Buccaneers Fall to Jaguars in Preseason Week 2 as Backup QBs Struggle

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped their second preseason game, falling 20-7 to the Jacksonville Jaguars . Despite some bright spots, the Bucs' backup quarterbacks, Kyle Trask and John Wolford, struggled to maintain consistent offensive momentum, leading to a disappointing performance.

In the first half, Kyle Trask led the Buccaneers’ offense, finishing with 8 completions on 13 attempts for 108 yards and 1 touchdown. After two initial punts, Trask orchestrated a 9-play, 68-yard drive that culminated in a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cody Thompson , tying the game at 7-7.

This marked the Bucs' first passing touchdown of the preseason, a notable improvement after being shut out in that department during the opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and were only able to get n on the ground. However, Trask’s other drives were less productive, with the Bucs punting twice and gaining only 3 yards on their final drive of the half. Tampa Bay entered halftime trailing 10-7, managing just 121 total yards and 8 first downs.

John Wolford took over under center in the second half, but the offensive struggles continued. The Buccaneers punted on four consecutive drives, with Wolford completing 7 of 14 passes for 52 yards. His efforts were hampered by a lack of rhythm and poor field position, resulting in only 33 yards across those four drives.

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A missed field goal on a 5-play, 21-yard drive further compounded the Bucs' woes. Late in the game, Wolford left the field after a hard hit, allowing Trask to return. Despite driving the team to the Jaguars' 6-yard line, Trask’s night ended with an 18-yard sack, sealing the Buccaneers' fate.

The Buccaneers' quarterback battle remains unsettled, with both Trask and Wolford showing flashes but failing to sustain drives. As Tampa Bay prepares for their final preseason game, the coaching staff will have tough decisions to make regarding the backup quarterback position behind starter Baker Mayfield .