Baker Mayfield to sit out of Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason game vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Fans in Pittsburgh were scheduled to get a treat on Saturday night as the Steelers played host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At least for a portion of the game, Bucs starting quarterback Baker Mayfield was going to play. This is something we have seen around the league recently, letting starters knock some rust off with preseason action.

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles has had a change of heart, though. Mayfield impressed him enough in a recent workout to make the decision. While Bucs fans may have wanted to see Mayfield play, hearing the news has to be a positive.

“After reviewing the tape of today’s practice, Todd Bowles just told me he believes Baker Mayfield played so well today in the joint workout with the Steelers he will NOT play in Saturday night’s game,” Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times said via X.

Not too long ago, Mayfield missed a practice due to injury. A contusion on his throwing hand kept him on the sideline. Tests were even done to find out the severity and luckily, nothing serious came back in the results. He has been out there ever since.

Mayfield is coming off the best season of his career, in which he passed for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He finished 11th in MVP voting and led the Buccaneers to a fourth consecutive NFC South divisional title. They fell to the eventual NFC Championship runner-up Washington Commanders 23-20 in the Wild Card Round, thanks to a walk-off field goal by Washington kicker Zane Gonzalez.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting 2025 regular season with tough schedule

Looking at the schedule, it’s easy to see why the Bucs feel like they need Mayfield to be sharp from the get-go. A divisional road game takes place Week 1, coming against the Atlanta Falcons. It’s a series the Falcons swept last season, also winning two of three inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Another road game against the Houston Texans will take place the following week on Monday Night Football. Not making their home debut until Week 3, the New York Jets will come to town. But it’s Week 4 where a lot of attention will be placed, as the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles come to Raymond James Stadium.

Making the playoffs would continue the franchise’s greatest-ever run. Early season results could wind up playing a huge role, needing Mayfield out there and healthy.

On3’s Daniel Hager contributed to this report