Bucs HC explains decision on QB once pegged as Tom Brady's replacement

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added journeyman Teddy Bridgewater to their quarterback room in August, some speculated that the club was planning to part ways with backup Kyle Trask after the preseason. 

On Tuesday, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed that Trask will be released after suffering a shoulder injury in Tampa Bay's preseason finale versus the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. 

"Obviously, (Bridgewater) brings experience, but he brings a wealth of knowledge," Bowles said about the decision, NFL.com's Grant Gordon shared. "He can command the offense right now. Him being older has a lot to do with it, but him being accurate and understanding what we're trying to do has a lot to do with it as well."

Months after Tom Brady guided the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl LV victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay made Trask the 64th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft with the hope that he could eventually become Brady's successor. Trask then spent his first two pro seasons learning as a backup until Brady retired for good in February 2023. 

The following month, the Buccaneers signed Baker Mayfield to a one-year "prove it" contract, allowing him to compete with Trask for the starting job. The battle was seemingly never close. Mayfield has since led the club to back-to-back division titles, while Trask never started a game and attempted only 11 passes with no touchdowns during his four-year tenure. 

"We had Kyle for four years," Bowles added. "It was a good four-year run. We just feel like we've got a better chance with Teddy."

Gordon mentioned that the Buccaneers could eventually re-sign Trask to their practice squad. However, a change of scenery is the most plausible route for Trask to attempt to salvage his career.