The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0 for the fifth straight season, but they haven’t achieved a 3-0 start since 2005.
The Buccaneers will try to end a string of four consecutive Week 3 losses when they host the reeling New York Jets on Sunday afternoon.
Tampa Bay rallied for a 20-19 road victory over the host Houston Texans on Monday night. Rachaad White scored the winning points on a 2-yard run with six seconds remaining to cap a stellar 11-play, 80-yard drive.
The Buccaneers also staged a comeback in the fourth quarter of Week 1 to beat the Atlanta Falcons 23-20. The game-winning score was made with 59 seconds remaining.
“We’re always in the fight,” Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield said Wednesday. “Anytime we step on the field, we expect to win. We expect to play well and do our job at a high level. It’s just the mentality.”
Mayfield was the recipient of some blows while completing 25 of 38 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns against the Texans. He also rushed for 33 yards on three attempts.
Mayfield (foot, toe) was a full participant at Wednesday’s walkthrough. He said his left leg was feeling “Good. Great.”
Mayfield has thrown five touchdown passes without an interception in 70 attempts this season.
The Jets (0-2) certainly would cherish some stability at quarterback as they aim to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2021.
Justin Fields (concussion) was ruled out on Wednesday and veteran Tyrod Taylor will make his 59th career regular-season start.
Fields sustained the concussion in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s 30-10 home loss against the Buffalo Bills.
Fields wasn’t even at the team complex Wednesday as he recovers from the injury.
First-year New York coach Aaron Glenn expressed confidence that Taylor can get the offense moving. The Jets are averaging just 274 yards per game, 26th in the NFL.
“There is no coverage, there is no pressure that he hasn’t seen,” Glenn said of Taylor. “So that’s why I have confidence in him and he’s a very studious person, good athlete. Again, been around this league for a long time. There is no better player you would want as your backup quarterback than him at this point of time.”
Taylor last started games in 2023 for the New York Giants — he started five — and has a 28-28-1 regular-season record.
He completed 7 of 11 passes for 56 yards and one touchdown against Buffalo after replacing the injured Fields.
“I can’t sulk in or what-if, or what should happen,” said Taylor of his role. “The reality is that you have to be in the moment, and I’ve learned to be more vocal over the years. I think as a quarterback, eyes are always on you, so how you are when you’re up, when you’re down, when things aren’t going your way, is a reflection of your character. So I’ve never been one to question why my time isn’t right then or right now, it’s more so just prepare myself for whenever it does happen and that I make the most of it.”
Undrafted rookie Brady Cook of Missouri will serve as the Jets’ No. 2 quarterback.
Fields was one of seven Jets to miss practice. The others were safety Tony Adams (hip), cornerback Michael Carter II (shoulder), pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II (ankle), defensive lineman Jay Tufele (illness), receiver Josh Reynolds (hamstring) and running back Kene Nwangwu (hamstring).
Tampa Bay formally placed standout defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (pectoral) on injured reserve on Wednesday. Kancey had a team-leading 7.5 sacks in just 12 games last season.
“Everybody has to step up,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said of replacing Kancey. “We can’t replicate what Kancey can do for us and some of them have to play the run and some of them have to be ready for the pass. Everybody has to do their job.”
Receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip/groin) missed the walkthrough, but star wideout Chris Godwin Jr. (ankle) and standout left tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) were both limited and could possibly make their season debuts on Sunday. Offensive tackle Luke Goedeke (foot) didn’t participate and is expected to miss multiple weeks, while guard Cody Mauch (knee) also sat out.
The Jets lead the series 10-3, but Tampa Bay has won the past two meetings.
–Field Level Media
