PITTSBURGH (AP) — For a high school football coach, Teddy Bridgewater can still sling it.
The well-traveled Bridgewater threw two first-quarter touchdowns in Tampa Bay’s 17-14 preseason victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday night, thereby positioning himself in the competition with Kyle Trask to serve as Baker Mayfield’s backup.
Although Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles isn’t prepared to announce whether a decision is pending between Bridgewater and Trask, Bridgewater’s performance, less than two weeks after joining the team, strongly indicated that the 32-year-old’s right arm still has much to offer.
Bridgewater, who signed with the Buccaneers last week after being suspended from his high school coaching position in Miami for admitting to providing financial benefits to his players, was impressive during his three series of play.
He connected on 6 of 11 passes totaling 85 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bucky Irving and a well-placed 5-yard lob to the back corner of the end zone that rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka caught with a sliding grab from his knees.
Although Mayfield is decidedly the starter, Bridgewater performed capably against a Pittsburgh defense that benched most of its key players, although he dismissed suggestions that he’s aiming for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.
“I’m just here to assist this team in any way I can,” said Bridgewater, making a point to celebrate Northwestern High in Miami following its weekend victory. “I’ve maintained a humble service approach throughout my playing and coaching career.”
Chase McLaughlin hit a 42-yard field goal as time expired to win it for the Buccaneers (2-0). Tampa Bay linebacker Antonio Grier’s 36-yard interception return — the Buccaneers’ sixth pick in two weeks — set up the kick.
A step forward
Two days after a spirited joint practice in which nearly everyone — from Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans to Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt — participated, the spotlight shifted to younger players who will have an opportunity to make an impact on two veteran clubs that have been postseason regulars.
Egbuka, the 19th overall pick in the draft, continued an impressive camp by slipping past Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols, then putting his left knee down just before it crossed into the white out-of-bounds paint.
“He’s like that every day in practice and it just carries over for him,” Bowles said of Egbuka.
Pittsburgh first-round pick Derrick Harmon earned his first sack of the preseason by swallowing up Trask for an 11-yard loss. Running back Kaleb Johnson, a third-round selection, took a significant step forward, rushing for 50 yards on 11 carries and showing flashes of the cutback ability that made him a star at Iowa.
“The first game (against Jacksonville) I was really kind of timid reading the (defense),” Johnson said, who had just 20 yards on eight carries against the Jaguars the previous week. “We were talking all week about how I should be executing and doing better and progressing and developing over time, and I feel like I did that today.”
Wide receiver Roman Wilson, who missed all of his rookie season last year because of an injury, caught two passes for 72 yards for the Steelers (1-1). He beat two Tampa Bay defenders before hauling in a 42-yard rainbow from Rudolph. Wilson later put together a 30-yard catch-and-run on a night when teammate Calvin Austin III — who is competing with Wilson to be the No. 2 receiver opposite Metcalf — sat out with a minor injury.
Back in a snap?
Steelers defensive lineman Logan Lee filled in as the emergency long snapper after Christian Kunitz left in the first half with a chest injury.
Lee hadn’t long-snapped since he did a little bit of everything while playing at Orion High School in Orion, Illinois (current population: 1,714). The muscle memory came back (sort of), though Lee admitted there was one thing he learned during his crash course in doing it in the NFL.
“I’m a defensive lineman for sure,” Lee said with a laugh.
Injuries
Buccaneers: WR Jalen McMillan left in the first quarter with a back injury and was being evaluated for a concussion after landing on his head after being undercut by Steelers defensive back Daryl Porter. … Backup safety Christian Izien injured his oblique.
Steelers: LB Nick Herbig, who has become a valuable member of Pittsburgh’s pass rush, left in the first quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return.
Up next
Buccaneers: host Buffalo next Saturday in the preseason finale for both teams.
Steelers: wraps up the preseason with a trip to Carolina on Thursday.
