Matt Lauter and running back Dominic Richardson to take the place of edge Jaylen Harrell (ACL) and tight end Jaren Kanak (pec), who were placed on injured reserve (IR) on Sunday, the ******* ans added a cornerback to the roster.
On Monday, the ******* ans signed cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. and waived/injured linebacker Sean Brown.
Mayfield originally entered the league as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Baltimore Ravens following the 2023 NFL draft after finishing his college career at Texas-San Antonio. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound cornerback does have two years of experience with the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL, but has no NFL experience.
Tennessee signed Brown as an undrafted rookie free agent out of NC State following the 2026 NFL Draft. An undersized linebacker prospect at 6-foot-0, 216 pounds, Brown was a true developmental player with some pass-rush upside. He will now revert to injured reserve if he clears waivers and could be eligible for an injury settlement.

#cornerback #antonio #take