The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing quarterback Brett Rypien onto their practice squad, a move that comes directly after news that Baker Mayfield will miss at least three weeks. Mayfield is sidelined with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand, leaving the Bucs scrambling for depth at the position. This is a crucial blow for Tampa Bay.
QB Carousel in Tampa Bay
With Mayfield out, the Bucs are handing the starting reins to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels for Sunday’s game against the Packers. That’s a huge ask for a first-year player. To back him up, the team is looking to sign Easton Stick to the 53-player roster, a necessary step given the situation. It looks like a real mix-and-match effort to fill the void left by Mayfield’s injury. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times first reported the Rypien signing, with the veteran visiting the Bucs on Tuesday before making it official.
A Familiar Face Joins The Mix
Rypien’s arrival isn’t out of the blue. He spent time with the Rams in 2023, which is when current Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson was the quarterbacks coach there. That connection definitely makes this a logical pickup for Tampa Bay, bringing in a guy who already knows the OC’s style. Rypien, who’s the nephew of Super Bowl XXVI MVP Mark Rypien, has been around the league. He’s played for nine other NFL teams, appearing in games for the Broncos, Rams, and Bengals. He’s got 11 games under his belt, going 2-2 as a starter, so he’s not completely fresh off the couch. He brings some experience to that practice squad, which might be exactly what the Bucs need right now.
With the Packers game looming on Sunday, the Bucs are going to rely on a rookie starter and a quickly assembled backup plan. How Daniels performs, and how quickly Stick can get up to speed on the 53-player roster, will be huge for their next few weeks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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