It took a little longer than we all expected, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have finally and officially named Tom Brady’s successor: Baker Mayfield.
From Tompa Bay to Tampa Bayfield, it’s time to see what No. 6 can do with another shot as QB1.
The long-awaited announcement — marking the end of a long and drawn out QB competition between Mayfield and Kyle Trask — doesn’t ultimately come as a surprise. Mayfield, 28, has been considered the frontrunner for the gig since he signed a one-year deal with the club in the early days of free agency.
It’s been a year of many moves for Mayfield, who spent four seasons as Cleveland’s starter before being traded to Carolina last summer in the wake of the Browns’ acquisition of Deshaun Watson. He won the starting gig out of camp with the Panthers, but injuries held him back and ultimately he wound up landing in L.A. via trade once healthy to finish the season with the Rams. There, he started four games and earned himself a shot in free agency with the Bucs.
He now enters his sixth season as a Week 1 NFL starter — and his second straight year starting Week 1 with a new team.
This is a crucial year for Mayfield, who has a prime opportunity to either prove he can stick with the Bucs and contend, or earn himself a chance to compete for another contract elsewhere. It’s also a pivotal season for the Bucs, who enter a new chapter following three years with Tom Brady at the helm. Those are big shoes to fill, but with several key pieces still in place around Mayfield, maybe they’ll find he’s a good fit.
Ravens’ preseason streak is snapped
We all know pre-season games aren’t really about wins and losses, yet it was hard not to marvel at the Baltimore Ravens’ pre-season success all the same. Going into Monday’s exhibition against the Washington Commanders, Baltimore had strung together a whopping 24 straight pre-season wins spanning seven years.
The intensity of this one, which saw Joey Slye kick a 49-yard game-winning field goal with 14 seconds to go, mirrored that of a must-win playoff game.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh shared his thoughts on the snapped streak post-game and had some harsh criticism for anyone doubting the intensity of pre-season matchups:
Colts grant Jonathan Taylor permission to seek trade
The tension between the Indianapolis Colts and their star running back continues, with news breaking Monday evening that the team has granted Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade.
So, what happens now? The Colts and Taylor have been in a contract standoff all summer as Taylor enters the final year of his rookie deal. While Taylor has been present at camp despite the stalemate, his ongoing recovery from last season’s ankle injury has kept him from practising. As we’ve seen all summer, the running back market is colder than it’s ever been — just ask last year’s rushing champ Josh Jacobs, whose own contract stalemate with the Raiders continues.
Taylor is just 24 and only a year removed from leading the entire league in rushing. He was limited to just 11 games last year but is poised for a rebound with plenty to prove. The only question is where that will happen.
Might the Miami Dolphins come calling? They’re well-stocked with receiving talent but have a definite need at RB. Not to mention, the AFC East has been loading up on talent — the Dolphins just watched division rivals in New York and New England bring in big names at the position in Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott, respectively.
Washington has also been floated as a potential suitor, and the Bears would be a great fit, too, though the Colts reportedly seeking a pretty solid return in a trade could stop a lot of clubs from trying.
Of course, whoever acquires him will still need to negotiate the kind of big-money, multi-year deal Taylor is seeking. And in a year that’s seen the value of even the biggest names at the position plummet, it feels like it’s anyone’s guess what happens next.
Jones says he’ll hold out until Week 8
Meanwhile, in Kansas City, the standoff between Chris Jones and Chiefs management is still going strong. For the latest on his situation, look no further than Jones’ own social media:
Jones was a gamebreaker for the Chiefs last season, tying his previous career-high 15.5 sacks and helping the club to another Super Bowl. While he says he can afford the hefty fines accrued for missing training camp and several games, the Chiefs may not be able to afford losing him for an extended period of time. We’ll see.
Seahawks rookie WR undergoes surgery
The Seattle Seahawks are hoping for a swift recovery for rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who’s underdoing wrist surgery after suffering an injury in pre-season action Saturday night. The first-round wide receiver, drafted 20th overall, could still be available to start the season, but it’s too soon to say.
Here’s the play that led to the injury:
McLaurin’s toe injury likely short-term
The Washington Commanders got some promising news about their most important receiving weapon on Tuesday. Terry McLaurin, who left Monday’s pre-season game against Baltimore with a toe injury, underwent tests that reportedly revealed no major damage. That means the likelihood of him being able to start the season should be pretty high.
If you listen really closely, you can hear Sam Howell letting out a sigh of relief.
Get ready for Rodgers
At last, we’re about to see what we’ve been waiting months for: Aaron Rodgers, suiting up for the New York Jets.
The team announced Rodgers would see at least a few series on Saturday against the New York Giants. Not only will this be the first time we see Rodgers in a game with his new club, it’s also the first time Rodgers will see pre-season action since 2018.
“Just didn’t want the first time he goes out with his new team, new colours, new teammates, new stadium — didn’t want Sept. 11 to be the first time,” Saleh told reporters of the decision.
Fans will also see another Jet get some reps on Saturday: Mekhi Becton, suiting up at right tackle.
Becton entered the league as a highly anticipated first-round pick in 2020 but hasn’t found his footing. He started most of his rookie campaign but appeared in just a single game in 2021 and spent the entire 2022 campaign on injured reserve with a fractured kneecap. Concerns about the state of New York’s offensive line will have all eyes on Becton and whether he can regain his form on the right side.