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Bucs QB Injured In Joint Practice With Jets

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Bucs QB Injured In Joint Practice With Jets

Originally posted on PewterReport.com | By Scott Reynolds | Last updated Aug 11, 2026 3:01 PM ET

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Quarterbacks are not allowed to get hit in practice, especially joint practices.

And Bucs backup quarterback Jake Browning wasn’t hit during the middle of Tuesday’s joint practice with the Jets, but he did suffer an injury.

According to Pewter Report’s Matt Matera, who is live at Jets practice in Florham Park, New Jersey, Browning was operating the offense and scrambled to his left out of the pocket as the play broke down. Browning tried to juke a couple of Jets defenders who were in the vicinity, and he abruptly stopped and began walking gingerly.

Matera reports it could be a lower back injury, as Browning, the team’s No. 2 quarterback, attempted to stretch it out immediately thereafter.

Second-year quarterback Connor Bazelak was inserted into the lineup as his replacement as Browning walked off the field and went inside with team trainers for further evaluation.

Stay tuned for PewterReport.com for updates on Browning’s injury plus a recap of all the news from Tampa Bay’s joint practice with the Jets.

UPDATE: Tampa Bay Times Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud reports that Todd Bowles had no update on Browning’s condition after practice, but did say that Baker Mayfield will not play in Friday night’s preseason opener.

Bucs No. 2 QB Jake Browning appeared to injure his back. Todd Bowles had no update but Browning was expected to start Friday vs Jets. He said Baker Mayfield will not play.

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 11, 2026

Jake Browning’s Injury Could Affect Bucs’ Plans For The Preseason Opener

Although Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has not revealed his plans for player usage for Friday night’s preseason opener against the Jets, he typically does not play his starters in the preseason opener. And Bowles elected not to play starting quarterback Baker Mayfield at all last preseason, and only played the starters in one game – at Pittsburgh in the second week of the preseason – for just a few series.

Unfortunately, starting wide receiver Jalen McMillan suffered a serious neck injury in that game and missed most of the season. That may give Bowles pause from playing the starters at all in the preseason.

If Jake Browning’s apparent back injury prevents him from playing in the preseason opener at New York on Friday, and Mayfield doesn’t play, that would mean that Connor Bazelak, last year’s third-string quarterback on the practice squad, and Jalon Daniels, an undrafted free agent that has impressed the team, will split the reps. That could mean that Bazelak gets the first half and Daniels gets the second half, or Bowles and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson may rotate the quarterbacks by series or by quarter instead.

Either way, the Bucs were hoping to see what they had in Browning during the preseason as he is a veteran newcomer, who spent the last few seasons in Cincinnati as Joe Burrow’s backup. Browning signed a one-year contract and is expected to be Mayfield’s backup this season due to his NFL playing experience with Bazelak and Daniels dueling for the QB3 role on the practice squad this year.